Dundee United

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin says the final piece of transfer business he is looking to do in this window is the signing of a centre-forward to provide competition for Louis Moult and Jort van der Sande.

Goodwin also praised the talent of 17-year-old striker Owen Stirton, but says it is likely his development will continue either in the club's youth set-up or out on loan.

"We've only got two senior strikers in the building with Van der Sand and Moult," Goodwin said.

"Owen Stirton is a player we've got high hopes for, but we feel for Owen's development it's important he keeps playing under-18s games; there might be the possibility he goes out on loan.

"It's still an area we're looking to strengthen. Everywhere else, I'm very happy with right now."

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been talking to the media before Saturday's Premiership clash with St Johnstone.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Says there's a "good feeling" among his players after last three games, particularly the League Cup win over St Mirren last time out.

• Expecting a tough game against St Johnstone - says they have "good technical players" and is wary of Adama Sidibeh and Benjamin Kimpioka up front.

• Goodwin says he is still looking to add a striker before the window closes, but he is "very pleased" with all other areas of his squad and the transfer business they have done to this point.

• Praised Kevin Holt's versatility after he shone in central midfield against St Mirren, and how it gives him options in terms of the make-up of his side.

• Team news: Ryan Strain remains out with long-term injury; Ross Docherty is "not quite up to speed" and Richard Odada is "a little bit behind the rest of the group". Vicko Sevelj has had a tight hamstring but it's not serious.

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• Dundee United are winless in their last seven Scottish Premiership home games against St. Johnstone (D2 L5), losing their last three in a row.

• St. Johnstone have only won one of their last 13 away games against newly promoted opponents in the Scottish Premiership (D7 L5), a 1-0 win at Kilmarnock in May 2023. They drew both of their trips to Dundee United the last season in which the Tangerines were a promoted side (2020-21).

• Dundee United have drawn their opening two Scottish Premiership fixtures this season (2-2 v Dundee, 1-1 v Ross County) – the last team to draw their opening three matches of a top-flight campaign were rivals Dundee in 2014-15, who were also a newly promoted side (Ross County could also do so this weekend).

• St. Johnstone have won their last two Scottish Premiership away games and will be aiming to win three in a row on the road in the competition for the first time since December 2018 under Tommy Wright (6 in a row).

• This will be St. Johnstone manager Craig Levein’s first top-flight match against former club Dundee United since a 1-1 draw with Hearts in October 2004. Levein has lost just one of his last eight such meetings with the Tangerines (W6 D1 – all with Hearts), a 1-2 defeat in November 2003.

• All 12 Premiership sides provided a total of 15,101 minutes to Scottish players aged under 21 in the 2023-24 season.

• Those minutes average out to just 1,258 per club, which is the equivalent of only 14 full 90-minute matches.

• Six teams failed to reach a total above 700 minutes.

• Celtic and Rangers were the worst offenders in the division, with Celtic managing just 89 minutes all in, while Rangers' total was even lower at only 26.

Steve Clarke could call up former Dundee United midfielder Ryan Gauld, now in the MLS with Vancouver Whitecaps, for the Nations League games with Poland and Portugal. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

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Motherwell and Dundee United's League Cup quarter-final at Fir Park will take place on Friday, 20 September.

The match kicks off at 19:45 BST and will be live on Premier Sports.

Steve Kettlewell's side edged out 10-man Kilmarnock 1-0 in extra time in the last 16 on Sunday while Dundee United beat St Mirren by the same scoreline.

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Clubs in Scotland are failing to bring through enough young players, a report, external by the Scottish FA has said.

The governing body says Scottish football is "significantly underachieving its potential" in youth development compared to countries of a similar size.

Using a range of data to compare leagues across Europe, it shows players under the age of 21 in Scotland are playing fewer minutes in the top-flight than countries such as Denmark, Norway, and Croatia.

Meanwhile, game time for young Scottish players in major European club competitions ranks below countries with smaller populations and fewer resources, such as Montenegro and North Macedonia.

It also stresses clubs are missing an opportunity to reduce wage costs and increase transfer revenue by developing their own players.

The report was commissioned by the SFA's professional game board at the end of 2023, and a working party comprised of SPFL and SFA representatives will now consider its findings.

Read the full story

Former striker Lee Miller, who turned out for Dundee United, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock among others, recounts his experiences of being on the move on transfer deadline day during his playing career.

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish football podcast on BBC Sounds

Dundee United are in discussions with attacking targets. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

I’ve often said on our podcast I’m not a fan of the League Cup group stage - though that has absolutely nothing to do with United’s tendency to struggle there!

This season’s campaign has been quite the rollercoaster. It kicked off with a disaster at Falkirk, leaving fans worried.

We managed to recover with wins against Stenhousemuir and Ayr United, the latter courtesy of a stunning free-kick from Brandon Forbes.

Then came the trip to Buckie, where we needed to win by six goals.

Spoiler: We didn’t.

Fans were fuming, and the long trip home didn’t help. But somehow, we scraped through as one of the best runners-up thanks to some favourable results elsewhere.

Fast forward to this weekend: St Mirren, fresh off a European exit, came to Tannadice. We all hoped for a European hangover, and our wish was granted.

Kevin Holt, playing in midfield, had us wondering if we’d accidentally signed Sergio Busquets.

Ross Graham’s header from a Will Ferry corner sealed a hard-fought victory against a strong St Mirren side. Now we’re off to Motherwell for the quarter-finals.

So, remind me - what was all that fuss after Buckie Thistle again?

Ronny Costello can be found at The Dode Fox Podcast, external

We asked you for your thoughts after Dundee United's win against St Mirren secured their spot in the last eight of the League Cup.

Here's what you had to say:

Graham: Aside from getting into the hat, the clean sheet is up there with the most positive thing. Last few games we have struggled to stay ahead in games, but hought we defended well with an adjusted backline team by moving Holt into a midfield role. Just wish we would kill games off as we have an unbelievable attacking threat.

Stephen: So far this season United look to be building a squad and team that work together and for each other to get the job done, but they also have something about them. More easy on the eye.

We have pace and tricky players, but very importantly we have fight. Today was not a vintage performance but they got the job done against a decent side who finished top six last season.

Alistair: Looks like recruitment has been decent.

Fraser: Will Ferry was outstanding!

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Match-winner Ross Graham insists Dundee United won't "get too carried away" with after his header secured a League Cup quarter-final tie away to Motherwell.

Graham met Will Ferry's excellent set-piece to overcome St Mirren at Tannadice, ensuring United remain unbeaten in six competitive fixtures this season.

"It felt brilliant," the defender told BBC Scotland. "I think just getting in the hat for the next round, that was the main objective and we did that.

"We're not going to get too carried away with it. I think that was a good clean sheet as well and we'll kick on from that. It's been a relatively good start this season."

United drew their opening two Premiership fixtures against Dundee and Ross County as they bid to re-establish themselves as a top-flight club this term.

Graham believes with a quarter-final now secured, they are starting to show they can compete at this level.

"St Mirren are a good side," he added. "They've been in the top six over the last couple of seasons.

"We showed we can compete with them. Dundee a few weeks ago here, they're a top-six side as well and we more than matched them, so we're looking to stride forward."

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Dundee United will travel to Motherwell for their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tie next month.

Jim Goodwin's side defeated St Mirren 1-0 at Tannadice on Sunday, while Motherwell beat Kilmarnock by the same score after extra-time.

The tie will take place on the weekend of 21-22 September.

Read the draw in full here.

Ross Graham’s close-range header proved decisive as Dundee United beat St Mirren to secure a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final place.

The towering defender got the vital touch from a couple of yards out after Will Ferry’s excellent corner delivery wasn’t dealt with by the St Mirren backline.

What did you make of it, United fans? Was that a deserved victory? Should it have been more comfortable?

Let us know your thoughts here, external.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin told BBC Scotland: "We were well worthy of the win in the end. St Mirren came fast out of the blocks.

"Over the piece, we controlled large periods within the first half. Deservedly got ourselves in front. We wanted that second goal to kill the game off.

"As much as we didn't have similar control in the second half, we managed the game really well.

"It's a massive clean sheet as well. The structure and the discipline of the team was excellent. The three centre-backs were outstanding and I have to give a special mention to Kevin Holt, playing in the middle of the park, but he did exactly what we hoped he would."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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United will rightly be most consumed by ensuring they stay in the Scottish Premiership and anything more might feel like a bonus.

However, that bonus - getting to a cup quarter-final so early in the season - will be a considerable boost offering confidence and belief they are more than equipped to compete.

It’s been a more than solid start to the season. They seem to have recruited well and the early signs are positive.

The summer signings have adjusted to the physicality and pace of Scottish football quickly, and Goodwin must be praised for finding players so suited to our brand of the game.

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Will Ferry. The left-back has taken to Scottish football very quickly and looks like he's been playing up here for years.

At wing-back, it's his attacking qualities that have been more obvious. He offers an option in attack with his high positioning out wide, and his deliveries tend to be dangerous and pacy.

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Dundee United: Walton, Adegboyega, Gallagher, Graham, Holt, Ferry, Babunski, Sibbald, Stephenson, Trapanovski, Van der Sande.

Substitutes: Richards, Moult, Odada, Middleton, Fotheringham, Docherty, Thomson, Cleall-Harding, Ubochioma.

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, Iacovitti, Rooney, Smyth, Idowu, Tanser, F Taylor, Mandron, Olusanya.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Bwomono, R Taylor, Kenny, Sutherland, Brown, Mooney, Scott, Ayunga.

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Jim Goodwin does not expect former club St Mirren to be suffering from "fatigue" when they visit Dundee United in Sunday's Scottish League Cup tie.

Stephen Robinson's Buddies lost 3-1 away to Brann on Thursday, with the Norwegian side triumphing 4-2 in the Conference League third qualifying round.

United will have had eight days to prepare, with their last game away to Ross County in the Premiership on 10 August.

"Stephen Robinson has done fantastic at St Mirren in the last couple of seasons with the top-six finishes and getting them into Europe," said Dundee United manager Goodwin.

"They can be very proud of their efforts. They played against a very good Brann side. I don't think the fatigue thing will play a part because St Mirren have got quite a strong squad with good strength in depth.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see maybe four or five changes from the team that started against Brann. They have players they can bring in who are very good quality players.

"I'm sure Stephen will be disappointed with the last couple of results and will be looking to make amends, but it's a game we've got to approach in a positive fashion."

Goodwin believes the League Cup "can be significant in terms of how the season pans out".

"I'd be lying if I said it was a priority competition for us because the league is everyone's bread and butter and the main objective for us is to stay in the league," he explained.

"But at the same time, if we win on Sunday, all of a sudden we find ourselves in the quarter-final of this competition and if the draw is kind to you, you may get a day out at Hampden [in the semi-finals] - which is what everyone wants."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Mirren will head to Tannadice with a combination of regrets and pride in performance as they look to extend their unbeaten run there to five games in the Premier Sports Cup last 16.

They ran Brann close on Thursday until two late goals took the more experienced Norwegian side through to the Europa Conference League play-offs.

Now Stephen Robinson's team must recover from their travels as they look to avoid a third consecutive defeat in a week after Aberdeen ended their four-game unbeaten start to the season.

In contrast, Dundee United had a shaky start, losing their group-stage opener to League 1 champions Falkirk, but have since gone five unbeaten, albeit they have had to settle for a point in both games on their Premiership return.

Will Luca Stephenson be the latest summer arrival to impress if the 20-year-old on-loan Liverpool wing-back is handed a debut by Jim Goodwin?

Read the Premier Sports Cup preview in full here.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before their Scottish League Cup second round fixture against St Mirren on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• He’s delighted to have completed the deal for Luca Stephenson and says the on-loan Liverpool defender is "a really good addition and will certainly add quality to the squad".

• Despite a busy summer of transfers, Goodwin is still looking to strengthen, especially in the forward areas, saying: "We need another one at least at the top end."

• On letting Tony Watt go, he says: "He was very important player but he doesn't want to be a squad player and we couldn't guarantee him those minutes."

• He doesn’t think fatigue will be an issue for St Mirren after their European tie because Stephen Robinson has a strong squad depth.

• On returning skipper Ross Docherty, Goodwin says he will be a part of the squad at the weekend and he’s "been very cautious with his rehab and we've been very tentative with introducing him back into full training".

• Vicko Sevelj will miss the game due to suspension but "everybody else is fit and desperate to play some part in the game".

• Goodwin insists his team are "still very much a work in progress" and he’s been pleasantly surprised with how quickly David Babunski and Kristijan Trapanovski have settled in and how Declan Gallagher, Jack Walton and Craig Sibbald "have stepped up to the challenge".