Dundee United

The value of Dundee United midfielder Craig Sibbald has soared according to a study completed by football website, Transfermarkt., external

Rocketing up by €100k, Sibbald's transfer value is back at a career high of €400k. Kai Fotheringham's value has also increased by the same margin to €200k.

Elsewhere, highest valued player, Dylan Levitt, has dropped €50k in value to €800k, while Australia international, Aziz Behich has also dropped down from €700k to €600k.

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Dundee United fans relive the momentous and nail-biting 1994 Scottish Cup final win over Rangers at Hampden.

This clip is taken from BBC Scotland's A View From The Terrace. Watch the episode on iPlayer here.

Dundee United will not take any risks with winger Glenn Middleton as he recovers from a hamstring injury. (Courier - subscription required), external

Image source, BBC Sport

Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

When a team is struggling at the bottom of the table, there is a perception that things usually go against them.

Dundee United are arguably a case in point – the woodwork, and a controversial penalty award to their opponents prevented them from getting all three points against St Mirren last time out, an outcome that would have seem them move level on points with Kilmarnock.

But there is also saying in football that you have to create your own luck, and United need to find a way of doing that over the coming weeks.

Yes, there have been signs of improvement in the three games new boss Jim Goodwin has presided over, but he needs that improvement to be illustrated by wins. The statistics make grim reading – they are without a victory in 10 league games, a sequence which includes seven defeats.

That is relegation form – form which can’t continue, as the matches tick down until the end of the campaign.

Plenty for Goodwin to ponder on the United training ground during the international break.

Jim Goodwin would "love" to remain as Dundee United manager beyond the end of the current campaign but acknowledges that he must ensure Premiership football at Tannadice next season for that to happen. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

Ronny Costello, The Dode Fox Podcast, external

News broke on Monday that United are to request SPFL & SFA talks on VAR... and rightly so given Curtis Main's theatrics to win a penalty on Saturday.

A mate of mine remarked that "folk have paid their mortgage off quicker than how he went down".

Saturday was just another questionable VAR call we've been on the end of, and when you are fighting for your life at the bottom of the table, three points would have been much more valuable than the solitary one.

VAR is supposed to be there to get these decisions correct, how people can see different angles of it, at different speeds, and still say it's a penalty is beyond me. And we all know it wasn't the only game where VAR, in my eyes, got things wrong. Very wrong.

For us, the point is a positive, it's two draws on the spin now and just two points away from Ross County.

We need wins, VAR aside on Saturday, we should have won it ourselves at the end but these single points being gained need to turn into three soon.

Andy Robertson has spoken about how difficult a decision it was for him to leave Dundee United and join Hull City in 2014, but recognises now that it was vital in his development as a player.

"I loved it at Hull", the Scotland captain said on Kammy & Ben's Proper Football Podcast. "I was only a one-year pro at Dundee United and I wasn't ready to leave.

"I had a good chat with Steve Bruce - he convinced me I was ready, and also the Dundee United owner convinced me because of the money that was being bid for me. Both of them were big factors in different ways.

"In the first season, we were in the Premier League and it ended in disappointment, but the experience of playing against these massive players in big stadiums.

"The Championship season was possibly the most important in terms of I learned so much about myself as a player. A really difficult league. So constant, so many games and yet I loved the Championship - playing games every three days and then obviously it ends at Wembley and we get promoted."

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Sportscene pundit Neil McCann believes Steven Fletcher will be vital to Dundee United's survival bid.

Fletcher opened the scoring as Scottish Premiership bottom side United drew 1-1 with St Mirren.

"He's going to be critical," said former Scotland winger McCann. "Particularly when it gets to the split, but they need to get somebody close to him.

"They can't be too detached from Steven because he doesn't have the legs to run the channels like he maybe once did.

"His awareness of the game, his strength to hold it in and link the game is very important and, of course, he can finish."

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Dundee United are to demand an urgent summit of Premiership clubs with the SFA, SPFL and referee chiefs following another weekend of VAR controversy. (Scottish Sun), external

Dundee United striker Steven Fletcher says he doesn't get "drop vibes" from the Tannadice dressing room as the club battle for Premiership survival. (Courier), external

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, BBC Sport

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We asked for your views following Dundee United's 1-1 draw with St Mirren...

Chris: An improvement from United but, someone must have got a 'Be an SPFL official' experience for Christmas, because that was a shocking performance from the so-called referee and his assistants. The penalty decision was farcical, and United actually committed more obvious fouls after that, that were just let go - there was no consistency, or logic

Ally: The overriding feeling for me after this is that VAR has no place in our game. How with the benefit of video evidence they can conclude anything other than Main cheating for the penalty is astonishing. In terms of our performances, definite improvement under Goodwin but need to be clinical when we make chances. Missed big chances in injury time

Anonymous: How VAR didn’t overturn that, I will never know! I’ve seen a few very dodgy penalty decisions in my time, that one was up there! Unbelievable! Big improvement in the team! I was resigned to relegation, disillusioned with the Goodwin appointment, but the hope is creeping back in!

Were you at Tannadice or watching elsewhere? Share your thoughts on United's performance here.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "We're disappointed to drop two points in the manner we did - it's as soft a penalty as I've seen given all year.

"I've got to be very careful what I say because I've got a suspension hanging over me from something I said earlier in the season.

"I'll let your guys in the studio decide. Some might say it's clever from the St Mirren centre-forward [Curtis Main] but for me there's minimal, if any, contact.

"He's went over very easier and it's gone against us and it's cost us the game.

"I don't know how we didn't score at the end. We could've taken all three points at the end. I don't think there was a great deal between the two teams. Probably on the balance of play, a draw might've been fair.

"But for me it's the manner we concede the equaliser. I can't accept that with VAR and the technology to support us. There's not enough contact for me to warrant a penalty.

"When you're at the bottom of table and fighting for your lives, those two points taken away from us could've been invaluable."

Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

Jim Goodwin walked into a club winless in seven league games and adrift at the bottom, and after three games in charge his wait for a victory goes on.

United had a much better structure to them in the first half, though, and played some good stuff. But they suffered when Peter Pawlett and Jamie McGrath were taken off early in the second half.

Goodwin had no choice, because McGrath had taken a knock and Pawlett was coming back from a hamstring issue, but it highlights the lack of squad depth.

A trip to Ibrox next means they are unlikely to improve their points haul next time out, and then come huge games against Hibernian, Motherwell, and Livingston before the split.

Aziz Behich was excellent down the left for Dundee United. Peter Pawlett and Jamie McGrath were influential before they were forced off in the second half.

Ryan Edwards' return to the centre of defence is one of three changes made by United boss Jim Goodwin as he replaces Charlie Mulgrew.

Liam Smith is in for Kieran Freeman on the right of defence, while Peter Pawlett takes Sadat Anaku's place in the XI after recovering from a hamstring issue.

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Dundee United are set to have midfielder Peter Pawlett back on the bench following a hamstring injury but Glenn Middleton (hamstring) and Dylan Levitt (knee) are out.

St Mirren defender Charles Dunne is suspended after being sent off against Celtic in the Buddies’ last outing.

Declan Gallagher is not quite ready to return from a knock, loan striker Tony Watt cannot feature against his parent club, while new signing Caolan Boyd-Munce will be added to the squad subject to international clearance.

Aaaaand relax. Grab yourself a beverage of choice and get the weekend started with BBC Scotland's preview of the Premiership action.

All six games are covered and there's even some good old league reconstruction debate for good measure. Listen in here.

Dundee United goalkeeper Mark Birighitti has vowed to repay the faith shown in him by manager Jim Goodwin after he was given back the gloves.

Birighitti was dropped from the starting XI for Liam Fox's final game in charge, following a dreadful error in the defeat to St Johnstone, and was benched in the 4-0 loss to Ross County, but has started United's last two league games.

“From my experience so far, it’s a brutal league," Birighitti said. "It’s very physical. You don’t have time to think about making decisions on the field.

“I’m not going to shy away, I had a tough start to life in Scotland, but it’s always nice to have the backing from the manager. It’s up to me to repay that faith and put in performances that can help the team.

“I am working hard day in, day out to rectify those little mistakes that have creeped into my game.

“For me, it’s simple, it’s working hard, coming into training day in, day out trying to be the best version of yourself. That’s the only way you are going to reap rewards.”

Birighitti believes he can cope with the pressure as the Tannadice club seek to avoid relegation this season.

“Obviously criticism is part and parcel of being a footballer,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of outside noise and I’m experienced enough to know how to deal with that sort of stuff.

“I have good people around me and a good manager that backs me. I want to repay that faith to the manager because he is a fantastic guy and a fantastic coach and the lads are enjoying working with him.”

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