Dundee United

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Ryan Strain is back in contention for United, while Kristijan Trapanovski is set to return the following weekend. Isaac Pappoe (knee), Ross Graham and Max Watters (both hamstring) remain out.

Kilmarnock captain Brad Lyons is back in training, while Scott Tiffoney played 45 minutes for the B team in midweek as he works his way back from a calf injury. Jamie Brandon, Matty Kennedy and Tom Lowery are expected to remain on the sidelines.

Alfie Robinson
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has an abundance of options as he looks to avenge the League Cup defeat to Kilmarnock when the sides meet in the Premiership on Saturday.

The Tangerines crashed 2-1 at Rugby Park in mid-August just four days after losing their thrilling Conference League qualifier against Rapid Vienna on penalties.

A difficult week which was compounded with injuries to Zac Sapsford, Max Watters, Isaac Pappoe, Ross Graham, Kristijan Trapanovski and Ryan Strain.

Goodwin feels United are much better armed for the latest battle, with the return of Ryan Strain and Sapsford, plus the arrival of Nicolaj Moller.

"People don't like managers making excuses for defeats and I think sometimes it's better just to credit the opposition," he said.

"But we obviously did play two hours against Rapid Vienna on the Thursday, and really had no time whatsoever to turn things around, and had a lack of players available to us as well.

"That's something that is probably worth mentioning, the options now I have got on the bench.

"The changes that I make during the game don't weaken the team, which as a manager is fantastic.

"Kilmarnock were the better team on the day when we played them in the League Cup and deserved to knock us out, so we want to show a positive reaction to that one.

"We don't feel that we did ourselves justice on the day against Killie.

"Kilmarnock are one of the more direct teams in the league. They've got two big, tall number nines, physical players at the top end of the pitch.

"It'll probably be a bit more of a dogfight than what it was against Aberdeen, who try to build from the back and play through the different sections."

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• Dundee United's Ivan Dolcek is the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership this season with five goals in five games so far. Four of his goals came from set-pieces (3x throws, 1x direct free-kick).

• Since losing four consecutive home league games against Kilmarnock from November 2000 to August 2002, Dundee United have only lost three of their past 26 at home to Killie in the top flight (W12 D11).

• Kilmarnock have lost just one of their past nine Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee United (W4 D4), and none of their latest five (W3 D2) since going down 4-0 in November 2022.

• Dundee United have lost just one of their past six league games (W3 D2), recording as many wins in that period (three) as in their previous 10 matches (D1 L6).

• Kilmarnock have won just one of their past 15 away games in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L10), a 2-0 victory at eventually relegated St Johnstone in May.

Vicko Sevelj jokes he wants to be club-mate Ivan Dolcek's "agent" after playing a part in the latter's move to Dundee United. (Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Ivan Dolcek stretched his early lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership scoring charts by finding the net in Dundee United's 2-0 win over Aberdeen, but manager Jim Goodwin is demanding even more productivity from the summer signing.

The 25-year-old made it five goals from five league games since arriving on loan from Slovakian club Dunajská Streda when he fired home a first-time volley on the bounce from 18 yards at Tannadice on Tuesday.

But Goodwin suggested: "He sometimes drifts in and out of games.

"I am constantly on at him to be a little bit more involved and to go and get on the ball a little bit more and find those pockets of space.

"But you find it very hard to criticise him when he has had the kind of impact he has had in such a short period of time."

Indeed, Dolcek is one of the main reasons United now sit third in the Scottish top flight.

He has already surpassed the four goals he scored in 51 games on loan to Slaven Belupo back in his homeland last season and is one behind his career-best six in 33 for Šibenik on loan from Hajduk Split three years ago.

Dolcek has provided nearly half of United's 11 league goals this season, in addition to one assist - and he also set up a goal in Conference League qualifying.

His scoring rate of 85.2 minutes per goal is the best in the Premiership and he is also top of the table for fast breaks.

Only Hibs striker Kieron Bowie has more attempts on target, while Dolcek is third for touches inside the penalty box behind Bowie and Hearts' Claudio Braga, and only Motherwell's Elijah Just has completed more dribbles.

"It is some return," Goodwin added. Especially so for someone previously viewed as a left-back as much as a winger.

"He's got the knack of being in the right place at the right moment."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Bert Esselink says Dundee United's new-look squad have "showed we can compete with the bigger teams in the league".

The Dutch defender scored United's second goal in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Tannadice, a result that lifted his side up to third in the Scottish Premiership.

"I think we are performing well," Esselink said. "We showed that we can compete with the bigger teams in the league and now we have played Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen.

"In the end, consistency is the key in a season. The season is long and we have just started well and we have to keep going like that."

Esselink knows all about competing at the other end of the table, having left Stal Mielec after their relegation from the Polish top flight to become one of 14 new faces to arrive at Tannadice this summer.

However, United's statistics suggest the 26-year-old could be in a top-six side this season.

So far, Jim Goodwin's side are second top in the Premiership scoring stakes with 11, one behind Hearts, top of the table with seven assists, while only Celtic have more clean sheets than their two.

"We have played 10 games so far, loads of new guys, but I feel like I have known them longer than just these months, because we are working well together," Esselink added.

"And I think that starts from our training and the way we set standards on the training and that shows off in a game."

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We asked for your views after Dundee United moved up to third in the Premiership with a 2-0 home win against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Stephen: Outstanding, simply outstanding. A third goal would have put the gloss on what was a fantastic display of grit and culture from Jim Goodwin's most recent incarnation of this United team! Some sumptuous flowing moves mixed with tenacity and belief makes for a good feeling around the tangerine half of the city. Long may it continue, oh and the chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" aimed at the Dons bench were enjoyable too!

Mike K: The nature of football with so many ups and downs, trying to weave your way through life's challenges and while the going is good, enjoy your football team. Positive vibes only and promising signs of a strong season ahead with approximately five first-team players still out (albeit Ryan Strain was back on the bench). Enjoy your football.

Jenny: United's fast, foraging football is a real treat. Ivan Dolcek in particular looks like he could score in every game - and so far he has except for one where he got an assist. At last, they seem to be getting a grip at the back. This team is only going to get better.

Lee: Another great performance! Similar to the Hibs game but more controlled in possession and much better defensively. All the talk is about how bad Aberdeen were but United should be getting rave reviews after that performance!

Stevie: A lot of talk on how bad Aberdeen were, but they were outclassed by United who dominated them all over the park. United didn't give them a sniff.

Mike C: Pure class, a gutsy performance. The whole team worked tirelessly all evening.

Watch highlights from as Dundee United continue Aberdeen's woeful Premiership start with a win 2-0 win at Tannadice. (Available to UK users only)

Aberdeen fans chanted "sacked in the morning" as embattled manager Jimmy Thelin's miserable start to the season continued with a meek Scottish Premiership defeat against Dundee United at Tannadice.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "We're delighted with the result and overall performance.

"It was an excellent team performance from start to finish. Scored a couple of very good goals, a well worked corner, which we worked hard on in training yesterday.

"We showed great resilience in the last 10 minutes when Aberdeen were throwing everything at us, but it was very comfortable.

"It could've been more goals given the territory we had and the dangerous actions around the Aberdeen penalty area. Tonight was a good example of what we're capable of.

"It's a really positive start we've hard, but we're going to stay grounded. In the league, we were very, very good and have gone toe-to-toe with three of our biggest competitors.

"It shows money is not everything when you have character, desire and togetherness."

• Ivan Dolcek has scored (4) or assisted (1) a goal in each of his four Scottish Premiership appearances for Dundee United. The last player to be directly involved in at least one goal in each of his first five appearances in the competition was Scott Sinclair for Celtic in September 2016.

• After their 2-1 victory on the final day of last season, Dundee United could win back-to-back league meetings with Aberdeen for the first time since November 2008 under Craig Levein.

• Aberdeen have lost five of their past six league visits to Tannadice, including their latest two in a row, since a 3-1 victory in March 2023.

• Dundee United have scored 2+ goals in each of their past five Scottish Premiership games, last doing so more times in a row in the top flight in March 2012 (6) – a run which was ended by a 3-1 defeat against Aberdeen.

• With just one point from four games, this is Aberdeen's poorest start to a league season since 2011-12 (also one point from first four), while they last had one or fewer points from their opening five games in 1999-00 (0).

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

United have made a solid start. Points on the board. A derby win. Europe sampled. Belief back in the stands. It feels organised again.

Credit to Jim Goodwin. Over a dozen new signings, yet the team looks joined up. The press is cleaner. The distances between lines are tighter. We look fitter. We work harder.

Competition for places is real. When one drops out, another steps in and the shape holds. That is coaching and recruitment working together.

There is more to come. Players will return from injury, which will bring even greater competition. There are some impressive building blocks in place - we're moving the ball quicker, counter-attacking faster, playing 20 yards higher up the pitch.

This has all helped shape us into a team that goes out to win games both home and away.

What has not helped is VAR. Last weekend against Hibs, a penalty given following VAR intervention changed the game. The Scottish FA's key match incidents panel later said, by a margin of two to one, it should not have been awarded.

Since then we've seen more head-scratching calls. Fans are losing trust. The process feels slow and unclear plus it's massively inconsistent. That is not good enough for a league that sells itself on fine margins.

United need to keep standards high and keep winning. Officials need to meet the same standard. Get the big calls right, explain them clearly, and let the football decide the rest.

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

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Dundee United remain without Ross Graham, Isaac Pappoe, Ryan Strain, Kristijan Trapanovski and Max Watters for Tuesday's Scottish Premiership visit of Aberdeen but right-back Strain has returned to training.

The Dons have a full squad to choose from.

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Dundee United winger Amar Fatah says Aberdeen should be fearful before Tuesday's Premiership clash at Tannadice.

Jimmy Thelin's Dons are bottom of the league having failed to score in any of their opening four league matches and were dumped out of the Premier Sports Cup by Motherwell on Saturday.

United have had a healthier start to the league season, taking five points from their first four matches, drawing 3-3 at Hibs last time out.

"They should be worried because they are playing a good team," Fatah said.

"We are Dundee United and they are coming to our home, so they should be worried.

"I've missed it, we have played a couple of games away, so I am really happy to be at home again."

United let slip a two-goal advantage slip at Easter Road, but will be able to call on Vicko Sevelj against Aberdeen after his red card was rescinded.

Fatah, one of 14 summer signings for United, said of that match: "Overall, the team played really well, and not getting three points was maybe a bit unjust. But we will come in more hungry to this game and hopefully we take three points.

"I think we're a bit underrated but that's good. When we step on to the field, we shock teams with how good we can really be this season.

"The group of players understand each other very well on the pitch. It's really nice to be here now.

"There's much more to come. We are at the beginning right now, we have managed to get to know each other on and off the field well, and it shows on the field. We have a lot more to show."

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Hibernian were wrongly awarded a penalty in their draw against Dundee United last weekend, according to the Scottish FA's review panel.

A majority of the panelists believe Hibs should have not been awarded the penalty that allowed Jamie McGrath to equalise in the 3-3 draw.

Referee Dan McFarlane initially did not give the spot kick but reversed his decision after a VAR intervention and sent off United's Vicko Sevelj for hand ball.

United successfully appealed against Sevelj's red card at a fast-track tribunal on Tuesday.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

There has been so much to like about Dundee United so far this term. However, one source of concern must be the number of goals they have been conceding.

In seven games across all competitions, they have kept just one clean sheet while shipping 14 goals.

If you are conceding around two a game, getting wins becomes a much bigger ask.

In the Premiership, United's eight goals conceded in four matches is the joint highest with Kilmarnock and Livingston, who have both played a game more.

And United's eight concessions have all come from inside the box, suggesting teams are getting in behind them more easily than last season.

Opta data also reveals that in the league United face have faced 24 shots on target - the third highest tally - and two errors have led to goals conceded, while the team are underperforming their xG against of 7.06.

The frailty at the back has at least been countered by the fact they have been prolific at the other end. They have scored 14 goals in seven games and their Premiership haul of nine is bettered only by Hearts.

United have been one of the most entertaining teams in the league this season, a maked contrast to the dogged solidity that was a bedrock of their successful return to the top flight last season.

But will it come at a cost?

Ex-Scotland defender Barry Douglas has revealed the Dundee United players he "watched and learned from". (The Courier)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

Dundee United have had their appeal against the red card shown to Vicko Sevelj for conceding a penalty in Saturday's 3-3 draw with Hibernian at Easter Road upheld.

Sevelj is no longer suspended for United's next game, at home to Aberdeen in the Premiership on Tuesday, 23 September.

It was originally ruled that the midfielder's arm stopped a net-bound overhead kick from Hibs striker Kieron Bowie and the Croat was dismissed for preventing an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

However, the decision was overturned at a Scottish FA fast-track tribunal on Tuesday.

United manager Jim Goodwin thought red card "was really, really harsh", adding that "these decisions are very subjective".

Goodwin went on to suggest the officials may have been swayed by a terrible VAR blunder that denied Hibs a penalty in the previous game at Easter Road.

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Jim Goodwin must have a loyalty card for squad rebuilds by now.

The Dundee United boss is on his third major revamp in as many seasons. And somehow this time, with a shedload of new players thrown together, the team appears to have emerged fresher, sharper, and whisper it, exciting to watch.

When he arrived at Tannadice in 2023, Goodwin inherited a relegation scrap that felt more like a crime scene.

Out went the gloom, in came a new structure, a lower wage bill and a number of players capable of getting the job done in the Championship. That resulted in immediate promotion.

Rebuild number two then focused on adding more steel and grit to the side, in order to not only ensure we were never in relegation trouble, but to hopefully push on for a top-six spot. Again, job done.

Now, in season three, Goodwin has once again shuffled the deck. By barely spending a penny he has brought in 14 players that were far from household names and has got them all pulling in the same direction in a ridiculously short time.

The signs are promising for us Arabs that this could be an exciting season to watch the team. And although the players deserve an enormous amount of credit for that, the hard work, eye for a player and man-management abilities of Goodwin cannot be ignored.

Up to now his sides have been pragmatic and stuffy. Hard to beat and effective. With all due respect though, they weren't always exciting.

This latest iteration of Goodwin's United are very entertaining. Fans are being treated to an energetic brand of play that suggests United are aiming higher than simply cementing their place in the top six. A second successive season of European football has to be the goal.

For long-suffering supporters, this feels new. Visiting Tannadice is no longer a chore, but a place of optimism.

And if Goodwin keeps pulling off rebuilds like this, the club shop might have to start selling hard hats as official merchandise.

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

The Sportscene panel discuss Vicko Sevelj's red card and the decision to award a late penalty to Hibs that helped them snatch a 3-3 draw against Dundee United.