NOT-SO-HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR OUR CITY CLUBS

Happy New Year would seem the most obvious way to start the first Touchline of 2005, but, as far as their football is concerned, for fans of Dundee’s two senior clubs only the last word of that traditional greeting accurately applies.

A year it certainly is, but, unless things change dramatically at Dens and Tannadice, happy and new will remain redundant.

With Dundee and United separated only by goal difference and Livingston at the bottom of the SPL, it’s hard to be happy.

And, sadly, there is nothing particularly new about their respective situations.

Just as when 2004 started, this year gets under way with both sides desperately needing to improve worrying league positions.

On top of that, while the efforts of those at the club and within the support have been laudable, for the Dark Blues, the battle for survival continues.

Let’s, though, try to be positive and upbeat as we look to what may lie ahead.

Staying on the blue side of Tannadice Street, the very fact Dundee made it into the New Year has to be regarded as an achievement.

And while the league position is worrying, take heart from Motherwell, who slumped to the bottom of the SPL a year after their flirtation with administration, only to recover to their current position as second only to Hibs when it comes to the country’s most exciting young side.

Over the road in the Tangerine zone, hope must surely spring from chairman Eddie Thompson’s willingness to back boss Ian McCall with his cheque book during the transfer window.

Already added has been the ability and experience of Scotland attacker Stevie Crawford and, should Lee Mair, as expected, follow him in returning from England and Paul Ritchie sign the long-term deal United want him to, there is reason to believe the only way in the league will be up.

While it will be in a different competition, United will have to chance to add substance to that theory when they travel to Third Division winners-elect Gretna in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup tomorrow.

This tie has been labelled a potential banana skin — and there is no doubt the full-time team put together in the borders by millionaire Brooks Mileson is more First Division than Third.

That, though, is still considerably lower than the Tannadice team’s place in the Scottish game — if they play to their potential.

Rather than a possible embarrassment, Ian McCall and his players should be viewing this as an opportunity to show the gap between the SPL and all the lower divisions remains a gulf.

For Dundee, the chances of them joining their neighbours in the draw for the fourth round must be minimal.

Injuries, a lack of form and, most of all, an excellent Hibs team, mean the trip to the capital will almost certainly end in defeat.

To put a positive spin on that, at least Jim Duffy’s hard-worked squad will then be left to concentrate on what was always the only real priority for this season — staying in the top flight.

If, come the middle of May, they’ve done that and, along with United, are looking forward to another SPL season, then maybe it will, if not new, have at least been a happy year.

SCOTTISH CUP PREDICTIONS — Montrose v. QOS — AWAY; Kilmarnock v. Motherwell — AWAY; Raith Rovers v. Alloa — away; St Mirren v. Hamilton — HOME; Clyde v. Falkirk — AWAY; Arbroath v. Aberdeen — AWAY; Berwick Rangers v. Brechin City — AWAY; Gretna v. Dundee United — AWAY; East Fife v. Dunfermline — AWAY; Ross County v. Airdrie United — home; Hibs v. Dundee — home; Partick Thistle v. Hearts — away; Livingston v. Morton — home; Ayr United v. Stranraer — home; Celtic v. Rangers — home; ICT v. St Johnstone — home.