Dundee United

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Dundee United's Premiership game against St Mirren this weekend.

Here are the key lines from the United boss:

• Reflecting on the 1-1 draw against Rangers last weekend, he says: "As far as we're concerned it's just another point on the board."

• Goodwin is pleased with his attacking options: "We're very lucky that we've got three really good strikers in Louis Moult, Jort van der Sande and Sam Dalby." He also praises goalkeeper Jack Walton and says "defensively we've been solid".

• On having a number of players out of contract next summer: "It's too early at this stage for us to be talking about contracts with players."

• United have been "really unfortunate" with injuries but Ross Graham's return is "really important" and the defender - out since early October - could be part of the matchday squad on Saturday.

• Goodwin praises Stephen Robinson for turning the results around at St Mirren - who have taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer - and says: "If you put a good run together, you can catapult yourself up the league."

• Despite the draw against Rangers, the Irishman's message to his players has been: "It can all change very quickly if you drop standards and if you take your eye off the ball."

• He's expecting a "really difficult game" on his return to Paisley, where he says was his "most enjoyable time as a player."

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• Dundee United's Jim Goodwin, who took charge of 93 Scottish Premiership matches with St Mirren from 2019 to 2022 (W25 D31 L37), has only lost one of his five league games against the Buddies (W2 D2) since leaving the club, going down 3-1 with Aberdeen in December 2022.

• St Mirren have won their last two league games and could win three in a row for the first time since August 2022 – a run that including an away win over Dundee United (3-0).

• Dundee United have won three of their last five home games in the Scottish Premiership (L2), more than their previous 10 beforehand (W2 D2 L6).

• St Mirren have won three of their last four league visits to Dundee United (D1), this after losing their previous four top-flight away games against them beforehand.

• After their 1-0 win in October, Dundee United are looking to pick up back-to-back Scottish Premiership victories over St Mirren for the first time since November 2014 (3 in a row).

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin is open to making Sam Dalby's loan spell permanent but fears the striker's scintillating form could catch the eye of clubs "with deeper pockets" with the 24-year-old out-of-contract with Wrexham in the summer and having no clarity about his future with the League One club. (The Courier), external

Mark Birighitti, the 33-year-old goalkeeper who has been without a club since being released by Dundee United in the summer, has been named as junior goalkeeper technical director with semi-professional Australian club Perth SC. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

A point is a point, but the one Dundee United got at Ibrox at the weekend felt like a really big one – if you get my drift.

I have spoken a few times about the confidence, character and resilience that appears to exist in this United squad – all things they have displayed on their way to putting together a really fine start to the season.

But when a side start taking points off the likes of Celtic or Rangers, that is when belief can reach a new level within a group of players.

Irrespective of Rangers' current travails, going to Ibrox and coming away with something is no mean feat, in fact those were the first home points they have dropped in the league this term.

United have already proved they are a match for pretty much everyone else in the division – but now they will feel they have the capabilities to hurt the so called 'big two'.

Expectations will undoubtedly be rising among the Tannadice faithful about what might be achievable this season.

While you could argue that should be tempered, given that they are still the new kids on the Premiership block having been promoted last term, on the early evidence there is nothing to suggest that they shouldn't be thinking beyond the standard objective of a newly promoted team, which is usually simply Premiership survival.

Jim Goodwin's side now face two home games – against St Mirren and Kilmarnock – and with the feel good factor now surely coursing through their veins, you wouldn't bet against them continuing to add to their already impressive points tally over the next few weeks.

Jim Goodwin is adamant there was nothing "sinister" about Dundee United's failure to be ready for a 3.45pm kick-off against Rangers after being accused of "trying to make a point" by Ian McCall. (The Courier)

Goodwin says he "really wasn't trying to be clever, just stating the obvious" with his comments before United's draw at Ibrox that irked Rangers manager Clement. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Sometimes in life you'll hear the old phrase "well they can't all be wrong". This is often what people tell themselves to firm up their own opinions about a certain subject.

This season, however, a quick scroll through social media after a Dundee United match and the general consensus from opposition fans is that United are hopeless, dire to watch, a terrible team and lucky. As for Jim Goodwin, he's useless too.

Now if I went along with that old adage of thinking everyone can't be wrong, I'd be well within my rights to assume United would be bottom of the league and wildly adrift by now.

Of course, none of that is true. I'm not going to say we are overly exciting to watch every week and are blowing teams away at will. But what we are is a side greater than the sum of its parts and as 'together' a team as any in the league.

As for Goodwin, he has amassed an awful lot of managerial experience, both positive and negative, in the seven or eight years he has been doing this job and it feels like United are really benefitting from it. Most importantly, he has everyone in that squad playing for him.

He has learned a lot and continues to learn more. I certainly don't always agree with his selection choices, or the way that he sets the team up, but I have to doff my cap for what he has achieved up to now at Tannadice. There is most definitely a reason he is the manager and I am not.

As for supporters of the opposition, I'm happy for them to continue to chastise and put United down.

The only validation I need is a quick look at the league table and that tells me we're doing alright. And if United are as bad as some may say, it doesn't say much for most of the other teams in the league.

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

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Dundee United keeper Jack Walton made a series of terrific saves at Ibrox which were vital in securing a merited point for his side.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Dundee United's 1-1 draw against Rangers.

Sam Dalby feels he has one up on Steven Fletcher, his team-mate at parent club Wrexham, after scoring against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday, something former United and Hibernian forward Fletcher is yet to do. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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Declan Gallagher is proud of how Dundee United responded to difficult pre-match conditions when they drew 1-1 with Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

Jim Goodwin’s men hit the road on Saturday morning but after getting held up by traffic problems on their way to Ibrox, the 15:00 kick-off had to be delayed.

"With preparations, with the accidents on the road, we were obviously on the bus for a lot longer than we would want to be," Gallagher told DUTV.

"Obviously pre-match and stuff is disturbed and then kick-off times so I think there was a lot preparation wise that didn’t go our way.

"But I think that the character of the boys in this changing room showed on the park, they never let it affect them.

"And they were right up for it right from the [first] whistle.

“I think [the performance] was excellent. Each player to a man was superb."

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

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

Here's what some of you said:

Stuart: Thought Jim Goodwin got it spot on for the starting XI, but could have reacted quicker to the Rangers half time changes. Could prove to be a valuable point in the battle for a top-six slot. Jack Walton was superb and our man of the match!

John: I watched it until after midnight here in Vietnam when the game finished. Great defending and definitely a point gained. This team are hard to break down and show tremendous spirit. I would like Goodwin to get more credit for what he has achieved. His signings are good and the team has gelled, fantastic attitudes right though the team.

Lee: Absolutely delighted with that point today! Goodwin has more than deserved his contract extension. Doesn't hesitate to make adjustments to line ups, formations and tactics. Walton should have a contract offer on his dining room table a minute past midnight on new year’s day from us, he's been superb!

Graham: Amidst all the talk of our new signings and their successful integration, perhaps retaining the services of Walton was actually the best bit of business of all.

Iain: I felt we shut up shop far too early, but all credit to the players and particularly Walton for not crumbling despite also being up against the officials as usual when we play in Glasgow. I mean where did the added eight minutes come from? I suppose the officials were waiting for the other team to score before blowing for full-time.

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• Dundee United have lost eight points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Hibernian (11) have lost more.

• Rangers have scored in their last four games in the Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Dundee United are undefeated in their last three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 28th September 2024 to 19th October 2024.

• Vaclav Cerny has scored five goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), more than any other Rangers player.

Did you take in Dundee United's 1-1 draw with Rangers or were you following from home?

Have your say on the match., external

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "We're really pleased with the point in the end. Slightly disappointed if I'm being honest that we weren't able to keep the clean sheet and take all three. The game plan was working well.

"We scored a really, really good goal [through Sam Dalby]. Second half, Rangers made some changes, penned us back for large periods in that second 45 minutes. I thought the boys at the back defended the box brilliantly apart from that situation where we switch off, don't match the run and [Vaclav] Cerny finishes it well for the equaliser. When called upon, Jack Walton has had to make some big saves.

"It's the first time that Rangers have dropped points in the league here at Ibrox [this season]. Given the circumstances and the way our preparation went before the game [arriving late], I think that's quite remarkable."

Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland

Weather-related delays to Dundee United's arrival pushed the kick-off against Rangers back to 15:45 GMT but the first whistle was not actually blown until 15:55.

They may have been late to arrive but took no time at all to enact their game plan, namely frustrating Rangers and seeking to take advantage of any openings that came their way.

Their first half was almost flawless in its execution but they did not react quickly enough to Rangers' half-time changes and found themselves defending their own box more and more as the game wore on.

Nonetheless, a point is more than valuable for Jim Goodwin's side and they host St Mirren and Kilmarnock in their next two league fixtures.

Jack Walton's saves did as much to secure Dundee United a point at Ibrox as Sam Dalby's headed goal. The goalkeeper was in fine form.

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Two changes also for Dundee United with Kai Fotheringham and Glenn Middleton in for Emmanuel Adegboyega and Jort van der Sande, who are both on the bench.

Rangers: Butland, Sterling, Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Barron, Raskin, Diomande, Cerny, Dessers, Bajrami.

Substitutes: Kelly, Tavernier, Yilmaz, Dowell, Balogun, Igamane, Hagi, McCausland, Danilo.

Dundee United: Walton, Strain, Gallagher, Holt, Ferry, Babunski, Fotheringham, Sevelj, Middleton, Dalby, Stephenson.

Substitutes: Richards, Moult, Odada, Adegboyega, Van der Sande, Thomson, Constable, Stirton, Meschack.

Image source, SNS

Rangers will be missing Neraysho Kasanwirjo as he awaits the full diagnosis of a long-term knee injury.

Ross McCausland has shaken off a foot injury and Ridvan Yilmaz is back but Rabbi Matondo is out with a minor knock. Oscar Cortes will be back training next week.

Dundee United striker Louis Moult is back fit but Ross Graham and Kristijan Trapanovski are still out with hamstring injuries and Craig Sibbald (groin) is also out.

Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland

Rangers manager Philippe Clement says his team will "throw everything" at Dundee United when the sides meet at Ibrox on Saturday.

The Tannadice men are only three points behind third-place Rangers having played a game more.

United boss Jim Goodwin said on Thursday he's designing a gameplan to hopefully "create nervous tension" at Ibrox, but Clement is confident his side can nullify that.

"I like it when other people motivate my players," the Belgian said.

"It's a tough opponent. They have had a really good season, but we're going to throw everything from our side to win that game."

The hosts will have to make do without on-loan Feyenoord defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo, who has sustained what Clement called a "longer term injury" on his knee while on duty for Netherlands Under-21s.

Clement also took time to praise the contribution of defender John Souttar for Scotland against Croatia and Poland.

"He played two really impressive games," Clement added.

"I think everyone's seeing he's been making some really big steps forward the last couple of months, in every sense of football and personality."

Dundee United "have the ammunition" to cause Rangers problems, says former Ibrox striker Rory Loy.

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