Summary

  • Opening Scottish Championship fixture

  • Middleton opens scoring after defensive error

  • Cudjoe scores second with cute chip

  • Sibbald and Moult add clinical finishes

  • United were relegated from Premiership in May

  • Arbroath narrowly escaped relegation

  • Arbroath have not beaten United at Gayfield since 1969

  • Moult starts for United; Gallagher makes competitive debut

  • Captain Obrein back for Arbroath; Emergency loan keeper Welsh on bench

  1. 'Dundee United will have to be on their toes' - Dick Campbellpublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    Arbroath boss Dick Campbell tells BBC Scotland: "In my time here, Dundee were up there, and then Dundee United tonight looks like it's going to be the biggest crowd here for many, many a year.

    "They're deserved favourites [for the title] just because of the quality of players they've got.

    "Dundee United will have to be up, they'll have to be on their toes tonight to take all three points here.

    "If it gets any calmer than this I'm going to switch the wind machine on and that will sort them out!"

  2. 'We want to reward the fans' - Goodwinpublished at 19:41 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "The support since I came to the club has been incredible.

    “For us to bring over 3000 fans, albeit just half an hour up the road, is amazing.

    “It’ll be one of the biggest travelling supports of the weekend in, never mind Scottish football, but I imagine in British football as well.

    “They’re a great credit to the club, they really are, they stick with us through thick and thin and we just hope we can reward their loyalty with a really good performance here tonight.”

  3. History favours the visitorspublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    Dundee United have not lost in nine visits to Gayfield since a 3-1 loss in January 1969.

    Indeed, they have won all nine times!

  4. What to expect from second tier this seasonpublished at 19:34 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    Are you still recovering from last season's climax to the Scottish Championship? It's understandable if so, because it was utterly enthralling.

    You're still going to want a more in-depth preview of the upcoming season, though.

    Click here for some essential pre-match reading

    -Image source, SNS
  5. A late dinner, SPFL stylepublished at 19:33 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee Utd (19:45 BST)

    PieImage source, BBC Sport

    Steak. Black pudding. Pastry. Belter.

  6. How did United get here?published at 19:29 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    At the end of last season, Dundee United were relegated on the final day of the Scottish Premiership season.

    A campaign that started with a home win over AZ Alkmaar for Jack Ross' team ended with relegation for Jim Goodwin's side.

    That Alkmaar win? One year ago today.

    Take a look back at the rather tumultuous time for the club in this video.

  7. The ups and down of Arbroathpublished at 19:27 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    Just two seasons ago Arbroath travelled to Rugby Park on the penultimate matchday of the season knowing a win could see them win the division. Unfortunately for them, they were denied by a late Blair Alston winner, but their memorable season endeared them to many a football fan across the country.

    Last season they narrowly avoided the relegation play-offs at the end of the season in a similarly dramatic fashion.

    Dick Campbell is the epitome of enigmatic, so don't expect a nice relaxed season for them this time around if you're fan. There's always a bit of drama surrounding the Red Lichties.

  8. Goodwin to guide United back up?published at 19:24 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    BBC Sport Scotland's Amy Canavan has been previewing the Scottish Championship season that lies ahead, here's what lies in store for Dundee United.

    A ball hasn't been kicked in the Championship and Jim Goodwin already finds himself under a heap of pressure to deliver.

    Dundee United will be many people's favourite to bounce right back up, but that's not as easy as it sounds. On their last slip down a division, it took four years to rise again.

    That sort of spell out of the top flight will not be tolerated again, however. Following their embarrassing League Cup group stage - which included a defeat to SPFL new boys, The Spartans - there really is no margin for error.

    Jim Goodwin watched his Dundee United side suffer a humiliating defeat against League 2 side The SpartansImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Jim Goodwin watched his Dundee United side suffer a humiliating defeat against League 2 side The Spartans

    The squad has had a little shake-up since then, too, with the United boss opting for those with experience on Scottish soil. Luring Ross Docherty and Kevin Holt from Partick Thistle - and making the former club captain - brings stability. With help from Liam Grimshaw and Declan Gallagher, it suggests a sound base.

    If he can stay fit, Louis Moult should score plenty of goals to fire United towards the Premiership once more.

  9. The ins and outs so far this windowpublished at 19:20 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    Ah, the transfer window.

    The biannual tradition of frantically scouring through every source possible to see if that striker you've been linked with is any good, reading on the forums that someone spotted them at a local supermarket, or being concerned at the number of outgoings.

    Either way, you can keep track off all the ins and outs in the Scottish Championship here.

    Dipo Akinyemi's departure from Ayr United is one of the most high-profile so farImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Dipo Akinyemi's departure from Ayr United is one of the most high-profile so far

  10. Two transfers lines for this eveningpublished at 19:14 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    Earlier todayt, United announced the departure of Charlie Mulgrew.

    The 37-year-old joined the Tayside club in June 2021 and made 75 appearances, scoring six goals.

    Manager Jim Goodwin did not give the centre-back a squad number during pre-season and told him his opportunities would be limited in the Championship.

    "We thank Charlie for his efforts in tangerine and wish him the best for the future," said a club statement.

    Mulgrew was part of the side relegated from the Scottish Premiership last seasonImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Mulgrew was part of the side relegated from the Scottish Premiership last season

    On the other side of this fixture, Arbroath drafted in Dundee goalkeeper Thomas Welsh.

    Their other keeper, Ali Adams, has a one-match suspension that carries over from last season, meaning he was unable for selection this evening.

    Welsh joins the side on a seven-day emergency loan and is on the bench this evening.

  11. What will the Championship look like this season?published at 19:11 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    Reckon you can see through the drama and know how this season goes already?

    Have a shot at predicting the Scottish Championship here.

    No prizes on offer other than the smugness of beating your pals.

    What manager is lifting this trophy at the end of this season?Image source, SNS
    Image caption,

    What manager is lifting this trophy at the end of this season?

  12. LINE-UPS from Gayfield Parkpublished at 19:08 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    Arbroath: Gaston, Steele, Little, O'Brien, Slater, McIntosh, Dow, Stewart, Hylton, Balde, Bird.

    Subs: Gold, McKenna, Jacobs, Allan, Dunnwald-Turan, Welsh.

    Dundee United: Walton, Holt, Grimshaw, Moult, Sibbald, Middleton, Docherty, Cudjoe, Gallagher, Watt, McMann.

    Subs: Newman, Denham, Graham, Meekison, Glass, Freeman, Duffy, MacLeod, Thomson.

  13. At last, it's backpublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 4 August 2023

    Arbroath v Dundee United (19:45)

    It doesn't quite have the same ring to it as the Etta James song, but at last, the Scottish Championship is back.

    The most entertaining league in football would be a tagline worthy of this competition and it all kicks off once again this evening.

    It's Arbroath v Dundee United and we'll have all of the build-up, live action and reaction as it happens.

    Gayfield Park is tonight's venueImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Gayfield Park is tonight's venue