Dundee United

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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It had looked like a tight, three-horse race for third spot would go down to the wire - until losing streaks for Dundee United (four) and Aberdeen (three) handed the prize to Hibernian.

Now the Dons, who have suffered successive heavy defeats by Rangers and Celtic, travel to Tannadice still three points clear of their hosts as they go head to head for fourth.

United, who beat Aberdeen 1-0 on their last visit in December before a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie, must win to overtake their east-coast rivals on goal difference.

Even then, they will have to wait until the Scottish Cup final before knowing whether that will be enough to ensure they enter Europa League qualifying for the first time since 2012-13.

That is because, should Aberdeen then beat Celtic at Hampden, United would have to make do with the less prestigious Conference League second qualifying round instead of the same stage of the Europa League.

Aberdeen are guaranteed Conference League football even if they lose the cup final and finish fifth, but United could find themselves missing out on European football altogether if they suffer defeat on Saturday.

However, that would require sixth-top St Mirren, who are one point behind, to spoil Celtic's title-winning party.

A draw in Glasgow, combined with a United defeat, would take the Buddies into Europe instead on goal difference.

An unlikely St Mirren win, meanwhile, would leave United needing a victory of their own.

To add to the intrigue, that would mean United's Jim Goodwin would have spoiled the European aspirations of the two clubs he previously managed.

Read all the final weekend Premiership picks

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• Dundee United have won four of their past five home league games against Aberdeen, with the exception a 3-1 defeat in March 2023.

• Aberdeen have only lost one of their past five league games against Dundee United (W3 D1), although are winless in their latest two (D1 L1), losing their last away from home in December (1-0).

• Dundee United have only lost their final league game in one of their past five Scottish Premiership seasons (W3 D1), although that was their last campaign in the division in 2022-23 (3-2 v Motherwell).

• Aberdeen haven't won on the final day of the season in any of their past four league campaigns (D2 L2) – they had won their final game in four successive league seasons before this (including curtailed 2019-20).

• A win in this match would see Dundee United become the first newly-promoted side to finish in the Scottish Premiership's top four since Hearts in 2021-22 (third). It would also see the Tangerines compete in Europa League qualifying for the first time since 2012-13.

Watch Sportscene pundits Charlie Mulgrew and Michael Stewart analyse Dundee United's goal against Rangers, scored by defender Sam Cleall-Harding.

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 3-1 defeat against Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Jamie: Sick and tired of Jim Goodwin using the "small squad" excuse, for what feels like the hundredth time this season. Only putting out six substitutions is ridiculous. Put some of the youth players in, or better yet, don't loan out talented players like Miller Thomson to Falkirk. We are also now the third-lowest scorers in the league. Nowhere near good enough.

Allan: This has been a remarkable season for the team, staff, management, owners and fans. Of this, there is no doubt. One more match to go, a new firm derby no less, to close out the season and determine our final situation regards European football next year. What an opportunity for the team to overcome all the injuries, niggles, pain and injustices we've experienced this year and relight the Tannadice stronghold mentality one more time and bring it home. We showed that even with an injury-depleted team, we can be positive, make opportunities, score goals and hold our own against teams expected to dominate us. However, improved man marking is needed to stop that first goal against us. Can't do much differently to avert the second and the third goals, they were well worked by the opposition. It's all to play for. Come on United!

Ally: A better display until we go 2-1 down, but ultimately that's 0/9 in post-split games under Goodwin. It's a huge red flag, as is his cup record. Let's not ignore that penalty call, though. Does anyone genuinely believe that's awarded at the other end? I thought not.

Chris: Well, the writing was on the wall, in the last three games we have conceded ten and scored one, this is not good with our current form. Forget passports, only a bus pass is required, they have given fans a load of poor results.

Watch highlights as Rangers win 3-1 against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

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• Rangers have scored in 32 of their 37 games, only Celtic (34) have scored goals in more matches in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have won 16 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Dundee United have lost 21 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (28) and Hibernian (25) have lost more.

• Cyriel Dessers has contributed to goals in his last 4 games in the Premiership (5 goals, 0 assists).

• Cyriel Dessers has scored in each of his last 4 games in the Premiership (5 goals), his longest scoring streak in the competition.

Cyriel Dessers' double and a fine Nicolas Raskin strike ensured Rangers secured back-to-back home Scottish Premiership wins in their final appearance at Ibrox this season.

Dundee United looked to have taken a step closer to sealing a place in Europe when Sam Cleall-Harding headed the opener after slack defending at a corner.

But Dessers struck either side of the break, the first a thumping header followed by a penalty, as captain James Tavernier handed the striker the chance to net his 28th goal of the season.

Victory for Jim Goodwin's side at home to Aberdeen on Saturday would still clinch fourth place in the Premiership, but St Mirren can still overhaul them on the final day and deny them continental combat.

Whether you were at Ibrox or watching the game elsewhere, we want to hear from you.

Give us your take on the night here.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "Obviously we had a clear game plan to come here and play in a low block and try to hit Rangers on the counter-attack. I thought we had four or five good opportunities in the first half on the break.

"I don't mean goal-scoring opportunities, but good opportunities to get ourselves up the pitch into dangerous areas. We managed to get a couple of set-plays into the box and got our noses in front with a really well-worked corner.

"I'm delighted for young Sam Harding, getting chucked in tonight, I thought he was terrific over the whole piece.

"The Rangers equaliser, it's a very good goal from their perspective. I think we can do a little bit more in terms of stopping the cross. It's a fantastic header from Dessars, I don't want to take anything away from him, but he's not got anyone really putting a challenge on him and that's the disappointing factor for us.

"But at half-time, 1-1, we were quite comfortable and I thought we had sustained a lot of pressure. We knew the Rangers would have plenty of the ball and the game was turned on its head with the penalty kick and that is the major frustration for us.

"I think we just, at that stage in the game, get a little bit tired, a little bit leggy, lapses in concentration.

"We're making hard work of finishing fourth, there's no getting away from that fact, the last four results haven't been good enough but I think, I've said it numerous times, if you had offered us this opportunity on Saturday, way back at the beginning of the season, a one-off game to go and potentially, not just secure a fifth, but clinch fourth, would be a remarkable finish for us.

"We'll need to recover quickly. We've came here tonight with only six subs on the bench, given the injuries that we have to some key players - one or two have limped off again tonight - so the medical team are going to be extremely busy over the next 48 hours to try and make sure these players are ready to give their all in a really difficult game against Aberdeen."

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Not the top six run of results United sought, especially given it was looking like a fight for third at one stage.

Here, they did well to get the lead but just didn't hold on for long enough.

As the game wore on, they struggled to create and can have few complaints at the outcome.

Expectation has grown over the course of the campaign, perhaps slightly harshly, given it's their first season back in the Premiership.

All at Tannadice will be extremely disappointed with this sequence which leaves European hopes fragile and fans a little flat.

It's still very much within their grasp on the final day at home to Aberdeen, though.

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Craig Sibbald insists Dundee United are ready to cast aside their "wee blip" and finish on a high with European qualification.

United have followed a hat-trick of wins with three successive post-split defeats to come under pressure from St Mirren for a European spot.

Jim Goodwin's side might need a result at Ibrox tonight to keep European qualification in their own hands before the final day.

Midfielder Sibbald said: "The boys are all confident. We've had a wee blip recently, but every game's tough in the top six and we've been doing really well up until that.

"All in all, I think we've had a really good season and we can be proud of where we are now - not many teams who have been promoted from the Championship have made into the top six straight away.

"Unfortunately, we've not had a good start to the top-six games, but who's to say we can't finish on a high and get maximum points out of the next two games?

"We just need to remain confident and keep believing that we can get something. It's down to us now and we want to finish the season on a high.

"We were disappointed with the result (on Saturday), but it's in our hands and we're sitting in a good position in the table.

"So we just need to learn from our mistakes and try and cut them out them at Ibrox on Wednesday to make sure we can try and get three points."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Sport can often be about timing. for Dundee United, this is the worst possible time to be on one of their worst runs of the season.

The Tangerines go into tonight's trip to Rangers off the back of three straight league defeats. It is just the second time this term they have been on such a run.

However, doing it in the business end of the season makes it potentially even more damaging.

What will be troubling manager Jim Goodwin even more is that his team – pretty tight at the back for large parts of the campaign – have shipped 10 goals in that trio of matches.

Not ideal, but the message he will be imparting to his players is that it is still all to play for.

United remain fifth and will believe that they can hold off resurgent St Mirren and stay in the European places.

However, things could get even better as they have a faltering Aberdeen in their sights. The Dons are three points above in fourth place with the sides sharing the same goal difference.

And if something resembling the status quo remains in place after tonight, United will feel they can catch Aberdeen when the teams go head to head at Tannadice on Saturday.

However, for that to become possible, Goodwin knows he must find a way of stopping the run of defeats and the flow of goals into the United net.

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• Rangers have won seven of their past nine league games against Dundee United (D2) since a 1-0 defeat in August 2021 under Steven Gerrard.

• Dundee United have won just one of their past 20 away league games at Rangers (D3 L16), a 3-2 victory in April 2011 under Peter Houston.

• Excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, Rangers have only lost their final home league game in one of their past 16 seasons (W10 D5), a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen in 2016-17.

• Dundee United have won seven away league games this season, their most in a top-fight campaign since 2012-13 (also seven), last winning more in 2011-12 (eight). Indeed, only Celtic (39) and Rangers (30) have more away points in the Scottish Premiership this season than Dundee United (26).

• Rangers are unbeaten in their last 27 Scottish Premiership games against newly-promoted sides (W24 D3) since a 1-0 defeat at Livingston in September 2018.

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Rangers have an unchanged squad with Ianis Hagi, Ridvan Yilmaz and Dujon Sterling out for the season.

Dundee United defender Ross Graham (hamstring) is unlikely to feature again this campaign, while Luca Stephenson (hernia) is absent.

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Finishing in the top six this season was always going to be the target for United. And they did it comfortably. Hats off, applause all round, maybe even a friendly pat on the back.

Three games ago, we were cruising. Nine points ahead of St Mirren and European football practically booked.

Fast forward to now, and we're limping towards Ibrox with St Mirren just two points behind and looking like they've had some of Popeye's spinach for breakfast.

Since the split, United have been, well, dreadful. Our once-solid defence has collapsed and folded like a bed settee and opposition goal keepers haven't had to hand their kit in at the end of the matches to be washed.

To add to the mess, we keep hearing from the club about how tired the players are. Long season, knocks, fatigue. Yes, we get it, but saying it out loud just sounds like you're teeing up a ready-made excuse for poor performances.

Here's the reality, if we lose every post-split game and St Mirren nick fifth, it won't feel like a successful season, no matter how many times we're told it is.

So, to anyone at United reading this, feel free to print it out and stick it on the dressing room wall. Use it. Be annoyed. Be inspired. Be better.

Instead of reminding yourselves just how tired you are, replace they thoughts with just how close to European football you are. That may give you that little spring in your step that appears to be missing.

Two games left. Win one and we'll all pretend the past few weeks were just a bad dream.

Over to you, lads.

Paul can be found at The Dode Fox Podcast, external

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Manager Jim Goodwin says it is "time for tough mindsets and strong mentalities" as Dundee United aim to arrest a decline by securing European football.

After gaining promotion back to the top flight a year ago, the United boss feels it is still a "real positive" that the Tannadice side are in contention for Europe.

But their hold on fifth spot is under threat after defeat to St Mirren on Saturday moved Goodwin's former club to within two points of his current team.

The loss at home to the Paisley side was a third straight defeat for United, who travel to Rangers on Wednesday before hosting fourth-placed Aberdeen in their final game of the season.

Goodwin says he can "sense the frustration" from the fans but remains convinced his players can end the season on a high.

"There's nobody hurting more than myself, my backroom staff and the players at the recent run of results," the United manager said.

"It's been extremely disappointing, but [European qualification] is still very much in our own hands and we have to remain positive.

"We know how difficult the next two games will be, but we've got an opportunity on Wednesday to put things right and that's what we aim to do.

"We need to cut out the mistakes we've made in recent weeks. It's one final push now. It's time for tough mindsets and strong mentalities."

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media prior to Wednesday's Scottish Premiership match at Rangers.

Here are the key lines:

• Goodwin says "nobody is hurting more" than him, his staff and his squad following an "extremely disappointing" three-game losing run.

• He adds that he can "sense the frustration" from the fans but says everyone must "remain positive" as European qualification is "still very much in our own hands".

• The United boss says "it's a time for tough mindsets and strong mentalities" as they aim to end the season on a high.

• Despite the poor recent run, Goodwin says it is still a "real positive" that the team are in contention for Europe after gaining top-flight promotion just last season.

• He says Rangers were "very good" in their 4-0 win against Aberdeen, but they need to focus on themselves.

• On his summer transfer plans, Goodwin says the club have "identified some really good targets" and European football would boost the budget.

Watch Sportscene pundit Michael Stewart analyse Dundee United's recent drop-off in form. (Available to UK users only)

Watch highlights as St Mirren keep their European hopes alive by defeating Dundee United 2-0 to narrow the gap on fifth place to two points. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 2-0 defeat against St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

Jamie: United were absolutely dreadful. St Mirren were superb and played us off the park from the first minute to the last. They played some really tidy football. Our players have completely downed tools. Declan Gallagher's body language throughout was embarrassing. Jim Goodwin has had eight games as a United manager post-split and collected zero points. If we do not get fifth place after being nine points clear, he must be sacked.

Ross: As United's season seems to be ebbing away, this display looked more like tired players playing together for the first time than a former tight unit, solid in defence and resolve. Quite simply beaten by a team who looked sharper and wanted it more. United were flatter than a drunken pub singer. Getting a tune out of this squad for the next two games may be an impossible task for conductor Goodwin. The 2025 form guide proves what United have become - a mediocre mid-table side.

Greg: Very poor performance. Seems like everything is starting to fall apart and finishing sixth would be a massive blow from the position we found ourselves in. Goodwin's tactics must start to come into question as he has to change them at half time or before the last few games.

Gary: It was the worst United display for a long time. Could NOT give anyone a pass mark. Goodwin made a big mistake telling players they were leaving. Club captain has to go. Glenn Middleton has to go, David Babunski has to go along with others. We are going to be well short. Goalkeepers are not going to stay. Neither is Sam Dalby. Let's get real. Even if we do get in the Conference League, we will get beat by some minnows. Is it worth it? I don't think so.

Andy: The three post-split performances have been dreadful. Goodwin telling everyone who'll listen we've over-performed and telling key players they're out at end of the season. Amateur hour from him! Zero points from eight post split games now as United manager. Unacceptable.

Jim: Outplayed and out thought by a team of big skilful players, United now suffering from letting Kevin Holt go and Ross Graham being injured. Up front, the few good chances were put over the bar. United are on the crest of a slump and the mid season signings have added nothing. Thankfully we are top six, because bottom six we would be struggling.

Blackpool boss Steve Bruce was at Tannadice on Saturday to watch Dundee United striker Sam Dalby, who will be a free agent when his Wrexham contract expires at the end of the season. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.