Dundee United

Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland

Any appraisal of how Dundee United fare in the Scottish Premiership this term can be caveated or endorsed with the suffix 'in their first season back in the top flight'.

The Tangerines do not look like a side new to the division - quite the opposite - and stuttering starts to the campaign by Hibernian and Hearts, who meet on Sunday, had allowed Jim Goodwin's side to steal a march.

But they became more and more defensive following Aberdeen's changes and that limited their chances of getting back level in the closing stages.

They also did not make the most of long throw-ins, free-kicks and corners, Kevin Holt heading out from a wide left delivery during the second period.

Though ultimately on the losing side, Dundee United goalkeeper Jack Walton made some fine saves.

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Following last weekend's dramatic stoppage-time 3-2 victory over Hibernian, Jim Goodwin settles on just one switch within his Dundee United starting XI.

Macedonian attacker Kristijan Trapanovski returns to United's starting side, replacing 20-year-old midfielder Miller Thomson.

Meshack Ubochioma remains on the bench despite netting a 99th minute winner versus Hibs last time out.

Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, MacKenzie, Heltne Nilsen, Palaversa, Keskinen, McGrath, Duk, Sokler.

Substitutes: Doohan, Shinnie, Clarkson, McGarry, Besuijen, Morris, Milne, MacDonald, Ambrose.

Dundee United: Walton, Adegboyega, Gallagher, Holt, Stephenson, Sevelj, Babunski, Ferry, Trapanovski, Middleton, Dalby.

Substitutes: Richards, Strain, Odada, Fotheringham, Van der Sande, Thomson, Constable, Stirton, Meshack.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has a few players with issues but is hopeful they will all be fit other than long-term absentees Pape Habib Gueye and Dante Polvara.

Ryan Strain has a good chance of being part of the Dundee United squad after the right-back recovered from a hamstring injury.

Striker Louis Moult and midfielder Ross Docherty are battling to be fit.

However, centre-half Ross Graham is out for several weeks with a hamstring injury, while midfielder Craig Sibbald has undergone groin surgery.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has a few players with issues but is hopeful they will all be fit, other than long-term absentees Pape Habib Gueye (quad) and Dante Polvara (hamstring).

Ryan Strain has a good chance of being part of the United squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Craig Sibbald has undergone groin surgery while Louis Moult (knee) and Ross Docherty (muscular) are battling to be fit. Ross Graham is out for several weeks with a hamstring injury.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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You have to go back a long way to find the last time Dundee United won a league game at Pittodrie.

It was August 2014 - the first day of the new league season - when Jackie McNamara's United turned up and thumped their hosts 3-0.

Goals from Ryan Dow, Gary Mackay-Steven and Chris Erskine were enough to beat Derek McInnes' charges. Aberdeen would have the last laugh of course, finishing the season as runners-up to Celtic.

Thankfully for the men in tangerine, there was a Scottish Cup win in the north as recently as 2021. That was against a Stephen Glass side. It would be fair to suggest they'll have a tougher time against Jimmy Thelin's outfit.

Saturday evening's encounter will also witness Jim Goodwin's return to Pittodrie after his ill-fated spell as Aberdeen manager.

Goodwin can fall back on decent away form this season already. His side are unbeaten on their travels in four attempts - winning two and drawing two - and have shown real grit to grind out results late on.

Aberdeen are unbeaten so far, but at home they've been particularly impressive - they've won their last seven games in front of the Pittodrie faithful.

A fascinating tussle under the lights awaits.

Dundee United have contacted the Scottish FA and SPFL after goalkeeper Jack Newman's loan deal at Inverness Caledonian Thistle was cut short after the club went into administration. (Record), external

United intend to block Inverness ending the loan arrangement for Newman, 22. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin insists he isn't fretting about a hostile reception from Aberdeen fans on Saturday evening when he returns to Pittodrie for the first time since his sacking.

The Irishman was dismissed by the Dons in January last year after presiding over the club's worst-ever result - a Scottish Cup loss to sixth-tier Darvel - followed by a 6-0 defeat at Hibs.

But Goodwin has rebuilt his reputation at United, who currently occupy fourth place on their top-flight return and are aiming to end Jimmy Thelin's unbeaten start in the Aberdeen hotseat.

"All games on the road are difficult and Pittodrie is a great venue to play football in, Saturday evening under the lights, live on the telly, it's got the makings of a really good game," said Goodwin.

"It's two good teams going at it. Yes, they're unbeaten at the moment but those runs do need to come to an end at some point and we've got to believe that we are capable of being the team to do it.

"I'm looking forward to a warm welcome! They [the Aberdeen fans] don't faze me. I would expect the supporters to be delighted with the start that their team has had and I would imagine they'll focus their energy on getting behind their own team.

"My focus is on Dundee United. Aberdeen is a thing of the past for me now.

"We've had a great start to the season we're in a really good place at the moment. We've got a tough test on Saturday but the players have shown they're capable of rising to the challenge and hopefully we'll see that on Saturday.

"Pittodrie is a great venue, it'll be a full house no doubt, it'll be a hostile environment for our players but we have to use that to our advantage and try and quieten the crowd early on."

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before this weekend's Premiership game at Aberdeen.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Goodwin believes it's too early to look at the league table even though his newly-promoted side sit in fourth, but says "winning games brings confidence".

• On last weekend's incredible late comeback win over Hibs, he says: "The players have got that belief within themselves, the spirit in the group, the real togetherness and the never-say-die attitude".

• Aberdeen will be a "really tough challenge" but United are going into the game with "real confidence, positivity and a good bit of momentum".

• He acknowledges Pittodrie will be a "hostile" environment and the former Dons boss joked he is expecting a "warm welcome" on his first time back there.

• Goodwin praised Glenn Middleton, saying: "He was a really key player last season in helping us win the league and and he's played a significant role coming off the bench and making real positive impacts."

• The squad is a bit "stretched" with injuries but Ryan Strain has a "really good chance" of being involved this weekend and that will give the team a "boost".

• Craig Sibbald is recovering from groin surgery and isn't expected to be fit until the new year but Goodwin says the "staff and the players around him will do everything we can to keep his spirits up".

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• Aberdeen have lost just one of their last 14 home league games against Dundee United (W7 D6), a 3-0 reverse in August 2014 under Derek McInnes.

• Dundee United have lost their last two league meetings with Aberdeen, more than their previous seven against the Dons beforehand (W3 D3 L1).

• Aberdeen have won their last seven home league games, their longest such run since winning eight in a row in April 2017.

• Dundee United have won four of their last six league matches (D1 L1), including both of their last two, while they are unbeaten in all four Scottish Premiership away games this season (W2 D2).

• Jamie McGrath's six assists for Aberdeen are the most by a player in his side’s first eight Scottish Premiership matches of a season since the competition rebranded in 2013.

David Babunski will try to lure some secrets from his international team-mate Bojan Miovski, the former Aberdeen striker, before Dundee United's trip to Pittodrie. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

Dundee United midfielder Craig Sibbald's recent surgery has been declared a success. (Courier - subscription), external

Midtjylland owner Anders Holch Povlsen is linked with an investment in Dundee United. (Sun), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Part of what makes any sports team successful is their undying belief that no matter how much the odds are stacked against them, or how far behind they are, they can bounce back and win.

These players may have been down, but you should never count them out.

I'm a massive sports fan in general and there is always something wonderful and dramatic about an unlikely comeback: The Miracle at Medinah (2012 Ryder Cup), Superbowl LI (New England Patriots coming back from 25 points down with just 17 minutes left against Atlanta Falcons) and the 2005 Champions League triumph for Liverpool against AC Milan.

All incredible and enough to get even the casual fan up off their seat.

Well, I may be blinkered here, but from where I was sitting at Tannadice, the ending of Saturday's match was every bit as good as any of them.

The Terrors may have entered into the 93rd minute with a man advantage, but they were still trailing 2-1.

At that stage, I reckon most United fans would have snatched your arm off for a point. And as Liverpool loanee Luca Stephenson prodded the ball into the back of the Hibees net, I'd probably have settled for that.

But this Jim Goodwin side has something about them. There's a grit, a determination, a steeliness. They could sniff the possibility of all three points and that's exactly what they went after.

Did Hibs' defence help in this pursuit? It most certainly did, but credit where it's due.

Meshack Ubochioma may have been having a howler since being introduced on 87 minutes, but all was forgiven in the 99th as he pounced on the opportunity the Hibs backline afforded him and coolly lobbed the ball over everyone in between him and the goal.

It was slow motion. Will it or won't it come down in time? Nearly 11,000 held their breath as we all waited to see the ball's final destination.

To watch as the ball kissed the bar, bounced down on to the goalline, then rolled into the back of the net was absolutely sensational.

United fans all around the stadium went berserk and were hugging fellow supporters as if they were meeting up with a long-lost friend they hadn't seen in years.

It was dramatic, it was climatic, and moments like that are the reason we all love football.

Next up, the Dons. Let's see what you've got, Jimmy Thelin's boys.

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

BBC Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Barry Robson reflect on Dundee United's fightback in their 3-2 win against Hibs.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

I wonder how quickly Glenn Middleton could run the 100m? He turned the afterburners on to great effect for Dundee United to power away from the Hibs defenders at Tannadice. On his day, he is a true match-winner.

Stephen: Wow, just wow. What a finish to a game and how fantastic to be on the right side of it for a change. Been saying it for a few weeks now, this squad knows how to dig in and fight. Glenn Middleton was electric today for large parts of the game and great to see Sam Dalby get in about it. We march on to a real test - isn't that right, Tom English?!

Eddie: Absolutely brilliant! Loving the way this team doesn't lie down. It's been a great start to the season and hopefully can get better once we get our full squad back fit. Well done Jim and the boys!

Graham: Two seasons ago we'd have lost this 3-1. All different now - credit to the determination of the players and the manager for making that the default.

Albert: We absolutely dug in until the final whistle. The boys gave 100%. Special praise must go to the management on this occasion.

Jonny: This is a team with a lot of character. Even without Ross Graham, Ross Docherty, Craig Sibbald and Louis Moult, most if not all of whom are definite starters, I felt confident.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Winger Glenn Middleton "sees no reason" why Dundee United can't hold on to their top-six status for the rest of the season.

The last-gasp win over Hibernian at the weekend means Jim Goodwin's side sit fourth in the Premiership after eight games.

After last season's promotion from the Championship, Middleton feels the whole club is looking to build on that progress.

"Last year we did well getting out of the division we were in and it's about carrying that momentum on while being realistic," he told BBC Scotland.

"Standards are being driven day in, day out. No-one's dropping off at all. Even after results that have been really positive for us, we've not dropped off in training in the week.

"The manager keeps drilling it into us every single day that we have to keep working and doing the things we're doing. He won't allow that to stop so hopefully it continues the way it's been going."

The late win over Hibs mean United head to Pittodrie next Saturday having only lost once in the league and yet to taste defeat on the road in the Premiership this term.

Middleton is happy both teams have made a good start to the season, with the Dons matching champions Celtic point for point at the top of the table.

"Yeah, it's brilliant and it's not by chance that Aberdeen have enjoyed the start that they have," he added.

"They're a right good team with some top players with individual quality that can make things happen.

"So it's been set up nicely with our results, so we'll be back to it on Monday and the manager will have his game plan for us and it's up to us to carry it out on Saturday."

What chance, then, that United can hold their place in the top half of the table all season?

"There's no reason why we can't with the mindset that we all have and the standards that have been driven.

"With the manager, coaching staff and the mentality in the changing room with the senior players, I don't think we'll ever get too ahead of ourselves.

"So it's just about taking it bit by bit and we'll give it our best shot."

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• Hibernian have lost their last three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 6 August 2023 to 26 August 2023.

• Dundee United have scored in their last three games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of five games from 28 May 2023 to 1 September 2024.

• Hibernian have lost seven points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, no team has lost more.

Dundee United struck twice in injury time to snatch victory from a struggling Hibernian side who completely capitulated to fall to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

United move up to fourth - a point behind Rangers - while Hibs drop to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

What did you make of that, United fans? Did you sense a victory?

Why does this United team never say die? Let us know your thoughts, external.

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Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin told BBC Scotland: "It was brilliant, great scenes. The supporters throughly enjoyed, brilliant comeback in the end.

"The team have shown brilliant character throughout the league up to now. Most teams would settle for the point at 2-2, but we wanted to push on.

"I got a little bit too excited and caught up in the moment. I ran on to celebrate with Meshack and unfortunately ended up on my backside. My wife will have her work cut out trying to get the grass stains out.

"Hibs had a good dominating spell prior to their second goal, we were penned back in and we didn't weather the storm. It was a poor goal from our perspective.

"We could have gone under at that point but it's full credit to the players and the supporters. It was important that we gave them a positive result.

"There's no getting away from the fact the red card plays a part. I think it's a poor-timed tackle and the right call in the end. We made that extra man advantage count.

"We had to go today without some key players - Strain, Docherty, Moult, Sibbald - who would be in our starting XI. The players on the park were magnificent and it was a real collective effort."