Dundee United

Hearts suffered their sixth defeat in a row as Dundee United maintained their strong Scottish Premiership return to move up to third going into the international break.

Both sides missed chances at Tynecastle, breaking forward freely but looking blunt in the final third, before Ross Graham's trundling effort in the 77th minute caught out the unsighted Craig Gordon.

What did you make of that, United fans? Ever in doubt of a result at Tynecastle?

Who impressed you most, and where was that game won?

Let us know your thoughts, external.

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Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "Really pleased with the overall performance.

"We're aware of the fact that Hearts were on a difficult run and that makes the challenge more difficult because you expect a reaction.

"Thankfully today it didn't happen against us. Defensively the shape of the team was excellent and we had dangerous attacks throughout the 90 minutes on the counter.

"But for better decision-making, we might have have got the goal earlier. It's another clean sheet for us. That's three in a row against stiff opposition.

"We can enjoy the next 10 days or so, relax a wee bit.

"Considering we brought 13 new faces in over the summer, for them to have gelled so quickly together and have such a good team culture, it's a credit to the backroom staff."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Eight points in the first four games, and unbeaten at the first international break. Jim Goodwin would have bitten your hand off for that at the start of the year.

On paper, they started for the third week in a row with two full-backs and four centre-backs in the starting XI - although that's because Kevin Holt is being deployed in midfield.

That consistency in selection has led to a consistency of performance at the back. They look very hard to break down, if a little uneasy going forward.

Kristijan Trapanovski started to tire, while Jort van der Sande was well dealt with by Frankie Kent. The goal came in rather fortuitous circumstances, but they didn't often look like conceding.

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Kristijan Trapanovski. This could have gone towards one of United's back three, who made sure that Jack Walton had very little to do, but Trapanovski was once again the best outball for the visitors.

Apart from his chance at the very start of his second-half, when he squandered a two-on-one, he impressed with a few brilliant crosses and a willingness to take his man on.

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Hearts hope to have Lawrence Shankland back after a knee injury while Andres Salazar is available after not being registered for the Europa League. Liam Boyce will be assessed after going off injured against Plzen while Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) and Beni Baningime (knee) are still out.

Dundee United expect to have everyone available apart from Ryan Strain (hamstring).

Jane Lewis, Brian McLauchlin and Tyrone Smith round up all the deadline defying drama as the Scottish transfer window shuts.

From Celtic's record breaking signing to some high profile departures they discuss all the biggest moves in Scotland and cross to Italy to hear about the excitement as Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay move to Napoli.

Listen to the full episode here.

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Sam Dalby admits his first experience of deadline day was a "stressful" situation, but he is now "looking forward" to getting started at Dundee United.

The 24-year-old forward joins the club on a season-long loan after scoring five goals and assisting eight times in 40 appearances in League Two last season for AFC Wrexham.

"It feels great to be here," Dalby told club media. "I'm looking forward to it and looking forward to get training with the lads tomorrow before the game on Sunday.

"I didn't know if I was going to be available for loan throughout the transfer window. It came down to the last second today. It was a bit stressful."

Dalby says he still carries Marcelo Bielsa's influence - who he spent time with at Leeds United - with him to this day, however former United striker Steven Fletcher has been Dalby's most recent influence while playing together at Wrexham.

"I saw [Fletcher] this morning and he came in with a big smile on his face because he had heard the news. He said he was going to come and watch a few games, so we'll see him soon.

"Him coming into Wrexham last season was a big help for me, with little tips and tricks he would give me in training. Hopefully I can implement that in my game this season and help this club.

"A big part of my game is bringing teammates into the picture and putting them in good situations themselves. I want to be scoring goals as well, if I can help the team in any way possible then that’s good."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin doesn't believe there is ever a right time to play Hearts.

The two teams meet at Tynecastle on Sunday, with fifth-placed United looking to continue their unbeaten start to the league campaign.

Hearts have lost their last five games in all competitions as they continue to struggle to juggle their domestic and European match commitments.

"I don't think there is ever a right time to play against one of the top teams in the country," Goodwin said.

"Yes things haven’t clicked quite as well as they would have liked up to now, but you are always wary of playing against any of the good teams in the league.

"You know at some point or another their fortunes are going to change and we have to hope and make sure that doesn't happen against us on Sunday.

"Wounded animals can be very dangerous."

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Dundee United forward Rory MacLeod, the club's youngest-ever player, has joined Premier League side Southampton on an initial season-long loan deal with an option to buy.

The teenager's record-breaking appearance came against Motherwell in the 2021-22 campaign, when he came on as a substitute at the age of just 16 years and six days.

The 18-year-old has since gone on to play 28 times for United without scoring.

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Sam Dalby has joined Dundee United on a season-long loan from League One side Wrexham AFC.

The 24-year-old has played for several sides, turning out for the likes of Leyton Orient, Woking, Southend, and Wrexham.

Announcing the deal, the club described him as "a confident finisher also adept at bringing team-mates into play".

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Dundee United have announced the departure of Liam Grimshaw.

The 29-year-old made 33 appearances as Jim Goodwin's side won the Scottish Championship title last season.

Grimshaw, who had previous spells in Scotland with Motherwell and Greenock Morton, had joined the club on a two-year deal just last summer but is now a free agent.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Luca Stephenson is hoping to force his way into the first-team reckoning at Liverpool with good performances for Dundee United.

The 20-year-old midfielder arrived on a season-long loan from Anfield earlier this month.

"I think I am definitely in a good position," Stephenson said.

"All you have to look at is the likes of Conor Bradley, who was out on loan and he went back and all of a sudden he was around the first team every day.

"If I can have a successful year here, I don’t see why I can’t go and do that myself and be a first-team player at Liverpool.

"I just want to play as many games as I can, help the team first of all, and put myself in the best position I can at Liverpool as well."

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Teenage forward Brandon Forbes has left Dundee United to join English Championship side Norwich City.

It is reported, external that the fee is a guaranteed £300,000 with the potential to rise to £500,000 if performance-based add-ons are met, plus a 20% sell-on clause.

The 18-year-old, who moved to United a year ago from Renfrewshire boys club Thorn Athletic, scored a free-kick against Ayr on his debut in the League Cup last month and had been part of the first-team squad throughout the summer.

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Jim Goodwin is optimistic of taking his Dundee United summer signing haul to 13 by adding a striker before tonight's (23:00 BST) deadline.

While delighted at the start his new-look team have made to the season, Goodwin believes he needs to bolster his attacking options.

The United boss said: "We are hoping to have an announcement to make later on this evening.

"We have spoken about needing to strengthen the top end of the pitch. At the moment we have only got Jort van der Sande and Louis Moult as the two senior strikers in the group.

"Owen Stirton [17-year-old striker] has had a really good pre-season but we feel that is an area we need to have more options in.

"I am confident we will get that one over the line, the guys are working really hard behind the scenes to try and make sure that is the case."

Goodwin is looking forward to being able to "relax" when the window closes, but is delighted with the business the club have done so far.

"I think we have had a great summer transfer window," he added.

"We have pretty much had to build a whole new squad of players, once we get this one done it will be 13 signings over the summer.

"And if you include the ones that we have re-signed – the likes of Jack Walton and Moult and Kevin Holt - I think the business we have done has been very good."

We asked for your views on where Dundee United still need to strengthen and what deals you would like completed before the transfer window closes.

Here's what some of you said:

David: We've had some great buys and loans in, the season is looking good and I am excited to see how the season pans out. It's been a cracking start to the season.

Jimmy: Stuart Armstrong and any striker with pace please, two upfront is a must to kick on with the season.

Alasdair: I think the view of fans and management is that one final piece is missing - a forward with real pace to compliment Jort van der Sande and Louis Moult. At this point, it feels like a really successful window with cover in most positions. The squad has a good balance of experience and youth, some of which can be loaned out to gain experience.

Calum: With only Van der Sande and Moult, we really need another striker. Jim Goodwin knows this, all the fans know this - can we get the business done before the deadline?

George: Like every other United fan I'm pretty happy with the transfer business so far but recognise that we need a fast, direct striker capable of getting behind opposition defences. Van der Sande and Moult both hold the ball up well but are not the quickest. A speedy option through the middle would supplement the pace of Kristijan Trapanovski on the left wing.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premiership trip to play Hearts.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• He's "confident" they will be able to bring in another attacking player.

• If they do, that will be 13 summer additions and Goodwin says: "The business we have done has been very good."

• As well as praising the impact of his summer signings, Goodwin hails the players that remain at Tannadice from last term, saying: "They have really stepped up this season."

• When asked if this is a good time to get Hearts - who are still winless this season - Goodwin said there is never a good time to get one of the top teams in the country, adding: "Wounded animals can be dangerous."

• He is not getting carried away by his side’s strong start to the season, saying: "We are not quite the finished article yet."

• Vicko Sevelj returns to the squad, while Ryan Strain remains the only long-term absentee.

OK, Celtic v Rangers is the biggest top-flight match of the weekend but it will get plenty of attention.

What's interesting about Hearts' home meeting with Dundee United is that promoted United go into Sunday's game unbeaten in the Premiership while last season's third-placed team, Hearts, are winless this season.

Head coach Steven Naismith has not yet settled on a first-choice XI, due in part to Hearts juggling European fixtures along with league and League Cup games.

The Tynecastle side desperately need to get captain and talisman Lawrence Shankland firing again and playing against his former club might just be the ticket, though he did miss the midweek loss to Viktoria Plzen.

For United, a morale-boosting win against St Johnstone last weekend followed draws with Dundee and Ross County.

They are also through to the last eight of the League Cup and manager Jim Goodwin is seeing his newly-built squad spread the goals around.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

As Friday's 23:00 BST transfer deadline edges closer, where do Dundee United still need to strengthen and what deals would you like completed before the window closes?

Have your say here, external.

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• Hearts are unbeaten in seven Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee United (W5 D2) since a 2-1 defeat in February 2016.

• Dundee United have lost their last four Premiership away games against Hearts, conceding 3+ goals in each (15 in total) since a 2-1 win in March 2014.

• Hearts have lost their last two league games, while they last lost more in a row in the Scottish Premiership in April 2023 (5). Hearts are, though, unbeaten in their last 12 home matches in the competition (W7 D5).

• Dundee United are yet to lose in the league this season (P3 W1 D2 L0). They last avoided defeat in their opening four games of a top-flight campaign in 2009-10 – which included a win over Hearts.

• Hearts have won their last three league games against newly-promoted sides, with each coming against Dundee last season. Hearts last won four top-flight games against promoted clubs in a row in November 2000.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

If, before a ball had been kicked this term, you had offered Dundee United the chance to be unbeaten after three Premiership games – they would have bitten your hand off.

United have together a record of two draws and a win so far, but no one will be getting carried away despite the solid start to life back in the top division.

The next few weeks could prove to be a real litmus test on just how Jim Goodwin's side are likely to get on this term.

Three of their next four league matches are on the road, starting with this weekend's trip to Hearts.

The one home game in that sequence sees Rangers head to Tannadice in the middle of next month, followed by United trips to Kilmarnock and St Mirren.

So a potentially bruising run of games.

But if they can build on the early-season promise and emerge from those matches with a healthy haul of points, it would suggest this has the potential to be a very good season for Goodwin's men.

Dundee United are aiming to bring in one more loan signing before the end of the transfer window (Courier), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Scrappy. That's the best way to describe United's win on Saturday.

An undeniable fact, however, is that you get the same three points from a scrappy win as you do from a free flowing, blow the opposition away win. I'll take it.

I feel the general consensus among fans is that the Saintees will likely be closer to the bottom than the top of the table this season. For that reason alone, Saturday's win was important.

I have no idea where United will finish this season, but it stands to reason that if you want to stay out of trouble yourselves, you need to be strong at home and beat the sides you think will potentially be around about you. That is exactly what happened.

United have now navigated the first three matches of their league campaign unbeaten. Two draws and a win is quite possibly something all United fans will feel is a good start.

Of course, it could have been better, having taken the lead in all games. But it also could have been worse, as we have had moments in all three games when we were, shall we say, not at our best.

That now leads us on to a real difficult test this Sunday at Tynecastle. It's a venue players and fans alike all seem to love as it's without doubt one of the best stadiums in the country.

The usual large Tangerine following will be a lot smaller, given Hearts' policy of only giving away fans a relative handful of tickets, but the lucky ones in attendance will be right behind the team and hoping to see them continue their more than decent start to the season.

And if Hearts also happen to be suffering from a European hangover after Thursday, well that would be just lovely.

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

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Dundee United beat St Johnstone 2-0 on Saturday for their first Premiership win since their return to the top flight.

Kevin Holt is playing a sort of shielding role in front of the defence but I’m popping him back into his usual centre-back position for my Team of the Week.

He's a real leader and helped United to a clean sheet. I hope he's made a full recovery from his, erm, altercation with Adama Sidebeh!