Ex-Dundee United player Louis Appere was relieved he could enjoy Northampton's promotion success - after being unable to celebrate the Tangerines' 2019/20 Championship success due to Covid restrictions. (Courier)
Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.
The big games don't stop coming for Dundee United and they don't stop being big, either.
After gathering a bit of momentum, two poor results on the spin have Jim Goodwin's side scrambling again as they head to an out-of-form Livingston.
Does the manager need to change things up? What would you do?
Pick your team for the crunch match at Livi on Saturday here.
Image source, BBC Sport
Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland
What a difference a couple of weeks can make in Scottish football.
Wind back a fortnight and Dundee United were one of the Premiership’s form teams. A run of three wins in a row had lifted them out of the relegation places, and they seemed to be heading in one direction... up.
But fast forward to now, and the momentum they looked to be taking in to the post- split fixtures has evaporated, and back-to-back defeats against St Johnstone and Ross County, combined with some devastating results elsewhere, has seen them plunge back to the bottom of pile... and very much staring in to the Championship abyss.
Jim Goodwin has three games left to save United’s Premiership skin. If he is going to do it, he is going to have to do it the hard way. Two of their last three fixtures are away from home, starting with this weekend’s trip to Livingston.
The ‘R’ word – relegation - would be a hammer blow on so many levels for United.
There would be the obvious financial ramifications that apply to every club that goes down, but with near neighbours Dundee having secured their place in next season’s top division, missing out on multiple city derbies - and the added financial bounty they would bring to both clubs, in terms of attendances and corporate revenue – it would be an added hammer blow.
So, the stakes couldn’t be higher, but, despite the potential doom and gloom, all is not lost for United.
If they can somehow get themselves back on a winning run, like the one they went on not so long ago, then they will give themselves more than just a fighting chance of trying to ensure that their worst fears don’t become reality.
Dundee United defender Ross Graham still has developing to do, as manager Jim Goodwin explains the youngster's recent absence. (Courier - subscription required), external
Paul McNicoll, Dode Fox Podcast, external
We are now into the middle of May and I’d suggest that there is no need for any Dundee United supporters to be heading for Disneyland, Universal Studios, Alton Towers, or any other theme park this summer. Given that we have been on a 10 month rollercoaster ride already, I’d suggest a quiet, relaxing trip to a nondescript beach for my fellow Arabs, if they must get away this summer.
I myself have been through almost every emotion this season. The highs of beating AZ Alkmaar, the lows of being completely dismantled by AZ Alkmaar. Shipping nine at home to Celtic also stands out, for all the wrong reasons. Putting four goals past both Aberdeen and Killie at Tannadice. Being torn to shreds up in Dingwall. Stringing together three excellent wins in a row, to now appearing to throw it all away again. My beloved United are doing the Hokey Cokey with their top flight status, and it’s hard to take.
Look at Saturday past for example. We have our biggest home crowd of the season. Every Arab is up for the battle as the team that were bottom of the league came calling. This was a big game, with potentially massive repercussions. The team will definitely come flying out the traps in this one I thought. How could they not?
Just 38 seconds in, Ross County were a goal up. If I could have written a script for the worst possible start to that particular match, it would have been exactly the way it happened. Strangely though, we got to half time on level terms and, were arguably the better team.
The conversations at the half were mainly positive. As a United fan this season, I can’t say that I’ve had too many occasions feeling confident, but half time on Saturday was one of these rare moments. If I had only known!
The second half was a complete shambles. County were the better team. They wanted it more, fought for it more, scored more, and deserved their win. United’s defending was back to that of the Liam Fox era, in its worst days, and the defence resembled the Keystone Cops at times.
The side travel to Livingston this weekend. The fans are again getting ready to be strapped into the Tangerine and Black rollercoaster. It’s been that way all season, and somehow, that particular ride still remains on the tracks, but only just. Failure to make up ground on Killie and County this weekend could prove to be fatal for United and I can’t say that I am feeling very confident. But, it's football, and it's Dundee United in the year 2023. You just never can tell what you’re going to get.
Dundee United have reacted with disappointment following comments by former manager Craig Levein expressing his "suspicion" that Tony Asghar, who stood down as sporting director in February, remains involved with the football club, with current team boss Jim Goodwin issuing a denial. (The Courier), external
Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, BBC SportOut in the Hampden sun in 2010, Dundee United had a second half party against Ross County in the Scottish Cup final.
Craig Conway's double followed David Goodwillie's opener to ensure Peter Houston's side won the oldest trophy in association football for the second time in their history.
Goodwillie broke the deadlock with a stunning lob from just outside the penalty area after County keeper Michael McGovern raced from his line to head clear.
Conway added a second when he collected Goodwillie's headed flick and sped away from the County defence before sliding a left-foot shot under the on-rushing McGovern.
He controlled Gomis' accurate assist and arrowed a shot into the bottom corner to make in three and send the travelling Tangerines into delight.
A dominant Dundee United deserved victory against Derek Adams' County in the 125th instalment of the Cup.
Image source, SNSListen to Paul Hegarty and Maurice Malpas relive Dundee United's 1983 title triumph, 40 years on from that famous day at Dens Park.
Click here for a Scottish Football Podcast special.
Watch the Sportscene team's analysis of Dundee United's 3-1 defeat against Ross County
Highlights: Dundee Utd 1-3 Ross County, Scottish Premiership
Image source, BBC SportWe asked for your views on Dundee United 3-1 defeat by Ross County. Here's what you said:
Jim: Basically, we are where we are because our car-crash keeper has cost us at the least 10 points and totally the disrupted the defence. We also got rid of Clark and Watt and didn't replace them. Three managers who didn't notice what was obvious to the fans hasn't helped.
Chris: Utter embarrassment for every United fan again - thumped by County at home in a six-pointer is pathetic. Huge support, but the same mediocre performance. If the players don't care, why should we? Never ever should we get thumped by County at home!
Jim: The worst United side in living memory and I'm not forgetting the relegated sides of recent years. Three games left and little chance of survival.
Kenny: This mess is not Goodwin's fault. In fact, he deserves respect for taking this job on. The buck stops with the players and the owners. Simply not good enough.
Jim: This has been coming all season. You sack a manager then appoint his assistant as manager, he buys poorly, doesn’t bring through young players and ends up with players playing out their career at United. Rubbish owner, rubbish manager. Now they are getting everything they deserve.
Wallace: Surely the worst United team ever. We have conceded 62 goals so far, the most in the league. We have a very poor recruitment policy and, once you drop down, it's hard to get back up.
United manager has expressed his disappointment after his side once again fell to the bottom of the Premiership table.
He said:"It's the worst possible start you could ever hope for. I hadn't finished shaking hands with Malky Mackay and wishing him well for the game before we were a goal behind. It's from a basic corner. It's inexcusable from our point of view.
"The reaction after going behind was good. The fans were brilliant, they really got behind the players and drove them on. I thought we deserved to get the equaliser. We were the better team for most of the first half.
"Unfortunately, a couple of really poor goal from us, defensively, have cost us the game. The manner of the goals is really what hurts me most. We have to defend better than that going forward. We can't have another defensive display like that in the next three games.
"I thought we had eradicated those mistakes. We're over 60 goals now for the season, which speaks for itself. Today is an extremely difficult one for us all to take."
Image source, SNSSean McGill, BBC Sport Scotland
United's shortcomings left the home crowd frustrated, who had turned out in their numbers to remember the club's glory of old, as well as to support the current crop facing a return to the second tier.
With just three games to go, and nine points to play for, they find themselves three points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership. They were a side riding high a fortnight ago, but back-to-back defeats have brought dark clouds back over Tannadice.
Jim Goodwin's side impressed in spells, moving up the park with fluidity, though often stuttering in the final third. When Ayina was the chief creative force, it's clear that the side failed to find the performance the home fans sorely craved.
Image source, BBC SportWere you part of the bumper crowd that watched United fall back to the bottom of the Premiership?
Wherever you watched, we want to hear from you. Do you still believe your side can beat the drop?
It's hard to single any player out after such a deflating defeat. Loick Ayina impressed going forward, but three poor goals conceded scupper his chances of earning high praise.
Jamie McGrath once again remained cool when his side needed it, and showed industry in his attempts to get United up the park.
Image source, SNSCaptain Ryan Edwards returns to the United defence after this good run of form was halted by St Johnstone last time out. Academy graduate Rory MacLeod joins him in the team.
Suspended defender Charlie Mulgrew and right-back Kieran Freeman drop out the United side.
Malky Mackay also makes a pair of switches from the side that prevailed over Livingston, with winger Josh Sims replacing Keith Watson, while Alex Samuel comes in up to for Simon Murray.
Ben Purrington, who was expected to miss out on the Tannadice trip, his fit enough to make the bench.
Image source, SNSRory MacLeod, 17, makes just his second league start of the season for United.
Image source, BBC SportDundee United: Birighitti, Niskanen, Edwards, Ayina, McMann, Behich, Sibbald, Harkes, McGrath, MacLeod, Fletcher
Substitutes: Newman, Graham, Djoum, Middleton, Freeman, Fotheringham, Cudjoe, Thomson, O'Donnell
Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall, Baldwin, Iacovitti, Harmon, Cancola, Dhanda, Sims, Loturi, Samuel, White
Substitutes: Munro, Purrington, Owura, Murray, Hiwula, Tillson, Smith, Kenneh
Image source, BBC SportDundee United will be without defender Charlie Mulgrew through suspension, while Dylan Levitt (knee), Peter Pawlett (hamstring) and Liam Smith (ankle) are still injured.
Ross County boss Malky Mackay has no fresh injury concerns, but long-term absentees Ben Purrington (ankle), Ben Paton (knee) and Ross Callachan (knee) remain out, along with Eamonn Brophy (thigh) and Gwion Edwards (hamstring).
Image source, SNS
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in... Jim Goodwin might have been thinking something similar to those oft-quoted words from Al Pacino in Godfather III after last weekend's results.
Dundee United had lifted themselves off the bottom with a run of three straight wins, but that progress was halted by defeat by St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, while Ross County were busy battering Livingston to make sure the battle to avoid the drop is as tight as ever.
Just one point covers the three sides scrapping for survival and it promises to be a tense afternoon at Tannadice on Saturday.
Kilmarnock, sandwiched in between, are looking forward to back-to-back home games, having picked up 26 of their 31 points at Rugby Park - and that ramps the jitters up even higher.
United and County shared the spoils in Dingwall on their first meeting this season, with two hefty home wins following, the Tangerines hitting three in December and the Staggies going one better in February.
Goodwin stepped in after that sorry loss and his side have scored nine in the eight games since, while County have hit six in seven over the same period.
At that rate, it may not be another big win, but any kind of win would be so, so precious for either team.
Image source, BBC SportNo player has been directly involved in more Scottish Premiership goals for Ross County this season than Yan Dhanda (9 – 3 goals, 6 assists), who assisted both of their goals against Livingston last time out.
Ross County are looking to win back-to-back league games for only a second time this season (previously November), having won 2-0 against Livingston last time out. However, the Staggies have lost four of their last five away league outings (W1).
Dundee United have won both of their last two home league games, last winning three in succession in October 2021, a run which included a victory over Ross County.
Ross County last won back-to-back Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee United in August 2015, winning 4-0 in their last such clash in February.
Dundee United have won seven of their last nine Scottish Premiership home games versus Ross County (L2), including each of their last three in a row.
