Former Dundee United wonderkid Ryan Gauld admits he is considering switching his international allegiance to Canada after seven years without a Scotland call-up. (OneSoccer via Scottish Sun)
Ex-Tannadice manager Craig Levein is concerned about Dundee United's Premiership status because they are "in a dogfight with other teams who are probably more used to being in that situation". (The Courier)
Read the rest of Friday's gossip.
Image source, SNSDundee United boss Jim Goodwin’s last league match as Aberdeen manager was a 6-0 defeat to Hibs in January. Goodwin has, however, won both of his last two home league games against Hibs.
Hibs have won three of their last four Scottish Premiership away games at Dundee United, although did lose their first such trip this season 1-0 in October.
Dundee United have won none of their last 11 league matches (D3 L8), the longest ongoing winless league run of any Scottish Premiership side. They last had a longer top-flight winless run between March and September 2008 (12 in a row).
Since Kevin Nisbet’s first league appearance of the season in December, only Kyogo Furuhashi (10) has scored more Premiership goals than the Hibs striker (9). Nisbet has the best minutes per goal ratio of any player with 500+ minutes in the division this season (one goal every 75 mins) and the best by a player with 500+ mins in a season since Kenny Miller in 2010-11 (one goal every 72 mins).
Dundee United have only lost one of their last five league games against Hibs (W2 D2), a 3-1 home defeat in December 2021.
Kai Fotheringham is on course to earn a new deal at Tannadice following a fine season, with boss Jim Goodwin impressed with the Dundee United youngster. (The Courier)
Read the rest of Thursday's gossip
The games are running out for Dundee United as they seek to avoid the drop this season.
They face a wounded Hibs side on Sunday, after Lee Johnson's side went down 3-1 to Motherwell last time out.
What team would you pick if you were in Jim Goodwin's shoes? Let us know here.
Former Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara has backed the Tannadice side to stay in the Scottish Premiership despite their struggles so far this season.
United sit bottom of the table having picked up just 22 points from their 30 league games, but McNamara believes they have enough to avoid the drop.
"I think they've got enough in their dressing room," he said.
"I know they've not picked up enough points. The good thing at this stage is that they're not cut adrift - it's not a massive task to get out of where they are.
"They've got enough quality, but they need to turn that into victories now."
Image source, SNS
Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland
Dundee United remain bottom of the table, and with eight games left time is running out as they battle to save their Premiership skin.
A grim looking situation – undoubtedly – but all is not lost.
You can make a case that United have a run of pre-split fixtures which is more favourable than those of the two teams who are also embroiled in the battle at the bottom, Ross County and Kilmarnock.
Two of United’s next three games are at home, starting with the visit of Hibs this weekend, undoubtedly something that should work to the advantage of the Tangerines.
But, in order to capitalise on anything that looks like it could work in favour, United must start winning.
That might sound like a relatively straightforward task, but it is something that has been far from straightforward for United.
In fact, you have to go back to 2 January to find the last time they managed to muster a league win - that is relegation form, make no mistake.
However, their fate remains in their own hands, and there have been signs of improvement in recent weeks. Those signs have to start producing wins though, and soon.
Derek Bond, who joined Dundee United in December 2018, is to leave his position as finance director at Tannadice. (The Courier), external
Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image source, BBC SportPaul McNicoll, The Dode Fox Podcast, external
Rangers comfortably, and deservedly, won the match on Saturday. They pretty much dominated the game from start to finish and were also the only side that looked like they wanted to win.
Most United fans will have been happy to get out of Ibrox without the goal difference taking too much of a battering. That, I'm afraid, is the level that we have reached. Happy to only lose by two goals.
Of course, Tillman was the goalscoring hero for the Govan men. He was excellent on the day and it does make you wonder why someone as good as him, in a game as comfortable as that one, would still try and simulate contact to win penalties, but, I'm getting sidetracked there.
So where does that leave United? Well, we've eight games left. Eight games where we simply have to go out and try to win every single one of them. Eight opportunities to right the wrongs of this whole season. Eight matches to retain our top-flight status.
It's worth noting at this point that United haven't won a league match since 2 January 2023. That's over three months ago. We should be horrendously cut adrift by now, no chance of staying up, probably already relegated... but somehow, we are not. The gap to the team directly above us is a mere two points. With eight games to go, that is far from insurmountable.
But, and it's a big but, we have to start winning matches. There are only so many favours that a team can have come their way. I feel like we've used most, if not all, of ours up this season. It is now United's turn to do themselves a favour or two.
We welcome Hibs to Tannadice next Sunday. Easter Sunday no less. The time of year when children roll chocolate eggs and Christians mark the resurrection of Jesus. It's all very apt.
A defeat, and United may keep rolling towards the Championship. A win, and you just never know. Against all odds, the miracle of surviving may very well happen.
Ex-Dundee United defender Lee Wilkie believes time is running out for his old club and they must keep Ross County and Kilmarnock within touching distance before the Premiership split. (The Courier)
Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip here.
We asked for your thoughts after Dundee United went down 2-0 away at Ibrox on Saturday.
Here's what you had to say:
Alan: We can hardly string two passes together. It gets punted up to the halfway line which invites the opposition to come at them again. That's the reason why they have conceded so many goals. Add to that a striker with two left feet and a square head and that's why they have scored very little. They will struggle in championship too. A clean out is needed - open the biscuit tin and buy wisely.
Neil McCann and Chris Iwelumo dissect Dundee United's performance in the 2-0 defeat at Ibrox
Watch the latest episode of Sportscene Goals+ right here.
All the goals and main action from the weekend's Scottish Premiership fixtures.
Highlights: Rangers 2-0 Dundee Utd
Were you at Ibrox on Saturday or following the match from home?
Either way, want your views on the game – have your say here.
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "Extremely disappointed to lose. The players put a lot into it and we didn't lose through lack of effort or commitment, but we lacked that little bit of quality you need when you turn over possession of the ball.
"We didn't put enough passes together at key moments and weren't ruthless enough with the few opportunities that did come our way.
"We defended really well until the first goal. Our three centre-backs coped with everything that came in, but the first goal is a real sucker-punch because it's something we'd worked on as Rangers are very good in and around the 18-yard box.
"We just had a lapse of concentration and let Tillman run off the back of us."
Image source, SNSMartin Watt, BBC Sport Scotland
The Tannadice men will be relieved to get this one out of the way and focus on more winnable fixtures in their survival battle.
While United made a promising start, they too often gave the ball straight back to Rangers and Steven Fletcher couldn't make it stick up front.
Once the goals went in, it became a damage limitation job and United gamely kept the score down.
The positivity Jim Goodwin has instilled in his early reign won't be chipped away by this defeat and it's now eight games left to try to preserve their Premiership status.
Image source, SNSCraig Sibbald can be satisfied with his shift in the United engine room.
The midfielder almost scored a stunning opener, had a passing accuracy of 86% which was the highest of the starting XI, and was an industrious presence throughout.
Jim Goodwin makes just one change to his Dundee United side from the battling 1-1 draw against St Mirren as they look to spring a shock.
Kieran Freeman starts in place of Liam Smith at right wing-back.
Image source, SNSRangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack, Cantwell, Tillman, Morelos, Kent.
Substitutes: McLaghlin, Yilmaz, Colak, Souttar, Matondo, Kamara, Wright, Sakala, Arfield.
Image source, OptaDundee Utd: Birighitti, McMann, Edwards, Behich, Ayina, Freeman, Sibbald, Harkes, McGrath, Pawlett, Fletcher.
Substitutes: Newman, Graham, Niskanen, Djoum, Sadat, Fotheringham, Cudjoe, Thomson, O'Donnell.
Image source, OptaBottom club Dundee United are capable of getting a positive result against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday, says Scott McMann, with the defender saying there is no such thing as a "free hit". (Courier - subscription required), external
Image source, BBC SportThe Premiership is back - and so is the weekend preview you need in your life.
Our Scottish football podcast has all six games covered, so listen in here.
Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin is still making his way back from a thigh issue and will miss the game.
Robby McCrorie is back in training after an ankle injury but Leon King (knock), Kemar Roofe (hip), Tom Lawrence (heel), Steven Davis (knee) and Filip Helander (foot) remain out.
Dundee United defender Charlie Mulgrew faces a fitness test after tweaking a hamstring in training. Glenn Middleton (hamstring) and Dylan Levitt (knee) remain out.
Image source, SNS
