Dundee United

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

We Dundee United fans have, at times, been accused of living in the Eighties.

That's not a theory I personally subscribe to but there's no denying those were most certainly the glory years for the club, so if there was any particular time period we Arabs would choose to relive, then of course it would be the Eighties.

With that being said, Jim Goodwin's United Nations XI headed off to Vienna last Thursday and did their best to roll back the years.

In truth, I just wanted them to get back to Tannadice with half a chance of progression. What we were served up was a phenomenal performance of guts, determination and no shortage of resiliency. A throwback to the Euro performances of the Eighties if you will.

The best thing to come out of Australia since Neighbours, Home and Away and Ugg Boots is Zac Sapsford - he was fantastic on the night. The striker ran himself into the ground, set up the first and scored the second with a sublime finish. He was poetry in motion.

The back line of Iurie Iovu, Bert Esselink and Krisztian Keresztes were outstanding and worked their socks off defending as if their lives depended on it.

And how could I forget the token Scotsman in the team. Craig Sibbald was the best of the bunch for me and, although it's still early in the season, he seems to have taken his game to the next level. He was always exactly where he needed to be.

All that means 1,000 or so travelling fans headed home with memories of one of the greatest nights of their lives and a real belief their European tour may still have a few destinations left.

Tannadice this Thursday will be absolutely rocking, and while I don't think it will be overly intimidating to the Rapid players, it can certainly help lift United to once again go above and beyond to bring us yet another famous European night under the lights at the old ground. Vamos!

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

Dundee United have agreed a deal with Haugesund to sign 26-year-old midfielder Julius Eskesen on a free transfer, with the Norwegian club instead receiving bonuses if certain outcomes occur. (Norway Transfers on X), external

Julius Eskesen will undergo a medical with Dundee United on Tuesday as the midfielder completes his switch from troubled Haugesund, who sit bottom of the Eliteserien and will receive a small fee for the 26-year-old who was out of contract at the end of this year. (Farzam Abolhosseini on X), external

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Dundee United's Conference League qualification opponents Rapid Vienna came back from a goal down to beat Sturm Graz 2-1 in the Austrian top flight on Sunday evening away from home.

A Jean Marcelin own goal gifted the back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga champions the opener just before the hour mark.

Petter Nosakhare Dahl, who scored against United, then levelled before Claudy M'Buyi scored the winner just three minutes later.

Rapid sit joint-top of their league on six points after two games.

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 3-2 defeat by Hearts.

Here is what some of you said:

Jamie: Absolutely gutted for the players. Despite Thursday night's exertions and a depleted squad, we more than matched a Hearts side who have spent millions.

Rayaan: United were robbed.

Steven: Well, after Thursday night's performance and the amount of effort given by everyone, it's no surprise the players looked a bit tired in the second half. Players would've also had the return leg in their thoughts, and at times, players not winning 50/50s showed a lack of commitment.

It's no surprise we didn't get the win today. I'm sure nobody wanted to get injured and left some effort out on the park. Seven goals conceded in three games is a worry for me. Must be tighter on Thursday.

Drew: We were exhausted in the second half, but disappointed with the result. Now we look forward to Thursday against Vienna. We need reinforcements for our squad ASAP.

Kenny: Just shocking defending for Hearts' second and third goals. United had the game in the bag until two crazy moments.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Ivan Dolcek: Two goals against Hearts, the Croat now has three in total after netting last weekend versus Falkirk.

Highlights of Dundee United 2-3 Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

Amid reports that several English clubs are "monitoring" the Irishman's progress, Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has revealed that he is locked in talks with a view to extending his contract. (The Courier), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "It's never a good time to concede a goal, but it's disappointing the fashion we did. The three goals we conceded here today, a penalty which is avoidable. A defender goes to ground needlessly in my opinion and gives the referee a decision to make.

"[Stuart] Findlay gets himself free of his marker on two occasions, and that's what cost us the game today. We'd have loved to be a bit more aggressive and high energy and getting after Hearts a bit more.

"But given the circumstances of the short recovery period from Thursday, we had to set up in a low block and try and deny Hearts space in behind.

"The shape of the team in open play was very good actually, Yevhenii Kucherenko didn't have a great deal to do. He had one save in the first half and another in the second half from open play.

"But those three goals, in terms of taking responsibility and doing our jobs in key moments, that's what's cost us."

Two second-half goals from centre-back Stuart Findlay - including the winner in the 94th minute - stunned Dundee United as Hearts salvaged their 100% start to the Scottish Premiership campaign.

Read the match report and have your say.

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Isaac Pappoe joined Dundee United's injury list after being carried off with a knee injury against Rapid Vienna.

Ryan Strain, Kristijan Trapanovski and Ross Graham are all missing with hamstring injuries. But Dario Naamo and Amar Fatah are closing in on comebacks.

Hearts could hand a debut to Pierre Landry Kabore while fellow summer signing Sabah Kerjota is available after suspension.

Craig Gordon (shoulder), Jamie McCart (ankle), Kenneth Vargas (hip) and Finlay Pollock (hamstring) are still out, while Beni Baningime (knee) and Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) have an outside chance of being involved.

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• All three league matches between Dundee United and Hearts last season finished as 1-0 wins to the away side, with the Tangerines winning two of those and Hearts the other. United are looking to win back-to-back Premiership games against Hearts for the first time since March 2014.

• Hearts are unbeaten in five Premiership away games at Dundee United (won three, drawn two) since a 2-1 defeat in February 2016.

• Hearts could win back-to-back top-flight visits to Tannadice for the first time since December 2002.

• Dundee United have won their opening home game of a Premiership season in just one of their past five top-flight campaigns (drawn two, lost two), beating Rangers 1-0 in 2021-22.

• After their 2-0 victory over Aberdeen, Hearts are looking to start a league season with wins in both of their opening two matches for the first time since 2021-22. Indeed, Derek McInnes could become the first manager to win both of his first two top-flight games in charge of the club since Robbie Neilson in August 2015.

• In their 2-2 draw with Falkirk on matchday one, Max Watters and Ivan Dolcek both scored on their Scottish Premiership debut – no player on record (since 2005-06) has found the net on both of their first two appearances in the competition for Dundee United.

Jane Lewis in Vienna
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Bert Esselink is determined to help prolong Dundee United's European adventure after the memorable 2-2 draw at Rapid Vienna.

Jim Goodwin's men showed admirable grit in the Austrian capital to twice come from behind with goals from Max Watters and Zac Sapsford and make it all to play for in next Thursday's second leg at Tannadice.

AIK Stockholm or FC Gyor await the winners of the tie in the Conference League play-off round.

"We are in it and let's stay in it the longest we can," said Dutch defender Esselink.

"I think for everyone in the team, it's something that you watch during Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nights. You watch the games in Europe and that's something everyone wants to be a part of."

Esselink, a summer arrival from Polish side Stal Mielec, was pleased with United's gritty display in Vienna but stressed there's still room for improvement.

"Ofcourse, it's a boost for us, especially in the second half to make the draw," he said.

"So yeah, that gives us confidence. We have to keep working, put up the same performance and maybe change a few parts of the game that we can do better.

"We need to have the confidence and the pride to proceed and go well on Thursday night.

"I think we can get a bit more pressure on them. But also the way we're marking crosses and where we conceded the goals.

"We have to do it better in our communication and our positioning. So that's things we have to work on and we have to do it fast."

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 2-2 draw away to Rapid Vienna in the first leg of their Conference League third-round qualifier.

Here's what some of you said:

Adam: Absolutely sensational performance. Once again Jim Goodwin has built a team that will fight until the bitter end. Zac Sapsford looks an absolute gem. They will not relish playing us at a sold out Tannadice!

Murray: Absolutely brilliant result. I've supported United for over 40 years and this result is up there with the best. I say that as this team are just at the beginning of the process of learning to play together. While they rode their luck at times, the draw was merited and deserved. As long as they give it their best shot next week I'll be happy.

Jim: Another brilliant night in United's European history. Great performance from the team, squad, manager, backroom staff and the fans.

Iain: A brilliant performance by United, the team is really starting to gel together, if we put that kind of performance in at home we will definitely progress to the play-off round.

Kieran: It is nights like this that makes you proud to support United, through thick and thin. Our main task was to keep the score credible and boy haven't we just. To a man the team were outstanding. Did we ride our luck at times? Yes. But the bravery, desire and resilience to come back twice from behind shows we can mix in with the big boys and not be there just to make up the numbers.

Ian: Impressive. Well done to all, one of those games where all the players turned up and played as a team and when that happens you are on to a good thing.

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Former United midfielder Scott Allan on BBC Sportscene

Outstanding away performance from Dundee United. They all deserve full credit, that took a whole team performance.

Jim Goodwin will be absolutely delighted. Take this game back to Tannadice and it's all to play for.

Zac Sapsford was outstanding all night, he deserved that goal and after it the team took huge belief.

Former United defender Sean Dillon on BBC Sportscene

I'm delighted for them, they defended really and everyone deserves a huge amount of credit.

Craig Sibbald down the middle of the park was brilliant, an unsung hero. He was doing thing you don't normally see or people don't often pick up on, but he was just so calm in how he did it.

Owen Stirton was given half an hour not just the last few minutes. He was trusted with that and he was excellent when he came on. Having substitutes improving your team is excellent for the manager and the team got more confident and grew as the game went on.

Rapid Vienna were really dangerous down the wings but to come back from behind twice and make tackles and blocks, Bert Esselink in particular, was incredible.

There were so many individuals who went above and beyond.

Football journalist Moira Gordon on BBC Scottish Football Podcast

Being the team with the momentum at the end of the match always helps.

When you're coming back feeling that you've been abroad, you've done the hard job of fighting back twice, you get a belief from that.

In United's earlier games, people looked and maybe thought they were slow starting. There was a lot of players still to gel but I think there is more team fluidity there now.

The fact they were able to do that in a really tough tie and be able to come back more than alive, they'll fancy their chances back home. They've shown they've got the fight for it and they want it.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland in Vienna

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Dundee United defender Will Ferry believes his side have shown they "can hang with the big clubs" by drawing 2-2 with Rapid Vienna in the first leg of their Conference League qualifier on Thursday.

Although Ferry concedes United were up against it at times against a team who reached the quarter-finals last season, he believes they've shown enough to have the belief that they can win through to the play-off round.

"We can hang with these big teams, big clubs," Ferry told BBC Scotland.

"Don't get me wrong, there were points in that game where they were popping it and the movement of the front four, sometimes it was really hard to deal with.

"But this is what we dream of as a kid, playing against these good teams, good players, good atmospheres."

Ferry says the atmosphere in the Allianz Stadium was the "one of the best he's played in", and is calling for United's fans to replicate that at Tannadice for the return leg next Thursday.

A play-off tie with Sweden's AIK Stockholm or FC Gyor of Kosovo in the play-off round is the prize at stake.

"We're going to be on a home pitch next week and hopefully fans get up for it as well. It's about being aggressive, physical and just not giving them an easy game."

"When the fans are up for it, it's a great place to play. It'll be a bit different to tonight. Hopefully the fans will help push us over the line."

Dundee United's hopes of Uefa Conference League progression remain alive after they twice came from behind to earn an excellent draw with a slick Rapid Vienna in the Austrian capital.

United fans, were you in Vienna or following from home? What do you make of the result, and how confident are you of progressing?

Give us your thoughts here.

Read the full match report here.

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Dundee United goalscorer Zac Sapsford says "the whole team is buzzing" after the Tannadice club came from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw with Rapid Vienna.

Jim Goodwin's side head back to Tannadice for the second leg of their Conference League third qualifying round with everything to play for after a creditable draw in Austria.

"I'm really pleased with the whole team today," Sapsford, who scored United's second goal, told BBC Scotland.

"We all put a shift in and keep the tie alive going back to Dundee.

"Every game is tough, I like to work hard. No matter what I do, I like to come off the pitch with everything left on the field.

"We'll see next Thursday [how significant the goal is].

"They're really good on the ball but I think we did a fantastic job tonight to keep them to two goals.

"We all work so hard we were able to score really good goals against them and I think the whole team is buzzing."

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "It was very nervy at the end.

"The team was running on empty.

"Given the situation with the squad, we don't have the options available to us to freshen things up, but I thought it was a really gutsy performance from the team.

"We showed real courage and togetherness within the group to just put bodies on the line and try and take a positive result back to Dundee with us.

"It was a really enjoyable performance, I really enjoyed the occasion.

"The Dundee United supporters were excellent and I'm pleased we were able to put on a performance they can be proud of."

When asked if his team showed enough tonight that they can through, Goodwin added: "I think they did.

"We had a number of dangerous attacks ourselves."

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Dundee United forward Max Watters says the club's past European heroics are on the squad's mind as they prepare to face Rapid Vienna tonight.

The Tannadice side met Rapid in the quarter-finals of the 1984 European Cup, with Jim McLean's side winning on away goals before losing to Roma in the semis.

McLean's side were a European force - reaching the Uefa Cup final in 1987 - and Jim Goodwin's new-look crop of 2025 hope to write their own history, starting with taking Rapid's scalp in Conference League qualifying.

Watters, who joined on loan from Barnsley last month, said: "I think all the players want to play in this competition, it's massive.

"A lot of players that have come in and signed, I think this is one of the main reasons why they've come. We just want to do as well as we can and push on as far as we can.

"We've been told by the manager a lot of the stuff and the history of the club.

"I think a lot of the players have looked it up, we just want to replicate what the club has achieved in the past, and hopefully we can do well this year."

The 26-year-old made his first United start in the 2-2 draw against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday and says he's "fit and ready" if given the nod to lead the line again in Vienna.

"It's still a new team, really. We haven't played many games together. I think there are always things to improve on," he added.

"I think every day that we're training, we're seeing the improvements and everything the staff are doing is helping us become a better team."