Dundee United

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

It took them a while to get going, but once United had their first goal against Ross County, they didn't look like being stopped.

Luca Stephenson's goal was Will Ferry's 11th cross into the box, most of which were decent. The left-back looks like a really smart addition for Jim Goodwin's side and was a real threat down the left and from set-pieces.

Up top, on-loan Wrexham striker Sam Dalby looks increasingly handy at Tannadice. On the scoresheet and a physical presence, he had a couple more chances that he could have scored but took his goal well.

What would you like to ask Tom English about Dundee United?

Our chief sportswriter is in the hotseat ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Answers will be provided on Tuesday’s episode of the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast and on this page later in the week.

Put your questions to Tom here., external

Watch highlights as Dundee United win 3-0 against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK audience only)

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 3-0 win against Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

Scott: To a man, United were excellent. What a difference it makes playing two up front. Best performance of the season by a mile. The team had intent and positivity. Jim Goodwin got the tactics and formation spot on. Just desperate for big Jort van der Sande to get off the mark!

Stephen: A slow first 45 against a stuffy and physical County side was vastly improved on in the second 45. More pressure and urgency were backed up by good one and two touch passing with intent to get forward as often as possible. Goodwin was able to adapt and use his tactics and subs well, cherry on top was the clean sheet!

Gordon: United controlled the game despite the refereeing, matched County's physicality then came good in the second half. A good win in the end.

Ross: Second half performance was the best of the season so far. After a slow but steady first half the pace increased. Passes were crisper, players were looking forward not back. Every move was positive, every cross was menacing. Quality goals with standout performances from Sam Dalby, Luca Stephenson and Will Ferry, and who doesn't love a goal from local talent!

Eddie: Best, most complete performance this season so far! Some great goals and some really excellent performances. Absolutely buzzing for young Owen Stirton, take a bow young man!

David: That was the performance we've been waiting on for a few weeks. Second half especially was the best of the season so far. Top six now looks achievable given this start but can we finish 4th? And what an acquisition Will Ferry has been (to mention just one).

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Goalless at half-time, what did Jim Goodwin say to spur the reaction which hit in the second half at Tannadice?

"Just stay calm and keep going," according to Sam Dalby.

Keep going they did in a half they scored three, including the 24-year-old's composed finish.

"It was good ball from David [Babunski] to be honest, in behind the defence and sometimes that causes a lot of problems for teams, especially when they're pushing for a goal," he said of his strike to BBC Scotland post match.

"So, sort of just gambled on it and then once I was through on goal, it's about just staying composed and putting it into the corner.”

Dalby has delighted many United fans since joining in the summer on-loan from Wrexham and he believes it's been a "positive" move for him.

"It's been something that's been positive for me, you know, the start to the season and our start to the season, really it's all about trying to help the team get three points at the end of the day, and thankfully we did that," he added.

Image source, SNS

• Dundee United have scored eight goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Sam Dalby has contributed to goals in his last 3 home games in the Premiership (3 goals, 0 assists).

• Ross County have conceded eight goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Hibernian (nine) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• Ross County have conceded four goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, only St Johnstone (six) have conceded more.

Dundee United's impressive return to the Scottish Premiership continues as they ease aside Ross County to maintain their fourth-place position.

Manager Jim Goodwin was rewarded with a contract extension this week and his players showed by with an accomplished victory.

What did you make of that win, United fans? Was the scoreline reflective of the United performance?

Let us know your thoughts here., external

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

When a side gain promotion, the priority has to be retaining their Premiership place. But United's ambitions may be growing after such a strong start.

Three points here, heading into an international break, gives an opportunity to reflect on a job very well done so far.

Goodwin's reward with an extended contract brings stability to him, the club and the squad.

Here, what seemed key was the intent they showed after the break. Until then, they had tried to create but were frustrated by a well-drilled County.

After that, they swarmed forward and didn't settle for one goal. That has to be encouraging.

The goals were of a high quality and the impact of Stirton was the cherry on top.

United are signalling what a club of their size should. They are showing they have Premiership presence.

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin told BBC Scotland: "We're really pleased with the overall performance. We started the game really slow, Ross County had us penned back in but we grew into the game.

"We built on that in the second half, and the second-half performance was a really dominant one. The majority was played in the Ross County half, played good football, moved it about well, good tempo. We got numerous deliveries into the box and we scored three really good goals.

"It's our most complete performance of the season so far and we certainly didn't underestimate Ross County coming into this game.

"We've got hopes and dreams like every other team, but there's far too long to go in the season for us to get carried away. That's the message to the players. It was a brilliant performance for 85 minutes but we won't allow ourselves to get caught up in top six talk.

[On Owen Stirton] "He's been in and around the first team since he's come in full time. He's only 17, come through the Baldragon Academy, been part of the club since he was 10 or 11 years old. The fans really enjoyed it, and it's a proud moment for Owen and his family to score on his Premiership debut. It's 'Roy of the Rovers' type stuff and I'm delighted for him. He deserves the opportunity. It's easy to chuck him on when we're 2-0 up and comfortable but I believed he would get a chance."

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Will Ferry. Luca Stephenson's goal was Ferry's 11th cross into the box and most of them were good.

It was a wonder United didn't score more given they had two big men in the box - Sam Dalby and Jort van der Sande - but the strikers often struggled to create clear chances.

Perhaps that's a bit harsh on Dalby. He was able to hold up well against a County side that had been watertight for the last few games.

Image source, SNS

Dundee United: Walton, Adegboyega, Gallagher, Holt, Strain, Stephenson, Sevelj, Babunski, Ferry, Van der Sande, Dalby.

Substitutes: Richards, Odada, Middleton, Fotheringham, Docherty, Thomson, Constable, Stirton, Obuchioma.

Ross County: Laidlaw, Wright, Lopata, Leak, Brown, Randall, Nisbet, Campbell, Denholm, Dale, White.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Allardice, Chilvers, Grieves, Telfer, Efete, Samuel, Brophy, Reid.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has signed a contract extension at Tannadice, taking him to the summer of 2026.

The 42-year-old steered the club back to the top flight last season as Championship winners and they sit fourth after collecting 16 points from their first 11 matches.

He called it an "easy decision", but what do you think United fans?

Have your say on Goodwin's new deal., external

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Midfielder Kristijan Trapanovski drops out for Dundee United after tweaking his hamstring against Hibernian.

Louis Moult (knee), Ross Docherty (muscular) and Ross Graham (hamstring) are battling to return while Craig Sibbald (groin) is definitely out.

Ross County remain without Will Nightingale (knee), George Harmon (ankle) and Max Sheaf (thigh).

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United midfielder Vicko Sevelj says he is not surprised at the successful start the team have made to the Scottish Premiership season because they "work so hard" every day.

The 24-year-old Croatian was one of 13 new players brought in during the summer as last season's Championship winners prepared for their top-flight return.

And United have transitioned seamlessly to Premiership life - they go into Saturday's match against Ross County fourth in the table after 11 games.

"Everyone has to be buzzing about this because we are a newly-promoted team and we are a new group, like 20 new faces so we are very happy," Sevelj said.

"I am not [surprised] because we work so hard in training every day; we have an amazing coach and coaching staff."

Despite that positive start, Sevelj is taking nothing for granted against Ross County.

When asked what he is expecting from the Dingwall outfit, he said: "A tough game against a good opponent.

"Ross County are just four points behind us, they have a great goal-scorer in form, so I think it will be a tough match for us. It is very important because if we win this it will do us a big favour."

• Dundee United have won seven of their last 10 top-flight home games against Ross County (L3), although lost their most recent in May 2023 (3-1).

• Ross County are unbeaten in three league meetings with Dundee United (W2 D1), their longest ever such run over the Tangerines in the top flight. The Staggies’ two wins in those last three fixtures are more than they managed in their previous 12 Scottish Premiership encounters beforehand (W1 D2 L9).

• Dundee United have only kept one clean sheet in their last seven home league games, conceding 2+ goals in five of them (13 total).

• Ross County have drawn eight of their last 14 league games (W2 D4), with both of their last two ending goalless. The last side to play out three straight 0-0s in the Scottish Premiership were Hibernian between February to March 2022.

• Ross County’s Connor Randall has made more combined tackles (35) and interceptions (18) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season (53), while only four players have won possession more times than the Staggies captain (58) in the division this term.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin is keen to strengthen his squad in January after insisting they are operating with the smallest squad in the Scottish Premiership. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has hailed the "remarkable" way his new-look squad have adapted to life in the Scottish Premiership.

United go into Sunday's Premiership visit of Ross County in fourth place after 11 games.

Goodwin said: "Newly promoted, we have had to sign 13 new players. To get all those guys so quickly and adapt to the Scottish game, it has been remarkable.

"We just have to take it week to week, we are not too focused on the league table at this point.

"Our points return in the opening 11 league games has been very positive. I think most people from a Dundee United perspective would have taken the position we are in prior to the league starting, but we are not getting carried away.

"The league hasn’t surprised us in any way. Every game we have been involved in has been really tight, competitive, not a great deal between any of the teams.

"We haven't played Celtic yet, we know how good they are going at the moment, but in all of the games we have played up to now we have had some terrific results."

United are currently just three points behind third-place Rangers, but only four above County, who sit ninth.

"I think Ross County have pretty much slipped under the radar up to now, but Don Cowie has done a terrific job," added Goodwin.

"They have some good players at the top end of the pitch that can cause us problems. They are a good side."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Dundee United's Premiership game with Ross County this weekend.

Here are the key lines from the United boss:

• With his side fourth in the table, just three points behind Rangers, Goodwin says they are not getting carried away and "can still improve".

• Asked if he is surprised by United's start on their top-flight return, Goodwin says he had "great confidence" in their summer recruitment and is impressed with how quickly the new-look squad has gelled.

• The United boss also points out that "if you drop the standards by just a couple of percent then things can change dramatically" and highlighted the never-say-die culture he has been trying to create at the club.

• Goodwin says "the league hasn't surprised us in any way" but does note they have yet to play Celtic.

• Kristijan Trapanovski misses out after injuring his hamstring against Hibs last Sunday.

• On the challenge posed by County, Goodwin is expecting a tough game against a side he believes "has slipped under the radar" this season.

Dundee United forward Sam Dalby is reaping the rewards of using a sports psychologist at former club Wrexham. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Last season's Championship winners have now played 11 games back in the top flight. A third of their pre-split fixtures have now been ticked off.

If manager Jim Goodwin was a teacher preparing his early season report card, what would he say about his class of 24-25 in assessment of the work they have done so far?

It might read something like this...

• Have settled into their new surroundings very well, very hard working, diligent, resilient, and have exceeded pre-term expectations, but there is still more to come.

OK, you can tell I am no teacher, but I have seen enough of Dundee United this season to know Goodwin will be more than happy with how his side have adapted to life back at Scottish football’s top table.

To be sitting in fourth place at this stage of the campaign is undoubtedly beyond the wildest dreams of even the most optimistic of Tangerines fans.

If they can see off Ross County at Tannadice in their final game before the next international break, then all connected with United will be justified in taking a step back and being rightly satisfied with the work done so far

However, football moves quickly and no one at United will be resting on their laurels as they look to try and further cement their top six credentials, and continue to put as much day light between themselves and the more unsavoury fight for survival at the other end of the table.