Dundee United

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dave Richards is hoping "it's my time to kick on" after making his first Dundee United appearance of the season on Saturday.

The 31-year-old goalkeeper replaced the injured Yevhen Kucherenko for a 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock.

Richards saved Bruce Anderson's spot-kick but the home striker got to the loose ball first to score from the rebound.

"I absolutely loved it," said Richards, who is set to face Rangers on Wednesday.

"I've been working hard for months. I've always had that ingrained in me since I was young.

"It's the nature of the goalie. Only one of you can play, so when it's not your turn, when you're not playing, you've got to be sharp, ready, just in case.

"I've been champing at the bit. So, fingers crossed, keep going, head down, work hard and carry on."

Richards moved to Tannadice in the summer of 2024 but managed just two Premiership appearances last term. In the prior campaign, he did not play at all during a loan stint at St Johnstone.

"Wherever I've gone, we've always had a strong goalie group and we like to push each other," he explained.

"I'm there to push whoever's playing and then vice versa if I'm playing. At St Johnstone, Dimitar Mitov, who's at Aberdeen now, was brilliant and so I just kept banging on the door but he just kept on raising his standards.

"Same last year with Jack Walton, he was brilliant as well. Now it's my time to kick on.

"I feel fresh. I'm ready for anything. You can play every day if you want, I'm there ready to go."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin expects to have an unchanged squad available, with goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko (calf) and Isaac Pappoe (knee) still out.

Rangers winger Oliver Antman is out for eight weeks with an abductor problem. Joe Rothwell returns while Youssef Chermiti will be assessed.

Rangers remain without John Souttar and Derek Cornelius with muscle injuries but Mikey Moore (muscle), Rabbi Matondo (knee) and Kieran Dowell (foot) are closing in on comebacks.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Dundee United host Rangers in the Premiership on Wednesday evening.

Here are the key lines from the Tannadice boss:

• United have contacted the Scottish FA regarding the penalty award for Kilmarnock's opener in the 1-1 draw last weekend but have had no response yet.

• Goodwin adds: "We've had a few of these decisions now go against us and they've been quite significant. At Easter Road we got an apology the following week for the penalty that was awarded at a really important part of the game. Had that penalty [at Rugby Park] not been given then we probably would have gone on and won the game so if you just take those two instances, that's arguably four points we should have that makes a huge difference come the end of the season."

• On facing Danny Rohl for the first time, Goodwin says the German has a "more pragmatic" and direct approach than predecessor Russell Martin but United "take good confidence" from the 2-2 draw at Ibrox in mid-October.

• He adds: "It's a very similar group of players that we're going to be facing and we know that we can cause them problems. We have to try and do that tomorrow night."

• After four games without victory United are "desperate" to return to winning ways and must show "bravery" on the ball while also defending with discipline.

• Despite Rangers' struggles this season, Goodwin says they have "some very, very good players and we have to show them the respect they're due".

• With United sitting eighth after one win in eight games, Goodwin says "we're not being too hard on ourselves at the moment" and adds after the second round of matches around new year is when there will be a "fairer reflection" of how the season will pan out.

• Goolkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko will be out for three or four weeks with a calf strain. And on "patient" Dave Richards, who replaced the Ukrainian last Saturday, Goodwin says: "He's a really valuable member of the squad and he's got the gloves now, so it's up to him to make sure he holds on to them."

• Ross Graham, Ryan Strain and Max Watters all came through their comeback starts last weekend with no ill effects and United have no fresh injuries.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

To be fair to Rangers, they remain unbeaten in 17 away league games stretching into the end of last season as they travel to face Dundee United on Wednesday night.

However, Sunday's goalless draw at home to Falkirk highlighted that plenty of work is still to be done for the Ibrox side since Russell Martin was replaced with Danny Rohl as head coach.

It was a 1-1 draw away to the Bairns in October that put paid to Martin's short reign and that was followed by a 2-2 draw with United at Ibrox while managerless Rangers decided who should be his successor.

Rohl had won four Premiership games in a row until the Bairns came calling, but overall they have won just two of their past six outings as the German has been hampered by the same shortcomings in his squad as his predecessor.

Rangers have still only suffered one league defeat all season, but it is draws that are hampering them and they cannot afford to fall more than the seven points they are behind Celtic and nine off Hearts.

After their own 1-1 draw away to Kilmarnock on Saturday, United have themselves now shared the points on six of their 13 Premiership outings, including that visit to Ibrox.

However, since then, Jim Goodwin's eighth-placed side have won once - their only victory in eight outings - and have gone four games without one.

Rangers are unbeaten in 11 meetings with United since a 1-0 defeat at Tannadice in August 2021.

The Ibrox side, though, are struggling to score goals and Goodwin will hope that gives his team a chance of improving on just one clean sheet in their past seven home games.

Read all the midweek Premiership picks

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

Some weeks you talk about tactics. Other weeks you talk about performances. This week you can only talk about the officials because once again Dundee United were left trying to win a game that was being refereed on an entirely different planet.

Kilmarnock's penalty was as soft as anything we've seen this season.

Krisztian Keresztes and Marley Watkins both go for a loose ball, both make a genuine attempt, both collide. That's football. Every ex-defender in the country said the same thing.

Yet Matthew MacDermid points to the spot before anyone has even processed what happened. Then VAR, Andrew Dallas, decides not to intervene. Not even a monitor check. Not even a second look at one of the weakest penalties you will see.

That's the part supporters can't accept. If VAR isn't used for that, then what is the point? Clubs are paying serious money for this system yet it's delivering almost nothing.

Everyone saw it. Fans of other clubs saw it. When Rangers, Dundee, St Mirren and Motherwell fans are all agreeing a penalty against United is a farce, you know patience across the country has snapped.

And it didn't end there. United's own penalty was delayed by a pointless offside check that dragged on for minutes. It was amateurish. It ruined the flow of the game for both sides. And you can't help but feel Dallas was doing everything he could to find a reason to rule it out.

And yet, despite all that, United battled back. Pan Camara, back in the engine room after becoming a dad last week, ran the game. His midfield partner Craig Sibbald popped up with another goal.

It was brilliant to see the Blairgowrie Maldini back in the XI too. It's been a frustrating spell for Ross Graham after a pre-season injury and being named captain of his boyhood club.

He's sporting flowing locks grown out of frustration, but the less said about his Movember effort the better. More barnet than bandit just now, but great to see you back, Rossco!

Okay, hair envy put to the side, we shouldn't need to overcome the referee as well as the opposition. Fans are paying good money. The stadium experience is becoming frustrating, with people walking out talking about decisions instead of football. That isn't sustainable.

Willie Collum will no doubt be on the phone apologising this week. Great. Cheers for that.

Right now, VAR isn't helping Scottish football. It's hurting it. And the worst part is simple. It could be us next week, but it could just as easily be somebody else. The standard just isn't good enough.

Ronny Costello can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast, external

ASOS billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, who is Scotland's richest man, is one of the bidders for struggling Championship club Sheffield Wednesday, having turned down a chance to purchase Inverness Caledonian Thistle. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Povlsen, who owns Danish outfit Midtjylland, was credited with an exploratory interest in purchasing a stake in Dundee United last year by Scandinavian publication Tipsbladet. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Kilmarnock's penalty in their 1-1 draw with Dundee United was "soft" but the right decision, according to former Rugby Park striker Steven Naismith.

The draw earned Steven Kettlewell's side their first point since their victory over St Mirren at the start of October.

United defender Krisztian Keresztes was penalised for a challenge on Marley Watkins to conceded a spot-kick. Bruce Anderson had his penalty saved by Dave Richards, but the striker converted the rebound.

"It's soft, but in the box, as a striker, you're just waiting for contact," said Sportscene pundit.

"He makes the header, the ball goes straight and the defender makes contact with the striker, Marley Watkins. So I'm saying penalty.

"They're both going for it, but the striker has made contact, the defender hasn't."

Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Scotland Sportscene presenter

Dundee United midfielder Panutche Camara makes my Scottish Premiership team of the week after helping his side draw 1-1 away to Kilmarnock.

He has been impressive all season at the heart of the Tannadice side's engine room.

Watch all the highlights as Dundee United come from behind to earn a point in a controversial Scottish Premiership draw at Kilmarnock.

Available to UK users only

We asked for your views after Dundee Utd drew 1-1 with Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Here's what some of you said:

George: The refereeing and VAR decisions are totally ridiculous in football. Kilmarnock's penalty is an absolute joke. Shocking decision again. United seem to be on the wrong end of these decisions all the time. I'm totally disillusioned with referees and VAR decisions in Scottish football. Clubs in Scotland are paying good money for this rubbish system and it needs to be scrapped right now for the good of the game.

Kieran: Overall the point was fair in the end, both teams didn't create much. Again first half was lacking intensity and initiative. But we can talk about Pan Camara? The man is a midfield machine. He only became a father last week, he would be forgiven if he was a bit off the pace, but the power he brought to drive us forward... A very strong contender for POTY.

Zac: Dundee United played much better today. Defence seemed to be stronger and more confident and starting Dave Richards was the right idea. Max Watters was unlucky to not finish the penalty as the Kilmarnock keeper managed to get a good save in. The penalty against Dundee United was never a penalty and VAR should point that out. The fact the VAR didn't rule that out was ridiculous. Richards makes a good save but an unlucky rebound. United showed a lot more demanding attacks in the second half and got good chances. Zac Sapsford was a real threat down the wing and played well.

Dave: Jim Goodwin rung all the changes that were needed. Started a bit nervously and the two penalty incidents spurred Killie on. However after the break we started to get on top with Camara absolutely brilliant. After the substitutions it appeared to me that all the players on the pitch felt a draw would be fine. A decent display by us but we need to take it into our home games.

Alasdair: Yet again the talking points are dominated by inept officiating. Goodwin is right, we should be talking about a reaction from last week and grinding out a narrow win to steady the ship. We're not alone, most clubs would bin VAR and take the officials to task over their performances. Enough is enough.

Craig Sibbald rescued a draw for Dundee United in a scrappy contest at Kilmarnock as both sides continue to search for a Scottish Premiership win.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say on the game via this link.

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "I thought the game panned out pretty much how we had prepared for it.

"Kilmarnock had been on a poor run, we knew they were going to be scrapping and fighting for every ball. I thought there wasn't a great deal between the teams in the first half. I thought we were a lot better in the second half and had a lot more control in the game and played a lot more of it in Kilmarnock's territory but unfortunately for all the good we were lacking in that little bit of quality and we probably didn't test the Kilmarnock goalkeeper enough in terms of shots on target.

"We showed good character to come back from a really disappointing decision for the penalty kick that went against us. We never gave up, scored a good equalising goal and tried to go and win the game. I think we had the better of the game, had that poor decision not gone against us I'd have been happy standing here having ground out a very scrappy 1-0 win.

"I spoke to the referee at half-time, he felt there was a clear push in the back. I can't believe there is a manager in the country that wants to see those types of penalties given against their defenders.

"We're heading down a slippery slope if we're going to start awarding penalty kicks for those types of contact in the box. The other frustration for me is I don't understand why the referee wasn't called over to look at the monitor. Had Matthew McDermid had the opportunity to watch it back I think he would have changed his decision.

"We didn't gift Kilmarnock any opportunities, we defended the box really well. Their delivery from corners were excellent, their long throws, I think we defended it all really well. I thought over the balance of play, the dangerous territory we had, we just shaded the game and should be standing here having won an ugly 1-0 victory."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United striker Max Watters insists there are "no alarm bells" at Tannadice despite their recent poor run of form.

After a solid start to the season the Tangerines have dropped to seventh in the Scottish Premiership, having won just one of their past seven matches.

They were beaten 3-0 by Falkirk last time out and are hoping to stop the rot at struggling Kilmarnock on Saturday.

"No alarm bells for us," Watters said. "We know what we can do, we know our ability, we know how good we are as a team when we are all working together and working hard.

"We need to show a reaction [to last week], we need to show the fans that we are going to turn it back around and show them a really good performance tomorrow and I think that is what we will definitely do.

"If you look at the big games we have played in the European competition and then the bigger teams in the league, you can see we have put in big performances and we can compete with any team in this league."

Watters, 26, made an instant impact after arriving on a season-long loan from Barnsley, scoring four goals in the early part of the season before being sidelined for three months with a hamstring injury.

After making his return off the bench during the defeat by Falkirk, Watters is hoping to pick up where he left off before his spell out.

"I have been back training for two weeks now so it feels really good," he said. "It was a few months out which was quite tough to mentally get through, but I am through the other side now.

"It was really frustrating, I got off to a good start, the same as the team and then picked up that injury which put me out for three months but back now and I am going to try and do what I did before I got injured and show everyone what I can do."

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock have an unchanged squad. Kyle Magennis has undergone knee surgery and remains out along with Max Stryjek (medical issue), Jamie Brandon (ankle/groin), Djenairo Daniels (knee) and Matty Kennedy (hip).

Dundee United trio Ross Graham, Max Watters and Ryan Strain are pushing for involvement with Isaac Pappoe (knee) the only absentee.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has had a "good conversation" with under-fire goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko and believes the Ukrainian has the determination and resilience to get through his "difficult period".

Kucharenko - who tops the Scottish Premiership own goal chart with three - cut a dejected figure following an error-strewn display in last weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Falkirk.

"I have had a good conversation in the office at the beginning of the week just to let him know we are all with him and that we understand what he is going through at the moment and he has got the full support and backing of all the staff and players," Goodwin said.

"It is a test of character, you have got to show real determination to come through those difficult moments, you need resilience and I believe Kucherenko has got that."

Goodwin would not disclose whether Kucherenko or Dave Richards will start in goal for Saturday's league trip to Kilmarnock.

"Making these difficult decisions is what I am paid to do and time will tell whether I decide to keep him in or make the change," Goodwin said. "I am not going to give too much away prior to the game.

"We have got an experienced number two there in Dave Richards, we have deliberately built the squad this way in case of any injury, suspension or poor form that we can make a change if necessary.

"Dave is champing at the bit for an opportunity so time will tell tomorrow whether he gets that or not."

United are looking to end a disappointing run of just one win in their past seven league games, against a Killie side that are on a six-match losing run.

"I can imagine things aren't too bubbly in the Kilmarnock dressing room at the moment so we have to try and use that to push us on to try and keep the pressure on them.

"I am not concerned at all, we are not a million miles off the points total we had this time last season. The league is really competitive and all teams go through little dips in form throughout the course of the campaign.

"I have got great confidence and great belief in this group of players. They have shown numerous times this year they are capable of beating any team - we just have to make sure we do that on a consistent basis."

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Much of the focus in recent weeks has been on Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell, given their six consecutive defeats and slide down the table.

They welcome Dundee United to Rugby Park on Saturday, who are themselves winless in three outings and in need of a confidence-boosting result and performance after a 3-0 defeat by Falkirk last weekend.

Manager Jim Goodwin has selection headaches aplenty, not least in goal after Yevhen Kucherenko was at fault for all three concessions against the Bairns.

Midfielder Panutche Camara could be back in contention after missing the loss against Falkirk to attend the birth of his child. He has impressed since signing from Crawley Town in the summer.

United could need all of his battling qualities if they are to take points away from something of a bogey ground.

They are winless in seven top-flight trips to Rugby Park since a 4-2 victory in May 2016 and have only won once on the road in the league this season.

Goodwin could do with changing both of those statistics on Saturday as his side try to reel in the sides in the top half.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Scottish Premiership trip to Kilmarnock.

Here are the key lines:

• Goodwin has had a "good conversation" with goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko - who endured an error-strewn display in the 3-0 defeat to Falkirk - "to let him know we are all with him and that we understand what he is going through at the moment".

• The United boss adds: "It is a test of character, you have to show real determination to come through those difficult moments. You need resilience and I believe Kucherenko has got that."

• On whether understudy Dave Richards may start this weekend, he said they are lucky to have two experienced keepers to chose from, adding: "Dave is chomping at the bit for an opportunity so time will tell tomorrow whether he gets that or not."

• Goodwin is "not concerned" at all by United's form - one win in seven games - and says they are "not a million miles" off the points total at this stage last season, insisting every team goes through dips.

• He adds: "I have great confidence and great belief in this group of players."

• On the challenge they face from Kilmarnock, who have lost six in a row: "However low we felt after the Falkirk game I can imagine things aren't too bubbly within the Kilmarnock dressing room at the moment."

• He wants United to "utilise" that and "keep the pressure" on Killie.

• United are determined to make amends for last week and Goodwin admits the result is "going to be huge for both teams".

• There are no fresh United injuries.

Image source, SNS

• Kilmarnock have won four of their past six Scottish Premiership games against Dundee United (D2), including the latest two in a row, last winning three in succession against the Tangerines in the top flight in February 2002 under Bobby Williamson.

• Dundee United are winless in seven Scottish Premiership away games at Kilmarnock (D3 L4) since a 4-2 victory in May 2016.

• Kilmarnock have lost their past six league games, the latest three of which have been by 2+ goals. Killie last lost four consecutive Scottish Premiership matches by a 2+ goal margin in November 2014 – the fourth of which was against Dundee United (3-1).

• Dundee United have only won one of their past seven league games (D3 L3), and have also only one once in six away matches in the Premiership this season (D4 L1).

• After losing his first three top-flight games against Dundee United as a manager from August 2020 to April 2023, Kilmarnock's Stuart Kettlewell has since won his past four league games against them (three with Motherwell, one with Killie).

Image source, SNS

We asked you whether Dundee United should drop error-prone goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko.

Here's what some of you said:

Sean: We cant keep doing the same thing expecting a different result. He needs to be taken out of the firing line and allowed to reset. Perhaps a goalkeeper will be crucial in the January window?

Logan: Jim Goodwin has to drop Kucherenko for the next game against Kilmarnock. His confidence will be very low after the weekend's performance. He keeps making the same mistake every week. Just catch the ball, it's not that hard.

Oleksa: Dave Richards has never been given a chance but I don't think he is solution - Ruairidh Adams may be in the future. In the meantime there is a huge dilemma as there also is with the back three or four or five - ultimately it's down to management decisions. I would stick with Yevhen for next game.

Graeme: Got to change keepers surely? A player would be dropped for making these mistakes. However, I'm not convinced Richards is the solution unfortunately. Could be a long time until January when we surely need to get a keeper in.

Kris: I'd honestly call Adams back from East Fife. Richards isn't much better than Kucherenko so get the young lad back from East Fife and play him.

Derek: His confidence is shattered and the manager needs to bench him. Dave Richards is an able deputy as he showed last year.

Calum: I feel for Kucherenko - he's obviously not making these mistakes on purpose - but he needs a spell on the bench. Richards hasn't played a lot but that goes with the territory of being a No.2. As does stepping up when the No.1 needs a break.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Jim Goodwin has several problems to deal with at faltering Dundee United – but solving the goalkeeping issue is arguably his most pressing.

Replacing the reliable Jack Walton during the summer was always going to be a big challenge and Yevhen Kucherenko has struggled to convince.

The 26-year-old Ukrainian is the last line of a United rearguard that has been leaking goals and has kept just two clean sheets in 12 league games.

Of course that isn't all down to the keeper, but he cut a crestfallen figure following an error-strewn display in the 3-0 home defeat to Falkirk last time out.

Having punched into his own net against the Bairns, Kucherenko has the ignominy of topping the Scottish Premiership own goal chart, with three.

He has also made two errors leading to goals - only Livingston's Jerome Prior has more in the Premiership - and has the second-most drops (four) as well as the second-lowest save percentage of top-flight keepers who have made at least five appearances this season.

While not quite Mark Birighitti levels of calamity yet, is it time for Kucherenko to be taken out of the firing line?

Dropping him sounds straightforward, but what impact would that have on the confidence of a player still finding his feet in Scotland?

Alternatively, if he keeps playing and gets through this bumpy period, it could be the making of him.

The only other senior goalkeeping option United have is 31-year-old Dave Richards. However, the Welshman hasn't played a lot of football over the last few seasons.

He has played once for United B this term – in a 6-0 Challenge Cup defeat to Inverness CT – and there were only four appearances last term.

The season before that Richards was on loan at St Johnstone where he failed to make a first-team appearance.

So, stick or twist – the manager must decide.

United fans, what would you do? Persevere with Kucherenko or give Richards a chance? Let us know here.

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

It has taken a while, and nothing is set in stone yet, but the league table is starting to look less like a mystery novel and more like an uncomfortable reality.

Unfortunately, United aren't exactly giving off top-six vibes.

Six home games played. Seven points collected. That's not a fortress, that's an open door policy with complimentary tea and biscuits for visiting teams.

When you've sold record numbers of season tickets, the last thing you want is your own stadium to feel like a neutral venue with better pies.

If we're serious about finishing top six and flirting with Europe, the home form needs fixed. Urgently, not eventually, not "after the international break", but now.

This team has shown it can be good. It has also shown it can look like it met for the first time in the car park.

Somewhere in between lies competence, and the manager's job is to find it before we collectively lose the will to live.

It might be time to give a few regular starters a well-earned rest on the bench and freshen things up, especially at the back.

Twenty goals conceded and barely a defensive tweak? At this point even the kitman deserves a run at centre-half and let's not get me started on the goalkeeper.

Next up: Kilmarnock away. A ground we hate. A manager we can't seem to outsmart. A team on a six-game losing streak. So naturally, what could possibly go wrong?

Paul McNicoll can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast, external