Follow up Windsor result, urges Walker

Few observers gave United much hope against the Blues but they returned from Windsor with a fine point from a scoreless draw.

Walker has warned, however, that it will count for nothing if they can't back it up with a positive result against newly-promoted Celtic.

"Saturday was a good start, but that is all it is - a start," Walker told Times Sport.

"We need to change people's attitudes away from thinking 'well there's what Ballymena can do against Linfield but...'

"We have to go and earn a victory by playing with a similar intensity as we did against Linfield.

"We will set out a gameplan once we get a report on DC. I know they lost to Crusaders on Saturday but they won't be the only team to suffer that fate this season.

"DC have come up out of a division where they have been used to winning games regularly - there probably weren't many occasions where they would have lost successive games last season so they will be fired up to try and get their first points on the board.

"If it means more to us and we are fired up as well, then we should be able to get a good result.

"It's our first home game of the season and we are anxious to make a good start in front of our own fans," added Roy.

Walker will assess the fitness of midfielders Eamon Murray and Ryan Berry this week, after both limped off in Saturday's draw.

"We do have natural wide players in Mo McDowell, who came on on Saturday, and the other Michael Smith who can come in if that's how we decide to play," said Roy.

The manager will also delay naming his team to check whether Michael Smith (1) and Aaron Stewart come through Wednesday night's Northern Ireland under-23 match against Poland unscathed.

l This Saturday's match will be sponsored by Paramount Supporters' Club. The match ball sponsor is George McAleese.

l United have been drawn at home to holders Crusaders in the quarter-final of the County Antrim Shield. The tie will be played on Tuesday, September 7.