Dundee United

Alsadair Lamont, BBC Sport Scotland

This Saturday the focus in the Premiership is very much on the relegation battle, with Kilmarnock in 10th hosting Motherwell, a place above them, and the even higher-stakes battle in Dingwall between Ross County and Dundee United, a point below their hosts at the foot of the table.

Time is running out for the bottom two to make a convincing case for survival and it seems likely to be a tense affair as both managers seek the victory they hope can be the springboard to safety.

While the pressure is undoubtedly on both Malky Mackay and Liam Fox to move away from the drop zone, the “noise” as it has come to be known appears louder round Tannadice way when it comes to those looking for change.

Liam Fox had a public assurance from United owner Mark Ogren only this week that he had no “immediate” plans to bow to those clamouring for a second managerial sacking this season, but the young United boss acknowledged that only positive results will ensure that remains the case.

The more experienced Malky Mackay has been over the course before and having been able to strengthen his squad in January, unlike Fox, he must now mould his regenerated squad into a team capable of winning, starting on Saturday.

The outcome will not necessarily decide who will finish bottom, but defeat for either will ramp up the negativity and could prove psychologically damaging going into the final stages of the campaign.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Captain Ryan Edward says the players take "full responsibility" for Dundee United's plight and admits they have to give the supporters something to cheer amid troubled times at Tannadice.

United are bottom of the Scottish Premiership after five straight defeats in all competitions and some supporters called for boss Liam Fox and sporting director Tony Asghar to go during last week's home loss to St Johnstone.

Protests against Asghar were also held before the club's AGM on Tuesday, but owner Mark Ogren has since said he has "no plans to make immediate changes" to the staff.

Edwards, who returns from a two-match ban for Saturday's crucial game with second-bottom Ross County, said: "We were all fans ourselves before being players and we all understand the frustration and anger towards results and performances not being good enough and the players take full responsibility.

"What they are protesting against is what we can't control so I can only speak about the players and we haven't been good enough so far, so we need to change it sooner rather than later.

"We can only control performance-wise which we understand hasn't hit the heights of what they want or what we want.

"We can understand their frustrations about that, but we need them with us and it is up to the players on the pitch to get them with us and give them something to get behind and cheer about which we haven't done enough.

"The players take all the responsibility. We are the ones going out on the grass and playing the game.

"Any team at any time needs the fans backing them and supporting them and I am sure they will do that but it is up to us to try to get a positive support behind us rather than negative."

Dundee United are set to sign United States international goalkeeper Bill Hamid. (The Courier), external

Read all of Friday's Scottish Gossip

The bottom four face-off in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday as Ross County host Dundee United and Motherwell visit Kilmarnock.

Listen in to the Scottish Football Podcast as Amy Canavan and Liam McLeod preview two huge matches in the fight for survival.

Image source, .

Head coach Liam Fox says he is "thoroughly enjoying" the pressure of trying to keep himself in a job and preserve Dundee United's Premiership status.

The Tannadice club prop up the table, having lost five straight games in league and cup, and visit second-bottom Ross County - who sit a point above - on Saturday.

“Any football manager knows there will be a time when you are more vulnerable," Fox said.

"I know that. I knew that when I took the job. It was always going to be a difficult job.

"I am enjoying the heat because if you don’t enjoy the heat and the pressure you are in the wrong job. But I believe in the players and the way we are working."

Image source, SNS

Brian McLauchlin, BBC Sport Scotland

Dundee United head coach Liam Fox has been talking to the media ahead of his side's trip to Dingwall on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Fox knows he needs to win games to keep his job: "It's up to us to put in the performances that hopefully lead to results that lift us off the bottom of the table."

• He is in regular contact with United owner Mark Ogren and sporting director Tony Asghar and is "under no illusions regarding the circumstances we are in".

• It's been a tough week, with fans protesting at the club's AGM, but Fox insists United are staying consistent in how they work.

• He says every manager faces periods of vulnerability, but he is relishing the challenge and maintains his belief in the players.

• Goalkeeper Mark Birighitti - who injured a shoulder when gifting St Johnstone's winner last week - is fit and available for Saturday's game.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

• Ross County have only enjoyed one win in their last 12 Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee United (D2 L9), a 2-0 victory in May 2021 under John Hughes.

• Dundee United are unbeaten in their last six Scottish Premiership away games at Ross County (W4 D2) since going down 2-1 in August 2015 under Jackie McNamara.

• Since the resumption of the Scottish Premiership after the 2022 World Cup, Ross County have the fewest points of any side in the competition (6 pts in 10 games).

• Dundee United have lost each of their last four league games, last losing more in a row in January 2022 (run of six) – a run of defeats that they ended by winning against Ross County.

Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

2023 is a year of celebration, and reflection, for Dundee United as they rightly laud the achievements of the legendary Tangerines team that won the top division 40 years ago.

A phrase that crops up from time to time with regards to the great success United achieved during the 80s, is that it is a millstone around the club’s neck – a success that is unlikely to be repeated, and a period of achievement that brings a pressure to repeat past glories year upon year.

The counter argument, one to which I tend to subscribe, is that such success should be celebrated and shouted from the rooftops at every opportunity, and be a source of exaltation.

Under pressure United head coach Liam Fox, will want the latter can be the case, as he somehow seeks to quickly turn around his side’s faltering fortunes.

Last Saturday the legends of '83 took to the pitch at Tannadice, the glory of yesteryear being placed in the spotlight, ironically at a time when those currently wearing the famous tangerine tops find themselves languishing at the foot of the Premiership.

Fox will be hoping the class of 2023 can take some sort of inspiration from what the one of ’83 achieved, as they look to preserve their top division status and avoid writing what would be an unwanted chapter in the United history books.

Bottom of the table Dundee United face a trip to Dingwall on Saturday to face fellow strugglers Ross County.

Put yourself in the managers shoes, and pick your Dundee United team here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dundee United owner Mark Ogren says there will be "no immediate changes" at Tannadice as the club are set to stand by sporting director Tony Asghar and head coach Liam Fox despite fan protests before Tuesday's annual meeting. (The Courier), external

Former Dundee United head coach Tam Courts is due to have a question and answer session with Jurgen Klopp and his assistant, Pep Lijnders, following Liverpool's 5-2 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid as part of the Scots' pro-licence course set up by the Football Association of Wales. (Daily Record), external

Dundee United striker Rory MacLeod has held signing talks with Fulham, with the Scottish Premiership club having agreed a six-figure transfer deal with add-ons for the 17-year-old, who would move to the Premier League club in the summer. (Scottish Daily Express), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dundee United supporters have displayed a banner outside Tannadice calling for the departure of sporting director Tony Asghar.

The protest took place before the club's annual general meeting on Tuesday, where United owner Mark Ogren was due to address shareholders.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Image source, BBC Sport

Ronny Costello, The Dode Fox podcast, external

Motherwell emptied their manager and went on to beat St Mirren last midweek, then followed it up with another win over Hearts. Our four-team mini league at the bottom has quickly became a three-team mini league.

Pre-match on Saturday we got to bask in the memories of 1983, as some of the league-winning team took to the pitch to celebrate the momentous occasion of winning our sole title. The next 90 minutes would be another trip on the Dundee United rollercoaster...

Something had to change at Tannadice, we had lost four in a row. The change came in the form of a 4-3-3, with a first start for Kai Fotheringham.

We started on the front foot, efforts - although speculative at times - from Dylan Levitt, Steven Fletcher, Fotheringham, Liam Smith and Arnoud Djoum, were off target. Aziz Behich did force St Johnstone’s keeper to make a save, though… and I’m fairly sure it was his only one!

United lost possession in the middle of the park, the ball was worked wide, we didn’t stop a cross into the box… but it’s okay as we’ve five players in the box and they only have Stevie May. Well, we didn’t get tight enough to him, turned our back as he shot in the centre of the goal and our keeper somehow didn’t get close to it. Not great.

Cheers pre-match as Paul Hegarty lifted the league trophy above his head turned to jeers as the half-time whistle went.

Levitt fired us level on 81 minutes. Keep it tight lads, let’s no do anything silly now...

St Johnstone were back in front 60 seconds later and it was an absolute disaster. You don’t need me to tell you about it, you are bound to have seen it on Sportscene or social media. A listener to our podcast summed it up over on our Facebook page as "a goalkeeper momentarily being abducted by aliens". Yes. It was that bad.

Just clear your lines. Yes, he should not have passed to Charlie Mulgrew, who should not have given him the ball back, but he still had time to just kick it out for a throw-in. Or better yet, when we're just back in the game, just kick it up the park!

An away trip to Ross County up next. A relegation six-pointer in February. Another weekend on the Dundee United rollercoaster…

Since the SPFL play-offs were reintroduced in 2013-14, no more than 37 points have been required to guarantee survival.

As it stands, this season's magic number looks set to be lower than that figure, with 11th-placed Ross County projected to reach a tally of no more than 31.

Bottom club Dundee United would therefore have to beat Kilmarnock's projected total of 34, meaning four wins between now and the end of the season might not be enough.

The underlying numbers aren't too promising - United are underperforming their xGA (expected goals against) by almost six.

But at least the Tannadice men have one of the kinder run of fixtures before the split, with just one half of the Old Firm still to face.

Read more: What will it take to secure Premiership survival?