Dundee United

Kristijan Trapanovski sought departing Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski's advice before making his summer move to Dundee United from Shkupi and the 25-year-old winger says his compatriot's belief that it will aid his career has already paid off with a call-up to the North Macedonia squad. (Daily Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Jim Goodwin says the benefits of a summer he spent scouring the world to devise a formation that best suits his Dundee United side are starting to show.

After stepping up from the Championship, United have made a blistering start to the season.

They are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions and sit third in the Premiership going into Sunday's Tannadice showdown with Rangers.

Goodwin said: "We are very much a 3-4 -3 in attack. We want to try and be aggressive in the top end of the pitch out of possession, but then we are quite willing at times to drop back into a 5-4-1 low block and frustrate the opposition.

"The 3-4-3 is a system that a number of teams in Europe have adopted. I spent the summer pretty much analysing all these top teams all over the world and trying to come up with a system we feel would suit our recruitment process and the players we already have under contract.

"This one has taken a little bit of time for the players to get used to, because a number of them haven't been involved in it before, but there are certainly signs in recent weeks that there is now a clear understanding of what we look like in and out of possession."

Goodwin is keen to temper expectations amid his team's strong start to the campaign.

"People start thinking about getting too far ahead of themselves, I am trying to make sure the players don’t do that," he added.

The United boss is preparing to face an under-pressure Rangers side who have only won two of their opening four league games and were soundly beaten 3-0 at Celtic Park last time out.

"We know the quality they have, they will still be hurting after their recent defeat to Celtic and no doubt Philippe Clement will be looking for a reaction from his players," he said.

"You only need to look to the fixture prior to Celtic, they put six by Ross County, so I don’t think Rangers have been playing terribly. We are not underestimating them.'

"We tend not to focus too much on the opposition. We respect everybody we play, but we try and focus on what our strengths and weaknesses are."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s Premiership visit of Rangers.

Here are the key lines:

• Goodwin highlights the "really good momentum" United took into the international break but is trying to "temper people's expectations", adding "it is a good start but that is all it is".

• He believes there is still a lot of improvement to come from the squad.

• The Tannadice boss is braced for a "reaction" from Rangers after their Old Firm defeat and doesn't think Philippe Clement's side have "been playing terribly".

• On referee chief Willie Collum admitting United should have been given a penalty against Dundee on the opening day, Goodwin says: "I think this openness and transparency is a real positive for the game".

• But he adds the decision went against them in "such an important and significant game so hopefully we don’t have too many more of those situations going forward".

• On the 3-4-3 formation that has worked so well this season, Goodwin says it was the result of analysing "top teams all over the world".

• Ryan Strain is United's only absentee. The Australian full-back is "probably another six weeks away from playing competitive games".

Considering Jim Goodwin's United are newly promoted and lost their latest four meetings with Rangers when they were last in the Premiership, you would expect last season's runners-up to be strong favourites despite the game being at Tannadice.

But this is a different United - and a different Rangers.

This is the first opportunity Philippe Clement's visitors have had to redeem themselves after their shortcomings were exposed again by champions Celtic.

A crushing 3-0 defeat in the first Old Firm derby of the season not only leaves Rangers five points behind their city rivals and Aberdeen after only four games but also down in fourth place - one point behind Sunday's hosts.

They head to Tannadice without a win in their three away games this season - and have only won one of their last seven on the road in the Premiership stretching into last term.

Clement insisted in this week's question and answer session with supporters that he believes his side can still win the title - and fans currently appear more inclined to blame the Ibrox club's board for squad weaknesses.

However, with the leading two playing a day earlier, Rangers could find themselves eight points adrift by kick-off in Tayside and pressure will only mount on the Belgian if they end the weekend further behind.

It is certainly not the ideal time to be visiting a side who are unbeaten in eight outings, winning their latest three, and who have not lost in 10 home games - five of them this season.

One thing both sides have in common is an eye for taking their chances.

Rangers' expected goals from non-penalty shots in the Premiership this season is the highest of any side at 0.148, with United in third with an average of 0.124, and such clinical finishing could make the difference.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Image source, SNS

• Dundee United have won three of their last six meetings at home with Rangers in all competitions, after winning only one of their previous nine against the Ibrox side at Tannadice (D3 L5).

• Rangers have won their last four Scottish Premiership games against Dundee United, last winning five league games in a row versus the Tangerines between September 2001 and December 2003 (eight in a row).

• Dundee United have won their last two league games; the last newly-promoted club to win three in a row in the top flight were Hearts in January 2022.

• Rangers have only won one of their last seven away league games (D3 L3) - their fewest wins over a run of seven away league outings under a single manager since September 2016 under Mark Warburton (also one in seven).

• The average expected goals of Rangers non-penalty shots in the Premiership this season is 0.148, the highest of any side, while Dundee United's average of 0.124 xG/non-pen shot is third highest.

Image source, SNS

Steven Fletcher's glowing endorsement of Dundee United played a part in Wrexham team-mate Sam Dalby's late loan move to Tannadice.

The 24-year-old striker says he was aware of the Premiership club's interest for some time, but when an approach was made on deadline day former United forward Fletcher "had nothing but good things to say" about a potential switch.

"I always knew they wanted me here and that's definitely played a big part," Dalby revealed.

"Fletch was here before and he had nothing but good things to say, he was buzzing I was coming here and said he's going to come to a couple of games if he can."

After making his debut off the bench in United's win at Hearts last time out, Dalby says he is relishing the thought of experiencing "massive games" like Sunday's against Rangers.

Jim Goodwin's side go into the fixture at Tannadice a point and a place above the Ibrox club.

"When you come up here these are the games you look forward to," Dalby added.

"We had the derby against Dundee and the lads have been going on about the atmosphere. We've got a full house at the weekend and we'll be looking to try and recreate that.

"The momentum behind us especially gives us that confidence we can go and get a result on Sunday."

Image source, SNS

If only Rory McAllister listened to his pals.

Had the Peterhead forward done that many years ago, Dundee United may have had one of the most potent strikers Scotland has produced.

McAllister has been making the news this week after becoming only the third player in the post-war era to net 250 league goals in the country's top four divisions.

After being released as a youth at Aberdeen and failing to have the impact he hoped at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, McAllister dropped down into part-time football and has never looked back.

Big clubs came calling in St Mirren and United, but he couldn't be swayed, despite his pals' best attempts.

"I always get stick from a few of my pals who are Dundee United fans, I could have gone there," McAllister told BBC Scotland as he revealed he's chasing down Ally McCoist's record as top goalscorer in Scotland.

"They say I should've gone, but I always say if I had done that, would I have these scoring stats or be remembered as a player? Probably not.

"Some people just don't suit the full-time lifestyle. The part-time life just suited me perfect."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United should have been awarded a penalty in their 2-2 draw with Dundee on the Premiership opening day, Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum has conceded.

Collum highlights eight controversial incidents in The VAR Review, a new monthly show on the Scottish FA's YouTube channel.

Of those eight, the other major decision Collum concluded was wrong was Celtic being denied a spot-kick in their 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.

But Collum, who assumed the role during the summer, said he was "content with the start we've made".

Dundee Utd 2-2 Dundee, 4 August

United's claims for a penalty were denied by referee David Dickinson after the ball struck the arm of Dundee defender Luke Graham.

"This was a missed handball," Collum said. "The ball firstly travels from distance, from a corner kick.

"The Dundee player, when he jumps, his arm is in an unnatural position and he's not jostling with an opponent."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The dream football formula is to take your chances when they come and keep the door shut at the back.

It is a formula every manager is looking for, and one Dundee United's Jim Goodwin appears to have found of late.

United have won their last three games, and not conceded a goal, so the proof is in the pudding.

In fact, while the last three matches have been especially impressive, it's been a very good campaign overall so far for Goodwin's side.

Since losing the opening game – away to Falkirk in the League Cup – they are undefeated in all competitions, and are emerging from the international break flying high in third place in the table.

Now, though, comes a demanding run. A home game against Rangers, then a trio of trips on the road – at Motherwell, Kilmarnock and St Mirren – is a sequence of fixtures that will really test the mettle of this United team.

But there seems to be a strong resolve and plenty of character in Goodwin's squad – and let's not forget success breeds confidence.

You get the sense that as the weeks tick by, this United side will believe they can make life pretty uncomfortable for anyone they play – something they will be hoping Rangers discover at Tannadice on Sunday.

Image source, SNS

Three Dundee United players tasted victory with their national teams on Tuesday.

Richard Odada played the full 90 minutes of Kenya's crucial 2-1 win against Namibia in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Kenya are top of Group J.

Fellow midfielder David Babunski featured in the first half as North Macedonia defeated Armenia 2-0, despite playing the second 45 with 10 men, to remain top of Nations League Group C4.

And Miller Thomson made his Scotland Under-21 debut after coming off the bench in the 5-0 trouncing of Malta as Scot Gemmill's side remain in pursuit of a place at next summer's European Championships.

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Now the international break is out the way we can get back to the 'proper' football this weekend. And what a fixture to whet the appetite us United fans have to look forward to.

We welcome Rangers to Tannadice on Sunday and they are a team we have done relatively well against at times, certainly more so than our efforts against their rivals over in the east end of Glasgow.

Past successes, though, are no guarantee of future results and regardless of the state of play at Ibrox this season, or Hampden if you will, we need to remind ourselves we are only just back feeding at the top football table.

That being said, do I feel we have a chance in this one? Yes I do. Does it feel like Rangers are going through a particularly turbulent time, on and off the pitch? Again, yes it does.

Let's make no mistake though. To get anything from this game the team will have to perform as well as they can. As silly as this may sound, we cannot take this fixture lightly, and I'm sure we won't.

Jim Goodwin has, so far this season, managed to have all the players pulling in the same direction and this has resulted in the particularly good start to the season. But that's all it is, a start.

I would like to think United can go into Sunday full of confidence. The players who weren’t away with their countries will likely have had a couple of days off to rest, recover and reflect.

And hopefully by the time the ref blows the whistle to start the match, the men in Tangerine will all be fired up and chomping at the bit to put on a show for the live TV audience and more importantly, the vocal Arabs in the stands.

Bring on the Rangers!

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

Dundee United striker Jort van der Sande was unaware that he could play for Bonaire until an appearance on a podcast led to a Facebook message that revealed the 28-year-old qualified because he went to school there while he and his parents lived there for five years. (The Courier), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Image source, Getty Images

Dundee United have shared their condolences after the passing of former player Ron Yeats at the age of 86.

The defender began his career at Dundee United before joining Liverpool in 1961.

A Scotland international, Yeats won two caps for the side in 1964 and 1965.

"We are saddened to hear of the passing of our former player Ron Yeats," United said on social media, external.

"The thoughts of everyone at Dundee United Football Club are with Ron’s family and friends at this time."

BBC Sport Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

Chris asked: After United's good start, do you think they could make top six? Or do you see weaknesses compared to other teams in the league?

Tom answered: Chris, I think places fifth and sixth are wide open. Right now, I'd be going Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts and beyond that, I’m really not sure. Killie, St Mirren, Dundee and Dundee United are all in the mix. Maybe Motherwell as well.

United have kept three clean sheets in a row, including the League Cup, and have conceded only one goal in four. Solid foundations so far. You don’t need to score buckets of goals to finish top six in this league if your defence is good. And Jim Goodwin must be delighted with that side of it.

Is squad depth going to prove a challenge in the long run? Maybe, but the fact is they've already played three of last season's top six - albeit one of them in the League Cup - and they've won two and drawn the other. Early signs are very good.

Malcolm asked: The signings this year look the best overall of any Premiership club. Would you agree? (Proof will be in the results obviously. Last time I said that United got relegated!)

Tom answered: It's practically a new team, Malcolm, and Goodwin certainly seems to have signed astutely. As you say, the proof will be in the results over the course of months rather than weeks, but it's been a really good start. A couple of good Irish boys in there, you can't go wrong.

I'm surprised at how quickly everybody appears to have bedded in. That's impressive work from the manager. He's built a pretty strong starting team in quick order. You could probably do with another option up front but the defence looks resolute and that's the secret of making the top six. Solidity at the back can get you there.

Karl asked: Hi Tom, I'm quite sad that we are letting our young players leave after bringing them through the academy. It would never have happened in the Jim McLean era, he would playing them. What are your thoughts?

Tom answered: It's different times, isn't it? Jim McLean would have had them locked in on long contracts and there wasn't the movement then that there is now. When you look at the young players that McLean brought through - Wow!

The whole issue of playing young players is a massive thing and we've had a few chats about it on the radio.

It's a multi-layered thing, but the upshot is the number of minutes afforded to young Scots in the Premiership is miniscule. And, sadly, I can't see it changing unless the SFA put their foot down regarding quotas, which they won't do.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin fears Scottish clubs will continue to lose academy players to England unless the game north of the border changes course. (Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Dundee United have made a fine start on their return to the top flight.

With eight points from four games, Jim Goodwin's side head into the international break third and still unbeaten.

So far, United have slightly outperformed their xG of 5.2, netting six goals.

Backing that up, of the eight big chances Goodwin's side have manufactured, 37.5% have been converted - that's the same as Rangers.

On the goalscoring front five different players have found the back of the net, joint third highest in the division.

Goodwin has honed a pretty solid backline too. Only Celtic and Aberdeen have conceded fewer than United's tally of three goals.

Of the 12 shots on target United have faced, only three have gone in the net. Of those, two have come from open play and one from a set-piece.

Goalkeeper Jack Walton has a 75% save rate, the fourth highest in the top flight so far, and has made nine saves.

The new arrivals have made an immediate impact too. Striker Kristijan Trapanovski ranks in the Premiership top five for shots on target (12), five of which have been on target. Having netted once from an xG of 1.72, the Macedonian will look to up that scoring rate.

Wide player Will Ferry has been a revelation in Tangerine and the stats bear that out. Ferry has won possession 29 times - bettered only by Celtic's Callum McGregor - and also ranks highly for tackles made (10).

United have looked threatening on the dead-ball front, with two of their four goals resulting from a set-piece, and Ferry is joint fifth in the league for successful open play crosses (three).

Get your questions ready.

Tom English, BBC Sport Scotland's chief sportswriter, is in the hotseat and ready to offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Four games into the Premiership campaign, what would you like to ask?

Put your questions to our man here, external.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Jim Goodwin has certainly experienced ups and downs on the Scottish football rollercoaster.

He cultivated an impressive reputation as an up-and-coming young manager at Alloa and St Mirren, before his upward trajectory stalled during a disappointing, and often bruising, spell in charge at Aberdeen.

But far from shying away, he jumped at the chance to get right back under the spotlight again, this time at Dundee United.

A lot of eyes have been on him after what happened at Pittodrie, but Goodwin has again proved his dugout mettle.

It was job done in the Championship last year, and while it is still early days in the top flight, the signs point towards it being another good campaign for the Tangerines.

Goodwin appears to have recruited well during what was a very busy transfer window at Tannadice.

And United go into the international break unbeaten in their four Premiership games and third in the table, as well as having a League Cup quarter-final with Motherwell to look forward to,

Part of football management, in fact any walk of life, is learning from past experiences – good and bad – dusting yourself down and moving on.

Goodwin certainly appears to have done that, and few would grudge him the plaudits he is receiving for the solid job he is doing in the City of Discovery.

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

We're only four games into the Premiership season, but Dundee United fans can already feel pretty good as we head into the international break.

Let's round up the summer at Tannadice. It was like a whirlwind clearance sale: 18 players out the door, 13 new faces in by the time the transfer window did that classic 'slam shut' on Friday night. A much-needed overhaul, to be honest.

Sure, it's still early days to judge the new arrivals, but first impressions? Not bad at all. Kristijan Trapanovski, David Babunski and Jort van der Sande have shown real promise - but Will Ferry? He's been absolutely unreal! Jim Goodwin and the recruitment team deserve a pat on the back for that one.

After THAT disaster at Falkirk, where we were rightfully hammered, the team's response has been impressive. Full credit to the players, the staff, and especially the manager for turning things around.

We kicked off with a tricky set of fixtures - Dundee, Ross County, St Johnstone, and Hearts - and guess what? Not a single loss. Eight points from 12 and sitting pretty in third place. Feels good, doesn't it?

Tynecastle has been a fortress we hadn't breached in a decade - since Nadir Ciftci last ran riot there - so we were due a win and let's not nitpick that it came after Trapanovski, Babunski and van der Sande had already made their exits.

The cherry on top? A boyhood United fan scoring the winner to seal the points. Ross Graham, aka 'The Blairgowrie Maldini', decided to take a break from being a defensive rock to latch on to a cheeky backheel from Ferry, took it on his right, and left Craig Gordon looking dazed and confused.

A very good start to the league campaign for United and it's over to Scotland to get some points on the board.

Ronny Costello can be found at The Dode Fox podcast, external

United fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's victory over Hearts.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Calum: Obviously really happy to remain unbeaten until the international break. The recruitment has been very good, I think Jim Goodwin needs to figure out a way to get the best out of David Babunski as sticking him out wide right isn't working. The team is still getting to know each other but there looks to be a togetherness about the squad.

Ally: An excellent start to the season. I would definitely have taken eight points before the international break if offered it at the start of the season. The new signings are looking good, we look decent at the back. If I had to fault us, maybe we just need to be more ruthless up top - but that’s being picky! Good to see the natural football order in Dundee restored.

Stephen: I have been saying it since pre-season but I'm optimistic about this squad. A team that can play, fight and score! It was all about the result but United were strong in defence and carried a threat. Not the goalscorer many would have expected but it's three points from Gorgie for the first time in years!

Gary: An excellent performance against a poor Hearts side. Ross Graham was outstanding again as were all the United players. United are working hard as a team. Well done to Jim Goodwin on the tactics . A great travelling support yet again.

Eddie: Great start to the season. The defence is looking stronger week by week. It will be a big test against Rangers though.

Kenny: What a fantastic performance for the whole team, well done everyone.

Dimitar Mitov (Aberdeen): Outstanding penalty save was as invaluable to Aberdeen continuing their perfect start to the season.

Alistair Johnston (Celtic): Standout performer every week. Brings so much energy, power and invention to this Celtic side in defence and attack.

Liam Scales (Celtic): Outstanding at the back. Shames the doubters continually by never putting a foot wrong.

Dan Casey (Motherwell): Constant menace in the St Johnstone box, always committed. Plays with fire in his belly.

Ross Graham (Dundee United): Slotting in as a square peg in a round hole at left-back, the centre-back has become one of United's most solid performers in recent weeks and scored the winner at Hearts.

Topi Keskinen (Aberdeen): Direct and impactful performance against Ross County. Looks to have really exciting potential.

Callum McGregor (Celtic): Could have pencilled him in before the match even started. The commander-in-chief of a team in full command of every match they play right now. Another superb performance and another great goal.

Lyall Cameron (Dundee): Plenty of life after Luke McCowan with this young man in the Dundee midfield. An assist and always full of guile.

Daizen Maeda (Celtic): Gave Rangers captain James Tavernier another torrid time. His energy and pace on the left gives Celtic such an advantage over Rangers.

Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic): Have run out of superlatives for his movement. Phenomenal to have a player like this in Scottish football. Lighting up the game for Celtic in the final third.

Kevin Nisbet (Aberdeen): What a way to win over the Dons fans. Felt like a statement moment when he struck home the winner deep in injury time in Dingwall. Bojan who?

Image source, SNS

Until the weekend, Dundee United's Ross Graham had only ever scored with his head.

But that changed at Tynecastle on Sunday when the centre-back's strike from the edge of the Hearts area bounced past an unsighted Craig Gordon.

It was the only goal of the game as United extended their unbeaten Premiership start and piled on more misery on Steven Naismith.

"I'd only ever scored with my head, that is the first goal with my feet," Graham said.

"I'm happy to pitch in with a goal. It wasn't my best strike but sometimes they go in.

"We knew we were getting [Hearts] at a good time as they have not been in good form lately, but we also know that will change sometime.

"Thankfully it wasn't today."