Dundee United

Image source, SNS

Zac Sapsford believes Sunday's trip to Tynecastle gives Dundee United the chance to show their mettle against the surprise Scottish Premiership leaders.

Hearts, who beat United 3-2 at Tannadice in August thanks to a 90th-minute winner from defender Stuart Findlay, are nine points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership having played a game more.

Derek McInnes' side have yet to lose a league game this season and have earned victories against both Celtic and Rangers.

The Australian striker, 23, who joined United from Western Sydney Wanderers in June, was disappointed with the 2-0 defeat in the last game at Motherwell and is aiming to make amends against Hearts.

He said: "Obviously we're really disappointed with the result and performance against Motherwell, but I think it's a really important game to come back into.

"Top-of-the-table Hearts away, what a game to really show what we're made of and I think we're really ready for it.

"It's being confident within our abilities in each position.

"If we get that right, I think we can cause any team in the league real problems, including Hearts.

"At Tannadice, we should have got something out of the game. So that definitely puts confidence in us and we know that we can play against the best and at the moment they are the best in the league.

"But every team is beatable. We want to win the game and we believe we can do that."

Image source, SNS

Hearts expect to have midfielder Ageu and goalkeeper Ryan Fulton back in contention so Calem Nieuwenhof and Finlay Pollock (both hamstring) are the only absentees.

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin hopes to see Ross Graham and Max Watters (both hamstring) available again before the end of the month. Isaac Pappoe (knee) is out long term.

Manager Jim Goodwin has confirmed Dundee United were on the trail of Pierre Landry Kabore before Hearts made the Burkina Faso forward an offer they could not compete with. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Saturday's gossip.

Image source, SNS

Jim Goodwin is convinced his Dundee United side can upset the odds against league leaders Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.

Derek McInnes' men are unbeaten and lead the Premiership by nine points from defending champions Celtic, who have played a game fewer.

McInnes this week said he doesn't expect any downturn in Hearts' results and Goodwin, whose United team were beaten 3-2 at home by the Tynecastle side in August, understands his opposite number's stance.

"I think Derek is probably right to say that," said Goodwin.

"I think when your team is winning, it's a great habit to be in and I would imagine the training ground is a really positive place for Hearts at the moment and there's a lot of confidence within the building.

"But I think the position Hearts find themselves in, it probably brings with it its own pressures as well. The level of expectancy among the supporters lifts automatically when you've had the kind of start of Hearts have had.

"But I think any team in this league is capable of beating anybody else and we certainly don't have a defeatist mindset going into the game on Sunday.

"People in the media and others outwith the club may view Hearts as big favourites, but we certainly believe if we turn up and perform the way we know we're capable of, then we can certainly give them a game.

"We had a great track record there last season at Tynecastle and hopefully we can go and do the same this year."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership trip to league-leaders Hearts on Sunday.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• Says United can take positives from the defeat by Hearts earlier in the season at Tannadice, but expects a tough test at Tynecastle, against the only team in the league without inconsistencies.

• Says Derek McInnes' side have an "array of quality" and stresses United will need to be at their best defensively.

• Thinks anyone can beat anyone in the Premiership and believes they will give Hearts a good game, as they did in August.

• Goodwin points out Hearts have benefitted from Celtic and Rangers' misfortunes this season and says being top of the league brings a different type of pressure.

• Believes Ivan Dolcek can and will rediscover his early season form and stresses how difficult it can be for young players coming into a new environment.

• Ross Graham and Max Watters are on track to be back in team training at the end of this month. There are no new injury concerns.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin believes it is too early to say whether Sunday's opponents Hearts can win the Scottish Premiership. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

• After their 3-2 victory in August, Hearts are looking for successive league wins over Dundee United within a single season for the first time since November 2021.

• Dundee United won their two league visits to Tynecastle last season (both 1-0), just one fewer than their previous 16 top-flight away games at Hearts (W3 D5 L8).

• Hearts have 29 points in their 11 league games (W9 D2 L0), while a victory here would make this the best start after 12 games of a Scottish top-flight season by a non-Old Firm club since 2005-06, when Hearts had 32 points from their opening 12.

• Dundee United have won just one of their past seven away league games (D3 L3), beating Dundee 2-0 in August.

• Lawrence Shankland is the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership this season with seven goals. He has netted in his last three league games and could become the first player to score in four in a row for Hearts since doing it himself in February 2024.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin reveals he has had a "good conversation" with Ivan Dolcek in a bid to get the on-loan Croat back to the levels that made him the Premiership's player of the month in August. (The Courier), external

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Is it too simplistic to draw a correlation between Dundee United's recent struggles and Ivan Dolcek's drop-off in form?

Probably yes, but there is no doubt the Tangerines could do with the Croat winger rediscovering his early-season levels.

The 25-year-old made an instant impact following his loan arrival, netting five goals in his opening five league games and being named Premiership player of the month for August.

However, the last of those goals came against Aberdeen on 23 September. In the four matches Dolcek has played since, United have won none and lost two. Of the two draws in that run, Dolcek was substituted at half-time in both.

He didn't even make it off the bench when Jim Goodwin's side defeated St Mirren 3-1 on 25 October – the club's only win since beating the Dons.

Dolcek's stunning start to life in Scotland proved he can be a quality operator.

The challenge for manager Goodwin is to find a way of unlocking that talent once again. If he can, don't be surprised if it coincides with an upturn in United's fortunes.

Manager Jim Goodwin insists he is comfortable with Dundee United's move towards an aggressive player trading model. (The Courier), external

Former Dundee United manager and Hearts caretaker Liam Fox has been appointed head coach of Sporting Club Jacksonville in United States' second-tier, the club where former Rangers manager Mark Warburton is sporting director. (Daily Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

Ryan Edwards adds "invaluable" experience to Falkirk after the former Dundee United defender joined on a deal until January.

The 32-year-old has spent the past two seasons in India, making 46 appearances for Super League side Chennaiyin, after leaving Tannadice.

Edwards bolsters an injury-hit Falkirk defence, with Lewis Neilson, Coll Donaldson and Tom Lang all sidelined.

Manager John McGlynn said: "Ryan is a player who we've brought in as a replacement, more or less, for Lewis Neilson.

"Lewis picked up an injury against Motherwell and has gone through an operation, so we're looking at him being out for around another 10 weeks from now.

"Ryan is 32 and he's played in this league before with Dundee United. That experience will stand him in good stead for playing here.

"He's a no-nonsense centre-back, who is 6ft 5in. He's going to head the ball in both boxes, he's going to be a threat at the other end, so he'll add that experience that is invaluable in this division."

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

When it comes to picking a first XI I'm a big advocate of horses for courses, but down Tannadice way recently there seems to have been an awful lot of chopping and changing from week to week. Different formations, different personnel.

Now I appreciate, if recent results had been more favourable, I likely wouldn't feel the need to raise this question, but recent results and performances haven't been great, so it's getting raised.

Should United focus more on themselves than on what they should do to stop the opposition?

Look at Motherwell, for example. They've got a clear identity. They play the same way every week. Come rain, shine, or a 3-0 deficit, you know exactly what you're getting with them.

It might not always come off, but at least the players look like they know which way they're supposed to be kicking. There's something to be said for that.

So does Jim Goodwin need to stick to a formation he believes in and go with it? Or should he continue doing what he is doing at present, the horses for courses method?

I suspect he won't change, and I'm also not overly pushing for the change, but it does merit mentioning.

As for the recent run of results and performances, perhaps the team are just struggling at the moment, and it's merely coincidence that different formations/players have been employed, almost from game to game, while the form has dipped. Who can say?

Whatever the reason, the next test is a trip to Tynecastle and if Goodwin doesn't get his selection right there, it could be a very long afternoon in Gorgie.

Let's just hope the horses he picks that day can actually gallop, because Hearts won't be standing still waiting for us to catch up.

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

Dundee United were among the clubs tracking Pierre Landry Kabore over the summer before the Burkina Faso forward chose to join Hearts. (The Courier), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Jackie McNamara are unimpressed with defender Krisztian Keresztes' efforts at preventing Motherwell's second goal in Dundee United's midweek defeat in Lanarkshire.

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 2-0 defeat against Motherwell at Fir Park.

Here's what some of you said:

Jamie: It's time for Jim Goodwin to go. Our squad has evolved with some exciting players joining in the summer, but his tactics haven't. He talks a good game in his press conferences, but come matchday he fails to deliver. In almost every league game this season he has got his tactics and team selection wrong in the first half and been forced to change things in desperation. Hats off to Motherwell, they played some beautiful football.

Joe: That was dreadful from start to finish. Feared what might come from the game, our shockingly poor starts to matches have become a regularity and this was no different. Outside of Luca Stephenson hitting the post we offered next to nothing. A very concerning night in terms of result but particularly performance, questions have to be asked as to why we can't take the game to the opposition from the off.

Gary: Shocking from start to finish. We were miles off it and second best in every department. I'm glad Goodwin shouldered a lot of the blame, but the excuses have to stop. Yes we're a new team, but they've had time to gel and have a strong squad now which will only get stronger as the last few injuries return. But we MUST get consistency of performance.

Steve: Four matches in a row where we've been incredibly poor, flappy goalkeeper and lumping balls to a big striker with no one near him for support is what got us relegated. Would love to know what Goodwin has been working on at training as the contrast with Motherwell was stark.

Kieran: Toothless, timid and tactless just some of few words we have been accustomed to this season. Again another diabolical first half, defending for both goals questionable, especially the second and the midfield again were bystanders.

George: Weak defence is causing problems throughout the team. Goalkeeper not brave enough, time for a change. In defence, three or four switch off allowing attackers to get there first. We need to sharpen up at the back or we could be in real trouble.

Watch the goals as Motherwell beat Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership (UK only).

Motherwell head into Saturday's League Cup semi-final on a high after recording consecutive Scottish Premiership victories for the first time this season by downing Dundee United.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts.

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin told BBC Scotland: "We were really poor on the night, but I don't want to take anything away from Motherwell - I thought they were excellent, particularly in the first half.

"I've got to take my share of the blame in that because tactically, I don't think we got it right. We made changes, we were able to commit more bodies forward, be more aggressive in our press.

"In the first half, we were too cautious. Motherwell want the press, want you to come onto them, they want to break lines and take your midfield out the game. They caused us numerous problems.

"The second half was a little bit better but nowhere near good enough and we didn't deserve to take anything on the night.

"Sibbald took a bad gash to his shin, that's the reason. [Pan] Camara made a real difference when he came on in the middle of the pitch. Unfortunately, we couldn't start Pan tonight."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Much has been made about the impact a resurgent Craig Sibbald has had on Dundee United in recent games.

But another development that will be just as welcome is Zac Sapsford's return to the scoring charts.

The Australian striker, who arrived from Western Sydney Wanderers during the summer, made an instant impact with two goals in Conference League qualifiers and a couple of strikes early in the Premiership.

But Sapsford's goal in the 3-1 win over St Mirren last weekend was his first since the middle of September, a four-game barren run.

Sapsford scored nine and provided four assists last term in his homeland and has already shown plenty of promise here.

Only Ivan Dolcek (five) can trump Sapsford's haul of three league goals so far, while the Australian has had the most shots - 17 - of any United player and has put 10 on target.

Sapsford also leads the way for United with five of what Opta deem 'big chances', but the fact he has only scored one of those suggests some calmer finishing may be required with gilt-edged opportunities.

The 23-year-old should of course be cut some slack as he continues to adapt to life in a new country and football culture.

However, like all strikers, he will thrive off confidence and United will be hoping that now that he is back among the goals there will be plenty more to follow - starting tonight at Fir Park where the Tannadice men have toiled in recent years.

Image source, SNS

• Motherwell have won their past two home games against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership, with those games seeing a combined 12 goals (3-2 in May 2023, 4-3 in December 2024).

• United have only won one of their past six away league visits to Motherwell (D1 L4), a 2-1 victory in April 2023.

• Motherwell's last home league game was a 2-1 defeat to Falkirk – ending their eight-game unbeaten run at Fir Park in the Scottish Premiership (W4 D4).

• United remain unbeaten in their four away league games this season (W1 D3), last going five without defeat on the road in the Premiership in October 2021.

• United's Jim Goodwin has lost seven of his 17 Scottish Premiership games against Motherwell as a manager (W5 D5), only losing more in the competition against Rangers (14), Celtic (11), and Hibernian (9).

Image source, SNS

Goalkeeper Aston Oxborough is out of the Motherwell squad with a hand injury. Long-term absentees Sam Nicholson, Filip Stuparevic (both knee), Eseosa Sule, Jordan McGhee (both thigh) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Dundee United remain without Ross Graham and Max Watters (both hamstring). Isaac Pappoe (knee) is out long term.

Image source, SNS

Jim Goodwin will aim to showcase his Dundee United's squad's flexibility when they visit a Motherwell side who present a "completely different challenge".

United beat St Mirren 3-1 on Saturday but Goodwin believes they will need to "show a different side" to their game at Fir Park.

"It's a completely different challenge to the one that we faced at the weekend against St Mirren. Two real contrasting styles of play," said the Tannadice boss.

"On Saturday it was about the physicality, it was about matching the effort and the athleticism of St Mirren and having to defend the box pretty much every moment they had the ball.

"Motherwell are completely different in their approach - they try to build from the back, they've got some very good technical players in the midfield area. They've got real pace at the top end of the pitch as well.

"That's why the recruitment side of things is so important as well. You can't be one-dimensional. We're not afraid to change things up here - change systems, change formations, change personnel.

"We showed a side to ourselves on Saturday that gave us all a lot of confidence that we can stand up to that physical approach.

"On Wednesday night against Motherwell, we're going to have to show a different side to our game in terms of the discipline and the structure of the team behind the ball.

"The shape of the team is going to be important when we don't have possession, but also when we do get it, then we have to go and show what we're capable of doing as well.

"It's two very good attacking teams and hopefully that will make for a really entertaining game of football.

"It's only Hearts that have scored more goals in the Premiership than ourselves, which is great."