Dundee United

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Dundee United's weekend trip to play Kilmarnock.

Here are the key points from the United boss:

• He confirmed Luton Town midfielder Allan Campbell "is a player we are speaking to" and the 26-year-old "would be a terrific addition to the squad".

• Goodwin says Campbell is likely to be the final January arrival but "one or two" players may go out on loan.

• On Stuart Kettlewell resigning as Motherwell manager because of fan abuse, Goodwin says it was "disappointing", adding "you need a thick skin to put yourself out there every week". And on the issue of fan abuse: "I don't think it is something we have to accept."

• After Alan Domeracki became the second United youngster to join Norwich this season, Goodwin says "it is a mixture of emotions" but "we feel we have done what is right for the club".

• He adds that "in an ideal world we can get these boys from the academy into the first team" - as they have with others - but points out the gap between U18 level and first-team football.

• Third-place United have won just once in five games and the manager stressed it is important "we don't get too down on ourselves", saying that in terms of performance they have been doing well.

• He is expecting a difficult game against a Kilmarnock side he believes "will gradually pull themselves away" from relegation trouble.

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• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in four Scottish Premiership matches against Dundee United (W2 D2), their longest undefeated run over the Tangerines in the top flight since a streak of six games from March 2005 to August 2006.

• Dundee United have only won one of their past 10 Scottish Premiership games away at Kilmarnock (D4 L5), and are winless in six (D3 L3) since a 4-2 victory in May 2016.

• Kilmarnock have conceded just one goal in total in their past five home league games combined (W3 D1 L1), although have failed to score in their past two at Rugby Park. Not since May 2017 have they gone three straight home games within a single season without a goal in the Scottish Premiership.

• Dundee United have lost three of their past four league games (W1), as many as their previous 15 beforehand (W7 D5 L3).

• Kilmarnock have drawn their past six Scottish Premiership games against newly-promoted opponents, with their last such win being against Dundee United in April 2021 (3-0). Killie are unbeaten in 10 home games against promoted sides in the competition (W5 D5) since a 3-0 loss to Hibernian in October 2017.

Dundee United are closing in on the signing of Luton Town midfielder Allan Campbell, with the 26-year-old expected to cut short his loan spell with Charlton Athletic. (Football Insider), external

Dundee United negotiated a 20% sell-on clause for Wednesday's sale of 18-year-old midfielder Alan Domeracki to Norwich City. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Norwich City have signed young midfielder Alan Domeracki from Dundee United for an undisclosed fee.

The 18-year-old has agreed a deal until 2027 and will initially link up with the Canaries' under-21 squad.

Domeracki has not made a first-team appearance for Dundee United but did feature for their B team in the Scottish Challenge Cup earlier this season.

He is the second player to make the move from Tannadice to Carrow Road this season after Brandon Forbes joined the Championship club in August, while Norwich midfielder Emmanuel Adegboyega is currently on loan with the Scottish Premiership club.

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Sam Dalby is glad to be staying with Dundee United for the remainder of the season and determined to continue his prolific form.

The on-loan Wrexham striker's first-half goal in the weekend defeat by Rangers put him back at the top of the Scottish Premiership scoring chart on 11 goals.

Wrexham confirmed on Friday that Dalby, who is out of contract in the summer, will see out his season-loan Tannadice loan.

"I've been really happy here," Dalby said. "They've welcomed me with open arms and the staff, the fans and all the players have been really good to me.

"So I am happy to be here and definitely staying until the end of the season.

"I'm saying not till the end of the end of the season once the season's finished.

"We are in a good position in the league, and I just want to focus game by game to help our team stay up the table."

Dalby says United are always confident they can get a result against the "big boys" in the league despite falling to defeat against Rangers.

"It's obviously disappointing but we can definitely take some good stuff away from what we did," he said.

"We are just getting after teams and making them feel uncomfortable.

"I feel like we did that on Sunday, especially in the first half and in the second half against Celtic the other week. So that's something that we've sort of improved on.

"We are confident of getting a result against all the big boys and we've done that a couple times this season."

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

It's fair to say we're in a bit of a slump at the moment - just one win in four, with nothing to show from games against Hearts and the Old Firm.

We were out on our feet against the Jambos, but showed fight at Parkhead then, on Sunday, were the architects of our own downfall.

We could have been two or three up before Rangers equalised, but fine margins cost us. Their third goal summed it up - we lost possession high up the pitch and they punished us with a clinical finish.

Our slow starts have been a recurring issue this season, but Jim Goodwin flipped the script on Sunday. We came out firing in a bold 4-4-2, with new man Ruari Paton joining the best in Scotland, Sam Dalby, up front.

Dalby's opener was a surprise, considering United had managed just one first-half goal in the previous 11 matches, and things could have got even better. Dalby hit the post and Luca Stephenson forced a fantastic save from Butland.

But when Mohamed Diomande equalised it felt like a hammer blow. The surprises continued as he stayed on his feet long enough to score, considering how much time he spent rolling about on the Tannadice turf.

The match had everything - goals, saves, the woodwork rattled and a red card - but Robin Propper's goal was the turning point.

It'll frustrate Goodwin no end. Ryan Strain left Propper unmarked to help close down Ianis Hagi and the strike took a wicked deflection off Kevin Holt. It's never just a deflection, is it? It has to be wicked.

Results elsewhere went in our favour, but we couldn't take advantage. Now all eyes are on Kilmarnock this weekend. We have to come back up the road with three points. Anything less, and that gap to the chasing pack could start to feel a little too close for comfort.

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

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin says there may be one in and one out of Tannadice before the end of the transfer window. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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• Dundee United have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 4 February 2023 against Hearts (16 games without defeat).

• Rangers have won their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer winning streak was from 1 December 2024 to 21 December 2024, a run of four games.

• Rangers have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 14 May 2024 against Dundee (eight games without a win).

• Ianis Hagi and James Tavernier have assisted five goals in the Premiership this season, no Rangers player has more.

• Samuel Dalby has scored 11 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other player.

• Rangers have scored in 21 of their 24 games, no team has done so more often in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have scored in their last 16 games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 28 games from 16 September 2023 to 14 April 2024.

• Rangers have scored in each of their last 16 games in the Premiership, scoring 35 goals in that run.

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 3-1 defeat against Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Leon: It was rather United's sloppiness than Rangers playing well which saw us lose the game. Cannot fault Jim Goodwin however, he set his team up perfectly. Small imperfections in the players themselves need to be resolved if we are to turn these defeats into draws, and draws into victories.

Ally: Big chance missed in the first half to go in a goal or two to the good. Between this game and the second half against Dundee, we're not getting many breaks in front of goal despite numerous opportunities. I'm confident that will come but we need to cut out some slackness which has crept in at the back, we've got players to come back too, we'll come good.

Jamie: We were rampant in the first 30 minutes and should have been at least two goals up. Losing a goal late on in the first half and early in the second killed all our momentum. Very disappointed with the referee allowing James Tavernier to stay on 2-1, after a poor tackle when already on a yellow card. The very least we deserved was a draw. Rangers fans looked relieved.

Watch highlights of Dundee United's 3-1 defeat against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers recovered from an early scare to defeat Dundee United in a pulsating, end-to-end clash and pick up their first away win in seven attempts.

Philippe Clement's side trail Celtic in the Scottish Premiership by 10 points and their poor away form - drawing their past three in the league - has put pressure on the Belgian manager.

What did you make of that, United fans? Did you deserve more from the game?

Let us know your thoughts here, external.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound: "I thought we were really, really good in the first half.

"We started on the front foot. We got after Rangers. We had a really good intensity about us. Before Rangers get the equaliser, I thought we could've been a couple of goals in front.

"The second half was different, given the timing of the Rangers second goal. Rangers won a lot of those first contacts in the middle of the field, they picked up a lot more second balls than us and the game just became really, really stretched.

"At 2-1, obviously, we're chasing the game, we left ourselves a little bit vulnerable at times and that's where the third goal comes from.

"On another day, we would've scored more goals."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Jim Goodwin's starting line-up gave us a big hint as to how they were going to play against Rangers - attack, attack, attack.

Rauri Paton came in for a first start next to the league's top scorer Dalby, leading the line in a 4-4-2 formation.

They matched Rangers' shape and enjoyed plenty of pressure in the first half-hour. Dalby hit the post with a header and Luca Stephenson had a placed shot tipped wide by Jack Butland.

When the goal came, it was well-deserved and unsurprising that it came from a long Will Ferry throw. However, they were rocked by Rangers' equaliser and looked for shelter in the dressing room after a first-half where they gave everything.

Their hard work was undone by Propper's equaliser, which took a huge deflection on the way to goal, but they responded well. Kai Fotheringham hit the post, although the play was called back for an offside, and Nico Raskin almost put into his own net as he tried to stop a cross from the left and ended up hitting the woodwork.

All the effort and endeavour for a goal left them open at the back in the last 10 minutes and Rangers took advantage of that to see United off.

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Sam Dalby. Celebrated the news that he will stay in Dundee until the end of the season with an early goal - and could have scored at least one more when his header at the post.

His physical, abrasive style has come to epitomise the dogged natured of this United side and he has become their talisman.

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Dundee United remain without Craig Sibbald (groin) while Ross Docherty is rated "touch and go".

Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande returns from suspension while Leon Balogun, Connor Barron and Vaclav Cerny will be assessed after coming off at Old Trafford.

Ianis Hagi, Rabbi Matondo, Clinton Nsiala and Danilo are not part of Rangers' European squad but are available again, albeit the Brazilian striker has been injured. Dujon Sterling, John Souttar (groin) and Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee), remain out.

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Dundee United midfielder Lewis Fiorini is "excited to take on the challenge" of the Scottish Premiership, having signed on loan from Stockport County.

Fiorini, 22, could make his debut for the Tangerines at home to Rangers on Sunday having been an unused substitute in Monday's Scottish Cup defeat by city rivals Dundee.

He has previously had spells with Lincoln, Blackpool and Charlton, while he has also represented Scotland at under-21 level.

"I'm here to kick on again and test myself in Scottish football," Fiorini said

"I've not played in the Scottish Premiership yet and it's been something that I've been close to doing throughout my career. I'm excited to take on the challenge.

"I've had some real good options in Scotland when I've gone to other clubs or I've wanted to come here and then it fell through for different reasons and it's just not quite worked out. But this one felt good, it felt right.

"I had other options down south, but this was a really good opportunity to play under a manager who spoke so well and play for a team that's clearly flying in the league.

"It always helps when you're coming into a dressing room that's winning rather than one that's losing. I just want to be part of that and help us kick on again."

Dundee United fans, we asked for your thoughts after it was confirmed Sam Dalby will stay at Tannadice on loan from Wrexham until the end of the season.

Here's what some of you had to say:

John: At the risk of repeating myself, get Sam Dalby signed up for the next three years and show the fans we're going places again. Strikers who find the net are like gold dust. Great news that he is with us for the rest of this season. Europe looks closer than ever with this news.

Calum: Delighted that Big Sam will stick around until May. He's in scoring form and a striker like that is invaluable to have in your team. With him, Louis Moult and now Ruari Paton leading the team that's a pretty decent strikeforce.

Stephen: Delighted to keep Dalby, hope he kicks on again now and really proves himself while getting us up the table. A winner at the weekend would be perfect.

Ross: Great news that Sam stays until the end of the season. Good to see he kept his part of the bargain since speculation of his return to Wrexham began by NOT scoring for three games. He has prospered at United with his goals, which brings confidence. Interest in him for 2025-26 will include more teams than United but hope he signs on for longer.

J: Having a great season. Hopefully we can keep it up - it's brilliant we are keeping Dalby, would be class if we signed him up on a permanent basis.

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Sam Dalby will stay at Dundee United for the remainder of the season, the club have confirmed.

Striker Dalby, who is on loan from Wrexham, is the current joint top Scottish Premiership top scorer this season with 10 goals in 24 appearances.

His form led to concerns that Wrexham would recall the 25-year-old, but he will see out the season-long Tannadice spell.

Speaking before the news, manager Jim Goodwin said on Friday: "Sam's loving life in Scotland. He's top goalscorer in the league and he's enjoying his football. That's what is most important for us.

"He's a key player. Strikers, you want them to be scoring and we know if we give the big man opportunities, more often than not he will put them in the back of the net."

Dalby is out of contract in the summer at Wrexham, who hope to secure him on a new deal.

A statement from the Welsh club said: "Wrexham offered the player a new contract before the winter transfer window opened and that contract remains on the table for the player."

United fans, how big could keeping Dalby be for your team's season? Will it be the difference in the pursuit of a third-place finish?

Let us know your thoughts, external

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Dundee United's Premiership game against Rangers on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• On the Scottish Cup derby defeat: "We didn't cover ourselves in glory in the first 45 minutes, but the reaction in the second half was brilliant and if we can replicate that performance more consistently for longer periods in games then we give ourselves a great chance of winning."

• Goodwin says Rangers have "had their struggles" in the league but are "full of international class players" and will "take confidence" from Thursday's game at Man United despite the late defeat.

• He wants his side to "get their gameplan right," adding: "It's about us being brave on the ball when we get the opportunity, being more clinical and ruthless in front of goal."

• The United players are in "a really good place psychologically" and the next target is to guarantee a place in the top six.

• Goodwin is "delighted" with the loan addition of midfielder Lewis Fiorini and forward Ruari Paton, with the latter providing a "different dimension at the top end of the pitch".

• On potential further signings: "We'll continue to see what options are out there, it's just about trying to strengthen in those key areas to make sure we don't leave ourselves short."

• Goodwin is planning on Sam Dalby staying until the summer but Wrexham "hold all the cards".

Dundee chief executive John Nelms says he remains open to a potential ground share with city rivals Dundee United if the club's Camperdown stadium plan gets the green light. (The Courier), external

Dundee United owner Mark Ogren has definitively stated that the Tannadice club have "no appetite" to ground-share with city rivals Dundee at their proposed new Camperdown Park home. (Daily Record), external

Owner Mark Ogren has stated that Dundee United are not for sale but has confirmed that the club are open to investment and have been approached by numerous parties already. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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• Just 28% of Rangers' points in the Scottish Premiership this season have been earned away (13/47), a league-low ratio. Conversely, Dundee United have only picked up 49% of their points at home (18/37), with only St Johnstone (47%) having a lower such share.

• Dundee United are winless in eight league meetings with Rangers (D2 L6) since a 1-0 win in August 2021.

• Rangers have won their past two league visits to Tannadice without conceding; not since April 1978 have they won three such visits in a row while keeping a clean sheet each time.

• Rangers are winless in four away league games (D3 L1), last going longer without winning on their travels within a single league campaign in April 2017 (five).

Whether there have been any official approaches to buy Dundee United and whether Mark Ogren's commitment to the club remains strong in the face of another year of losses will be two of the key topics at Thursday's AGM. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.