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General Sport - 25 September 2003
Football: Blether with Brown > Touchline
 
PLAUDITS – BUT NO PRIZES
 

Dundee midfielder GEORGI NEMSADZE leaves Perugia skipper GIOVANNI TEDESCO in his wake at Dens Park last night.

 
Star midfielder Georgi Nemsadze said a polite thank you today for praise received for his performance in Dundee’s UEFA Cup defeat against Perugia last night — but admitted he would happily swap the plaudits for a better result (writes Tom Duthie).
The Georgian international put in an outstanding 90 minutes, but could not prevent the Italians grabbing a 2-1 first-leg lead in the first-round tie.

While it was nice to have his talents recognised, he admitted his over-riding emotion was disappointment at the result.

“I am grateful for the things people have said about my play, but, for me, it would be a much better thing if they were talking about a draw or a win for us,” he said.

“Of course, it is good to know you have played a good game, but we want to win. I think that could have been the case, because we played good football and we are unlucky to have lost.”

A veteran of European campaigns for four different clubs in four different countries, Nemsadze accepts Dundee now have an extremely difficult task to turn the tie round in the second leg in Perugia next month.

However, he has pledged every member of the Dark Blues squad will give it their best shot.

“It is going to be very hard for us, because they have good players. We will try hard and in football you must never say never. If we get a goal then things can happen for us.”

Even if Dundee do exit the competition at this stage, Nemsadze believes the European adventure will prove a valuable experience for many of his younger team-mates.

“These are the games we want to be involved in every year, and we will learn from this. Wilkie, Rae, Mair, Mackay and so many others now know they can do well against very good teams and this will be good for them.”

Meanwhile, there was praise for Dundee from UEFA delegate Teuvo Holopainen for the handling of the arrangements for the game.

Before leaving last night, the Finn, who is required to report on all aspects of the tie, made a point of seeking out Dens operations manager Jim Thomson to commend the effort that had been put in to ensure everything went smoothly.

“He said that everything was as well organised and professionally run as he had seen at a European match. He doesn’t have to tell us what he thinks, so it was good of him,” said Thomson.

“It was a nice pat on the back, because people maybe do not realise just how much work goes in to make sure these occasions do run to plan.”

CONCERN OVER LOVELL
 

Dundee striker STEVIE LOVELL could be out for some time after picking up a knee injury during last night’s UEFA Cup clash against Perugia at Dens Park.

 
Dundee striker Steve Lovell should find out within the next 24 hours how long he will be out after damaging knee ligaments in last night’s UEFA Cup clash with Perugia (writes Tom Duthie).
The Englishman hobbled off after 59 minutes, amid concern that he had done serious damage, though, by today, some movement had returned to the joint.

He is being sent for a scan in a bid to diagnose the full extent of the problem, and has already been ruled out of Saturday’s league visit to Rangers.

“It is too early to tell how bad it is, but the fact he can move his knee a bit today is encouraging. Hopefully, he is not going to be out for as long as we first thought, but it is still a concern,” said boss Jim Duffy.

With Steven Milne still unfit after knee surgery last month, and new signing Fabrizio Ravanelli not fit enough to be considered for Saturday, Lovell’s injury could hardly have come at a worse time.

One consolation will be the return of Fabian Caballero, who missed last night through suspension. Having completed his Euro ban, he will also be available for the return leg of the Perugia tie.

PATERSONS MISS KILLIE CLASH
There was bad news of Patersons for Dundee United boss Ian McCall today, when both Jim and Scott of that ilk were ruled out of Saturday’s home Premierleague meeting with Kilmarnock (writes Tom Duthie).
Centre-half Scott is still not fit enough to be considered for a first-team return after his lengthy lay-off with a knee problem, but could return to action next week.

He will be joined in the stand on Saturday by Jim, who pulled a calf muscle in Tuesday’s CIS Cup win over Morton and is now also facing a spell on the sidelines.

“It looks like Jim is going to be out for a couple of weeks or so, which is a blow, because he had come back into the team and done well,” said Ian.

“We were hoping to give him a run and let him get a bit of form, but now he is going to have to wait a while for another chance.”

Also still out injured for the Killie clash will be wing-back Barry Robson.

Forfar Athletic were handed a money-spinning tie at Ibrox when they were paired with holders Rangers in this afternoon’s CIS Insurance Cup third-round draw.
Forfar Athletic were handed a money-spinning tie at Ibrox when they were paired with holders Rangers in this afternoon’s CIS Insurance Cup third-round draw.

The Loons, who beat Motherwell on Tuesday, will gain a welcome cash windfall from the trip to Govan.

Fellow-Angus giant-killers Brechin City, who edged out Kilmarnock in the last round, travel north to face Aberdeen.

Dundee United were handed a home tie against fellow-SPL outfit Livingston, while Dundee face a trip to Broadwood to meet Clyde.

Celtic face a potentially difficult tie at Partick Thistle, as do Dunfermline, who must travel to McDiarmid Park to face St Johnstone.

Hearts get the chance of revenge against Falkirk at Tynecastle in the draw.

The Bairns brushed aside the Jambos in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup with a 4-0 win last season.

Full draw: Hearts v. Falkirk, Clyde v. Dundee, Hibernian v, Queen of the South, Dundee United v. Livingston, Rangers v. Forfar Athletic, St Johnstone v. Dunfermline, Aberdeen v. Brechin City, Partick v. Celtic.

Ties on Tuesday, October 28 or Wednesday, October 29.

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