Dundee United

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "It's a difficult one to take undoubtedly. It's not a game we deserved to lose. A draw might have been a fair result but the last half hour we played the majority of the game in Motherwell's territory.

"We created some good half chances and get done with the sucker punch of the second goal.

"Sometimes players can make mistakes. He [Emmanuel Adegboyega] should have dealt with the situation after the first bounce, but allowing it to bounce again allows the Motherwell player to close the distance.

"We're not making any excuses we had enough of that game in terms of the key metrics you look at - possession, penalty area entries and goal attempts - I think we were probably on top in those areas.

"We just didn't take those half chances that came our way and unfortunately we get punished for a mistake at the back."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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It's been a good start to the season for Jim Goodwin and the team at Tannadice on their top-flight return.

They came close to a draw at high-flying Aberdeen at the weekend and Goodwin wanted the same discipline but with more impetus on the ball at home.

He got that as his team were the more composed in a scrappy game, creating the better chances without managing to properly cut Motherwell open regularly.

Missing four starters through injury in Craig Sibbald, Ross Docherty, Ross Graham, and Louis Moult they were the better side here but could not find the lethal touch they needed.

After equalising Kristijan Trapanovski and Will Ferry had golden chances to put them in front but found Motherwell bodies rather than the net.

Whether they have the necessary quality up front remains the biggest question mark, with Sam Dalby carrying too much of the burden himself in the absence of Moult.

Dundee United name the same XI which came close to getting a point at Pittodrie for the visit of Motherwell.

Jim Goodwin's squad is a tad stretched with Craig Sibbald, Ross Graham, Ross Docherty, and Louis Moult all still missing.

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• Dundee United have lost two of their last three league meetings with Motherwell (W1). They could lose back-to-back such matches against the Steelmen for the first time since March 2016, and could also lose back-to-back home league games against them for the first time since April 2013.

• Motherwell have only won one of their last nine away league games at newly promoted sides (D4 L4), although that was the most recent, beating Dundee 3-2 in April last season.

• Dundee United have won two of their last three home league games (L1), as many as their previous 10 on home soil in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W2 D2 L6).

• Motherwell have won six of their last 10 away league games (L4), as many as their previous 30 on the road beforehand (W6 D12 L12).

• Motherwell's Tony Watt has scored four goals in his five Scottish Premiership starts against former side Dundee United, netting in both of his last two against them.

The Premiership season may still have a long way to run, but the early signs have been hugely encouraging for Dundee United.

After stepping up from the Championship they find themselves in nosebleed territory of fourth after nine games.

Few would have imagined the Tangerines would have adapted so seamlessly to life back at the top table.

And it says a lot about the positivity at United that a defeat at Aberdeen last time out appears to have done little to dampen the optimism about what the Tannadice side can achieve this term.

Despite still being in the early knockings of the campaign, tonight's visit of fifth-place Motherwell is a pretty significant fixture.

A win would see United open up a five-point gap over the Lanarkshire side.

And if they can put clear daylight between themselves on the Steelmen, it would help build the argument that Jim Goodwin has assembled a team capable of mounting a serious challenge for the European spots.

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Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin expects to be selecting from an unchanged squad, with Craig Sibbald (groin), Louis Moult (knee), Ross Docherty (muscular) and Ross Graham (hamstring) all set to remain sidelined.

Liam Gordon is suspended for Motherwell while on-loan United forward Tony Watt is ineligible.

Paul McGinn (thigh), Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson (both knee), Harry Paton (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring) and Jack Vale (calf) are long-term absentees.

Richard Odada wants to make up for lost time at Dundee United, having only made four appearances since his summer arrival. (Record), external

Midfielder Odada, 23, believes "everything will tall into place" for him at Tannadice. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Manager Jim Goodwin says his Dundee United squad is stretched as they head into a Scottish Premiership double-header this week, with "influential" players still missing.

United currently sit fourth and host fifth-place Motherwell, with a chance to open up a five-point gap on Stuart Kettlewell's side.

Craig Sibbald, Ross Graham and Louis Moult remain out, although the latter two could return at the weekend, while Ryan Strain made his comeback as a substitute in Saturday's defeat at Aberdeen after three months out injured.

"This Wednesday we'll have to go with the squad that we had available to us against Aberdeen, said Goodwin.

"Look, you want to have competition right throughout the squad and unfortunately in recent weeks we haven't really had that.

"Particularly in the middle of the pitch, there's a big demand on the likes of [Vicko] Sevelj, [David] Babunski, obviously pleased to get [Richard] Odada some minutes on Saturday as well but we are missing some really influential players.

"Obviously, our captain Ross Doherty, Craig Sibbald who's been a mainstay in the team since I've come to the club and we're light of options at the top end of the pitch as well with Louis Moult being out."

One bright spark this season has been on-loan Liverpool player Luca Stephenson, whose versatility has proved useful.

"He has been excellent since he came in, that right-wing back role, he's made that his own," added Goodwin.

"The great thing about Lucas is he can play a number of different positions.

"Obviously, we moved him into the middle of the park on Saturday just to try and give us a bit more legs in there".

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media as his side prepares to host Motherwell on Wednesday night.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Goodwin says that with "influential" players missing, a lack of squad depth and competition for places has been apparent in recent weeks.

• He is "desperate" to get Ryan Strain back into the side but says it's not a simple task given the severity of the Australia defender's hamstring injury.

• On whether United are further ahead than expected after promotion, Goodwin says it's "important to remind ourselves" where the club have come.

• Getting to a situation where there is "real depth and real competition for places" won't happen overnight.

• He says it is still the "beginning of the project" at the club, despite their impressive top-flight start, and while "delighted" with the position they are in, the target remains staying in the Premiership.

• United will go into Wednesday's game "on the front foot" as the home side, but Goodwin knows Motherwell carry a real threat.

• He says it is "great to see" a young, Scottish talent like Motherwell's Lennon Miller "stealing the show".

Ross Graham, Craig Sibbald, Ross Docherty and Louis Moult will remain absent as Dundee United host Motherwell on Wednesday, confirms manager Jim Goodwin. (The Courier), external

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

Watch highlights as Aberdeen win 1-0 against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Scott: Mixed emotions. We defended like prime AC Milan but got what we deserved. Aberdeen deserved the three points as they were positive and patient. We sat back in the second half and just invited pressure which was disappointing as we are better than that, we need to stop being negative against the better teams. Good to see Ryan Strain back on the pitch.

Jamie: There is a big difference between playing defensively and negatively. Sadly, United were the latter and the blame has to go to Jim Goodwin. After all the hype over Aberdeen's admittedly tremendous start, they looked very average and it felt like a missed opportunity. All that said, it's still a great start to the season.

Robert: You can't play defensively like that continually and hope to get something out of a game of football. So far I think United have been fortunate gaining what they have in the league but eventually they will be caught out. You need to have more of a goal threat, that said our squad looks lacking in quality, experience and game know how!

Wallace: A poor second half by United as they never looked like scoring.

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• Aberdeen have scored five goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Dundee United (six) have scored more in the Premiership this season.

• Dundee United have conceded four goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, no team has conceded more.

• Aberdeen are undefeated in their last 18 games in the Premiership, their longest unbeaten streak in the competition (since at least 2013/2014).

• Dundee United failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing Rangers on 15th September 2024.

Did you take in Dundee United's defeat by Aberdeen?

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "We came close to a valuable point. A clean sheet would have been fantastic. I can't fault the players.

"In the first 45, I did not think there was a great deal in it. We denied them space in behind. Ahead of the second half, they made a few changes and caused us problems in the wide areas. We defended resiliently but I can't have too many arguments about the end result."

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.