who opened the night in Germany with a 5-3 win over Thailand - Nandor Bezzeg sinking the w | Forum

Ray McKinnon admits he is under no illusion as to the size of the task he faces in restoring top-flight football to Dundee United next season. Steven Souza Jersey . The former Raith Rovers boss was appointed on a three-year contract last week after Mixu Paatelainens dismissal following relegation to the Championship.McKinnon watched from the stands last Saturday as the Terrors, relying heavily on youth players, beat Kilmarnock 4-2 at Rugby Park to end a miserable season on a rare high note. With the majority of last seasons squad having been told to find new clubs, McKinnon knows he must add to the promising youngsters on view in Ayrshire to have any chance of an immediate return.Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, the 45-year-old said; This is a big challenge for me. Dundee United are a very,  very big club who find themselves in the Championship after a disappointing season so I understand the challenge ahead but its one I am looking forward to.Asked if the expectation of the fans to go straight back up was one he shared, he added: Definitely. Its a goal and we will work extremely hard behind the scenes to get it right on the park and we will be giving it everything we can over the season to do that. Mark Durnan opens the scoring for Dundee United in a 4-2 victory at Kilmarnock But we are not silly enough not to realise how difficult the task ahead is. We are prepared for that and we are looking forward to it.McKinnon, who enjoyed two spells as a player at Tannadice between 1988-92 and 1995-98, admits he may have to change the mind set of the players following such a miserable campaign where they spent almost the entire time at the foot of the table.They have had a really poor season and we need to bounce back from that, he said.The first thing I will do is create an atmosphere where people enjoy coming to work and we can get out there on the training field and try and build momentum in a squad which the fans can be really proud of next season, one hopefully strong enough to put us in contention for the title next season. Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson (right) with former boss Mixu Paatelainen And despite chairman Stephen Thompson revealing eight players would be leaving in the summer, with others told they could depart if they found other clubs, McKinnon is hopeful he will be allowed to speak to some earmarked for departure should he believe they would prove an asset in the Championship next season.That was more the fact the players were out of contract and there was no funds available at that moment, he added.I think thats what was mentioned. I dont think he [Thompson] was in there effectively sacking people. I understand where he was and its up to me now to take the reins and source players who are good enough for Dundee United to take us back up next year. Blair Spittal, one of only four United players guaranteed to stay next season But if I want to keep any of those players I can go and speak to them - thats part and parcel of football. At the end of the season they are out of contract and they have decisions to make for themselves.This is a big club, with big potential, but we are realistic to know there will be cost-cutting measures in place and I will be working within a budget that I feel I can work with.This was all discussed in the meetings I had prior to taking the job. I am obviously here now and Im comfortable with whats in place and looking forward to the season. Also See: Dundee Utd fixtures Dundee Utd stats Scottish Prem table Logan Forsythe Rays Jersey . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Chris Archer Rays Jersey . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee. http://www.mlbraysstore.com/authentic-drew-smyly-rays-jersey/ . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times.Scotland and the Netherlands both survived scares before securing their place in the second round of the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt. With the England pairing of Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor not in action until Friday night it was the second and third seeds as well as hosts Germany who took centre stage at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt.The unique pairs format is in play in the opening round with a combination of singles and doubles matches coming into play as the tournament progresses but the opening two days will see all 16 matches played as pairs over the best of nine legs. World Cup questions Who are the favourites, the surprise packages Raymond van Barneveld and Michel van Gerwen were not at their best but still progressed (Picture by Lawrence Lustig) Bookmakers favourites and second seeds the Netherlands were the big names in action on the opening night and world number one Michael van Gerwen and his partner Raymond van Barneveld were far from their best against the Russian pair of Boris Koltsov and the unique throwing style of Aleksandr Oreshkin.Van Gerwen and Barneveld were always in control having moved into a 3-0 lead despite being below par, but the methodical Russians stuck to their task and closed to 3-1 and 4-2 before Barney sunk the winning double for a 5-3 success.Next up for the Dutch darting double act will be the Philippines who caused the shock of the opening round to beat the USA.The American pairing of Larry Butler and Darin Young missed 26 darts at doubles and were punished by their opponents whose finishing was more ruthless, Gilbert Yuland the man to clinch a memorable win for his nation. World Cup of Darts - First Round Results Hungary 5-3 Thailand USA 3-5 Philippines Norway 5-2 Gibraltar Denmark 5-2 Sweden Belgium 5-1 Poland Scotland 5-3 New Zealand Netherlands 5-3 Russia Australia 5-3 Germany World champion Gary Anderson reached the final last year alongside Peter Wright but is playing with Robert Thornton for Scotland this year and they were eventual winners over New Zealand but the third seeds made hard work of things. Wade Boggs Jersey. .New Zealands pairing of Warren Parry and Cody Harris took a shock 3-1 lead but Anderson and Thornton roared back to reel off four legs in succession and clinch a 5-3 win and a place in the second round against Norway who beat Gibraltar.Dyson Parody led Gibraltan hopes of a strong showing at this years event but an inspired Cor Dekker and his experienced partner Robert Wagner produced the second surprise of the night to wrap up a 5-2 win for the Norwegians. Sky Live: World Cup of Darts All you need to know ahead of the event Arguably the match of the night was the clash between Australia and hosts Germany, the Aussie pairing of Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson silenced a lively home support to wrap up a 5-3 first round success.Anderson landed the winning dart and they will next face Denmark who emerged victorious from the battle of Scandinavia thanks to a 5-2 win over Sweden. Kim and Ronny Huybrechts beat Poland 5-1 at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt Belgium were the nights star pairing, Kim and Ronny Huybrechts producing a dominant display to average over 90 and see off Poland 5-1 to set up a second round clash with Hungary who opened the night in Germany with a 5-3 win over Thailand - Nandor Bezzeg sinking the winning darts.You can watch all the action from Frankfurt on Sky Sports this week with the rest of the first round on Sky Sports 1 on Friday from 7pm.  Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV Also See: Sky Live: World Cup of Darts World Cup questions World Cup draw Studds World Cup memories Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '