Dundee United

Celtic extended their Scottish Premiership lead to 16 points but were pushed all the way by Dundee United despite initially looking likely to cruise to victory.

Daizen Maeda set the hosts on their way midway through the first half before substitute Reo Hatate's late second secured the points.

But a lack of direct threat on goal made the win hard work as United grew in confidence and looked capable of snatching a point.

The Tannadice side's long wait for victory at Celtic Park goes on, though, with the last coming way back in 1992 under Jim McLean.

Jim Goodwin's side remain third in the table and would surely have accepted that position at this stage of their league campaign.

United fans, were you at Parkhead or following the game from home? Either way we want your views on the game.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "The players definitely weren't at 100% in terms of energy levels so the game plan had to be about conserving energy.

"It was working for large parts. We're disappointed with the first goal I think we cause our own problems. I don't know if there was a handball in there but Luke McCowan has the shot, Jack Walton makes the save and I think it takes a really bad bounce in front of him.

"The players kept going that was the really pleasing aspect, they didn't throw the towel in. We had one or two opportunities to put the ball into dangerous areas but none of those opportunities fell kindly to us in the box.

"We can't have too many complaints about the result. the players gave absolutely everything.

"This is our sixth game in the space of 17 days and there's been big questions asked of the group.

"You look at the festive period and how congested the fixtures are you've got concerns over keeping players fit. Tonight it was always going to be a difficult task.

"We have to dust ourselves down over the next 48 hours and put a good team on the park to go and win the game on Saturday."

On Sam Dalby's position and potential incomings, Goodwin adds: "There's constant dialogue there between ourselves and Wrexham.

"Sam has been terrific, we believe he is going to stay here for the remainder of the season. There's still a lot of time left in the window but we have to take Wrexham at their word that Sam is going to stay here and continue his development.

"We've identified a couple of potential targets and we'll work hard behind the scenes to try and get one or two of those over the line."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United rang the changes with top scorer Sam Dalby on the bench and that seemed the result of players feeling the effects of a challenging schedule.

They knew they would concede a lot of possession, but struggled to hold the ball at all in the first half.

The opener was crucial but a failure to clear lines when given the opportunity opened the door and from there it was always uphill.

They did, however, retain a strong structure and limit clear chances to keep themselves in the game longer than the initial flow suggested. The visitors defended very well outside the goals.

Despite defeat to Hearts prior to this fixture, it has been a really impressive return to the Premiership. United showed here why they're third in the table despite coming up short.

There was late drama galore in November 2022 as leaders Celtic hosted bottom club Dundee United.

The visitors looked set for a precious point when Dylan Levitt made it 2-2 in the 87th minute, but Celtic substitutes Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada struck in stoppage time to snatch victory in a six-goal thriller.

Will the sides serve up another epic contest tonight?

• Celtic are unbeaten in 20 meetings with Dundee United in all competitions (W15 D5) since a 2-1 league defeat in December 2014 under Ronny Deila.

• Dundee United are winless in their past 48 visits to Celtic in all competitions (D12 L36) since a 1-0 victory in December 1992 under Jim McLean.

• Celtic are unbeaten in their past 22 home league games against newly-promoted opponents (W18 D4) since a 1-0 defeat to Hamilton in October 2014. The Parkhead club have won their last 10 such games in a row, scoring 38 goals while conceding just four.

• Celtic have won each of their past 22 home league games played on a Wednesday, keeping 16 clean sheets in the process, since a 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock in May 2018.

• Dundee United have won their past two away league outings, as many as their previous 11 on the road in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W2 D4 L5).

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Jim Goodwin aims to get "pace and energy" back into his Dundee United side when they continue their hectic schedule with a second clash against Celtic in 17 days.

United held the leaders to a goalless draw at Tannadice three days before Christmas and followed that up with a hat-trick of derby wins over St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Dundee to move third.

Goodwin felt their schedule had caught up with them as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Hearts on Sunday but his team will need to find extra reserves of energy when they travel to Celtic Park on Wednesday night.

"It's going to need to be a similar level of performance out of possession," the Irishman said of the latest encounter with Celtic.

"We expect Celtic to have more of the ball, like they do at Parkhead. They tend to have 70-75% of the possession.

"When we get the opportunity to play, we need to be brave. We need to try and get a bit of pace and energy into the team and try and offer some kind of threat on the counter-attack, but we need to see how the players recover.

"That was two games in the space of 72 hours for some of them. We will pick a system and a line-up that we think is good enough to go and get a result."

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

7 January 2025. Twenty one matches into the league campaign seems like a pretty good time to take stock of where Dundee United are right now. In short, they're doing alright.

Jim Goodwin oversaw a second rebuild in two seasons in the summer and brought in a lot of players who most punters in Scotland had never have heard of. It felt like a gamble.

Add into that Goodwin himself was in the midst of rebuilding his own reputation, at least in the top flight, after his time in the Granite City.

The newly-assembled team had to gel quickly as the first league game of the season was to be a Dundee derby. Although that ended in a draw, we saw plenty to be excited about.

Along the way there has been a level of consistency that invariably serves you well, regardless of what league or level you are performing at. The players brought to the club in the summer have, in the main, been a success.

The gaffer has fostered a great togetherness in the squad and it genuinely feels like the team are giving their all every time they cross that white line.

From a fans' point of view, it has been a pleasure to watch and support. Home attendance numbers are up, and the team also carries a relatively large amount of fans when they are on the road. It feels good to be a part of it all.

Goodwin and his assembled band of talented grafters have all but assured their safety in the top flight for next season and, better than that, there is every chance of a top-six finish.

Defeats have happened, but lessons have been learned from them. Up to now, we have also been 'in' every game we have played.

We won't win every game, and we likely won't play well in every game, but this team will never be found wanting and that is good enough for me.

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

United fans, we asked you for your January transfer window wishlist.

Here's what some of you said:

Anon: I would hope the club could attract another gem from the European market, while pushing to bring in some young Scottish talent to aid future success.

Ross: I would love it if the loan deals for Jack Walton, Luca Stephenson and Sam Dalby could all be made permanent. Apart from that, I would like to see us sign a forward with electrifying pace. That would add another dimension to our attack, which I believe we are sorely missing.

Kieran: It's moreso quality over quantity for United in the January market - a rarity in recent years. A priority must be cover at left-back for Will Ferry, which was evident when he was suspended during the recent defeat at Motherwell. Another pacey winger to help complement top scorer Dalby and the passports will be out come May.

Scott: A back-up for Ferry at left-back/left wing-back is the only signing that would be absolutely necessary. The squad we have is of a very good quality already with plenty of depth in almost every position.

Denis: Another striker with pace would be helpful along with a player who can play right or left full-back to provide cover. I trust the recruitment team to look forward to next season looking at out-of-contract players. Icing on the cake would be permanent deals for Dalby and Walton.

United fans, we asked for your views after the 1-0 defeat to Hearts on Sunday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Ross: It just wasn't there on Sunday - the harder the team tried, the less things came off. A stubborn Hearts in a ding-dong encounter showed the difference in class between third and 11th in the league is but the width of a credit card. Jim Goodwin tried to freshen up the team but it just didn't work hence the early subs. A dip into the transfer market beckons.

Jim: United's good run has come to an end, Hearts had the better chances and we looked jaded after derby. Our manager could maybe try a bit of squad rotation some of the players must have splinters in their backsides after the amount of time they spend on the bench.

Kieran: A very poor display, one of the poorest of the season. Never looked like scoring. Credit to Hearts they played the better football in what was a dire game overall. However, we are still third in what has been an exceptional season so far and we will be behind the lads once again at Celtic Park on Wednesday evening.

Jamie: The fact we lost with a whimper to the worst Hearts team I've seen play at Tannadice in over 25 years says it all really. We were utterly pitiful. Do not want to see a performance like this again. Craig Gordon will never have an easier game. I'm also disgusted with Goodwin's treatment of young Miller Thomson, who he subbed off in the first half.

Hearts get the better of Scottish Premiership rivals Dundee United at Tannadice (UK only).

Manager Jim Goodwin Reacts To Dundee United's 1-0 Scottish Premiership loss to Hearts.

James Penrice's sweet second-half strike gave Hearts victory over Dundee United at Tannadice as they won back-to-back Scottish Premiership games for the first time this season.

Hearts had the better chances in a scrappy and frenetic game, and Penrice made sure they eventually got their reward on 73 minutes when he smashed the ball past Jack Walton.

Jim Goodwin's side were seeking a fourth-straight top-flight win for the first time since 2013 having catapulted themselves into third on Thursday, but they ended the game with just a single effort on target.

Let us know your thoughts on United's performance.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "It was a scrappy game, which didn't surprise me really, it was difficult for both sets of players with the quick turnaround from Thursday evening.

"We just weren't at the races today unfortunately. In possession we caused ourselves a lot of problems early on through sloppiness.

"In the second half we were better and had a bit more control without creating anything clear cut. We tried to make changes throughout the game and just before Hearts score but then we find ourselves behind.

"We've been very good at defending our box but we don't do well enough in a one-versus-one and it's a fantastic finish from Penrice. It was the type of game when one goal was going to be enough but unfortunately Hearts were the ones who got it.

"Every squad is in the same boat but we struggle because of the size of the squad, we lack real strength in depth and some of the guys are running on fumes at the moment.

"We've got another difficult week next week with a trip to Parkhead midweek and only two days to recover before a massive game in Paisley on Saturday.

"I've got to take it on the chin that the changes I made that didn't quite work. In recent games I've been positive with changes and we've got the results.

"But today is on me, not the players, the effort was there for everybody to see we just lacked quality."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Derby victory over Dundee capped a heady spell for United, who had lost just once in their last 10 games and won three in a row.

Goodwin has built a solid foundation which means United have always been in games, and as a result have often found goals late on - more than any other side in the league - to clinch points.

That foundation again kept them in this game until the final quarter, even when their play was well below par.

Goodwin knew it himself and brought on Ross Docherty and Jort Van der Sande for Richard Odada and Miller Thomson five minutes before half-time.

Unfortunately for the United boss, it did not smooth out the rough edges of his side's play.

Only right at the death when Craig Gordon had to push away Sam Dalby's flick from a corner, and Ross Docherty's header was blocked, did they look like scoring.

Quality in the final third on a more consistent basis is the next step for this United side.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has piled praise on midfielder Vicko Sevelj, and revealed the Croatian played through illness in Thursday's Dundee derby.

David Babunski missed the game entirely with the same ailment, but Sevelj played the full 90 minutes and Goodwin is hopeful he will make Sunday's match against Hearts.

The 24-year-old scored his first goal for the club to equalise at Dens Park before Sam Dalby's late winner.

"Vicko is one of our most important players and he's kind of gone under the radar a lot all season because the likes of Dalby and (Will) Ferry and one or two others have been getting the headlines," Goodwin said.

"But he knows how important he is to me and hence why he's never out of the starting 11. He can play a number of positions but he's really made that midfield a position of his own.

"He was up all night, would you believe, with a similar type of bug to Babunski.

"He was really feeling under the weather prior to the game but testament to him and his character, he was able to get through it.

"He'll need plenty of recovery and hopefully he'll be OK for the game on Sunday."

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Dundee United hope to have midfielder David Babunski back from illness.

But Louis Moult and Craig Sibbald remain out.

Hearts hope to have winger Elton Kabangu, who has signed from Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, registered in time to be involved, while centre-half Jamie McCart has been signed from Rotherham United.

But captain Lawrence Shankland is facing several weeks out with a calf strain.

Frankie Kent, Stephen Kingsley, Calem Nieuwenhof and Gerald Taylor are still out injured.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Sam Dalby is the man of the moment for Dundee United as they prepare to host Hearts on Sunday.

The on-loan Wrexham striker's 10th Premiership goal secured a thrilling, last-gasp city derby win on Thursday - a third consecutive victory that lifted Jim Goodwin's side above Aberdeen and into third place on goal difference.

In doing so, the Englishman became the first United player to hit double figures in the top flight since Billy Mckay in 2015-16 - and he still has plenty of time to surpass the Northern Irishman's eventual total of 12.

Dalby again stressed that he has heard nothing to suggest his parent club, currently sitting third in League One, plan to cut short his loan spell or hand him a new deal when his current one ends in the summer.

Not surprisingly, Goodwin is keen to talk with the 25-year-old about making the move permanent, but both know that other clubs will have eyes on his services the longer his scoring streak continues.

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• After their 1-0 win in September, Dundee United could enjoy back-to-back Scottish Premiership victories over Hearts for the first time since March 2014.

• Heart of Midlothian have won just two of their last 12 away games against newly promoted opponents in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L8), although one of those was their most recent, beating Dundee 3-2 in February 2024.

• Dundee United have won each of their last three league games, last winning four in a row in the Scottish Premiership in December 2013 (run of five).

• Hearts have the fewest wins (one) and fewest points (five) away from home of any side in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Against Dundee last time out, Sam Dalby became the first player to reach 10 goals in this season's Scottish Premiership.

• He's the first player to hit double figures in a season in the competition for Dundee United since Billy Mckay in 2015-16 (12).

Sam Dalby, who is out of contract with Wrexham this summer, has received no contact from his parent club regarding his future as the 24-year-old striker continues to impress on loan to Dundee United. (The Courier), external

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin wants to add another striker to his squad during the January transfer window. (Daily Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Jim Goodwin is keen to sign a pacey striker this month as Dundee United look to build on an impressive first half the season.

Premiership top scorer Sam Dalby took his tally to 10 goals in 13 matches with a late winner at Dundee that lifted United to third place, but boss Goodwin is looking for more variety up front.

"We've got a certain area in the pitch that I think we need to strengthen," he said.

"I think at the moment we've got four strikers at the club that are all very similar - (Owen) Stirton, (Louis) Moult, (Jort) van der Sande and Dalby.

"I think we need a little bit of pace at the top end of the pitch. It's something that we spoke about before the window shut in the summer and unfortunately just missed out on one before the window closed.

"But that's certainly an area that we will look to try and sort out because there's times during the games where we need to be able to go and lengthen it and we probably don't have that option at the moment.

"We're certainly not bringing someone in to replace anybody. It's just bringing someone in to try and strengthen the group.

"And once we get the likes of (Craig) Sibbald and Moult back from injury, then we'll put ourselves in a really strong position.

"Louis is probably a couple of weeks and Craig Sibbald probably another three or four."

The exquisite crossfield pass. The low delivery across the six-yard line. The unerring finish. There was much to admire about the flowing team move that delivered Sam Dalby's late United winner in the Dundee derby.

Revel in the match-winning moment again as Sportscene pundits Steven Naismith and Peter Grant analyse the strike and manager Jim Goodwin's impact at Tannadice.