Dundee United

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Well, for the second time this season a Dundee United side have headed through to Fir Park and almost accepted defeat before they were off the bus.

The Steelmen, in fairness, have been a revelation this season, but as a United fan I find it hard to stomach just how meekly we perform in this fixture.

It's so defensive and frustrating and you'll never convince me the United players enjoy setting up to simply 'follow their man' all afternoon. Grim times.

What this has left us with, however, is arguably United's most important week of the season so far. Which is a polite way of saying: buckle up, Arabs.

For my money, we still have a little work to do to ensure we're in the top flight next season. Remaining in the Premiership should be the barest of minimum requirements for any United side. We are a proud club. We have history. We have opinions. Lots of opinions.

On paper, tonight's visit of St Mirren to Tannadice is a very winnable game. St Mirren have registered just one away win all season in the league, which in true footballing fashion means they are now guaranteed to look like 1970 Brazil for 20-minute spells.

It's not quite a must-win, but it is very much a must-not-lose. The kind of game where you'd love an early goal to settle the nerves, but would also spend the remaining 83 minutes plus stoppage time watching through your fingers.

Then, once that's out the way, 1,900 Arabs will be making the pilgrimage to Falkirk on Friday night to face the impressive Bairns.

It's far from mission impossible. It's more mission 'Please just turn up and play like you mean it'. Get through that and it's a trip to Hampden, and suddenly the entire mood shifts.

Cup football has that magic. Form goes out the window. Logic follows it. And occasionally, United remember they're allowed to attack.

So here's the hope: a little less follow your man, a little more follow your instincts. A little less fear, a little more fun.

And ideally, at least one week where supporting United doesn't feel like a cardio workout for the soul.

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

• Since he left St Mirren in 2022, United manager Jim Goodwin has won five of his 10 Premiership games against the Buddies (losing three), his joint-most wins over any opponent in the competition in this time along with St Johnstone.

• St Mirren are winless in 13 away midweek games in the Premiership (losing 10 of them) since a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen in February 2023.

• United are unbeaten in three home games but have only won one of them and could draw three in a row in the Premiership for the first time since April 2022.

• After their 3-1 win in October, United could defeat St Mirren twice at home in a single Premiership season for the first time since 2013-14.

• St Mirren have won two of their past three games against United after losing three in a row against them without scoring beforehand.

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A proposed return to Dundee United for 35-year-old striker Johnny Russell could provide a big lift for a struggling side, says his former Tannadice team-mate Lee Wilkie. (The Courier - subscription required), external

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Craig Sibbald (hamstring), Isaac Pappoe (knee) and Bert Esselink remain sidelined for Dundee United.

St Mirren's Mikael Mandron is likely to miss out after sustaining a shoulder injury against Livingston. Declan John (illness) and Conor McMenamin (groin) missed the trip to West Lothian.

Jonah Ayunga (calf) returns to training this week, while Malik Dijksteel (groin) is out long term.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin says he expects a "physical" enounter against St Mirren and his team will "keep fighting" for a top-six spot.

Saturday's defeat by Motherwell coupled with Falkirk's convincing win over Kilmarnock left United 12 points off sixth spot with 15 points left to play for.

The first of those is St Mirren at Tannadice as Goodwin aims to register a first win in four Premiership matches and turn their form around before Friday's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Falkirk.

"If there's one thing that I can never point the finger at this group of players for, it's a lack of effort, commitment or professionalism," he said.

"We know we haven't got enough points on the board at this stage of the season.

"We also know that we've made mistakes at times in certain games that have been really costly and I include myself in that as well - it's not always just about the players.

"We're very much a collective here and we win and lose together. But obviously we find ourselves in a position at the table that we're not overly satisfied with.

"We're not stupid enough to think that it's going to be easy or straightforward and Falkirk only need to pick up another win out of the next four games and they've secured it [top six]. But while it's mathematically still possible, we'll keep fighting."

Goodwin added he is confident his chosen team will match St Mirren "in terms of the physical aspect".

"It's a completely different style of play to what we faced on Saturday against Motherwell - it'll be a lot more direct, and we'll have to defend the box well," the United boss added.

"We're going to have to stand up and be counted in those situations but at the same time, we've caused St Mirren a few problems going the other way this season and we've got to try and do that again."

Watch Sportscene pundit Richard Foster discuss the disfunction in the Dundee United squad.

Dundee United are keen to seal a return to Tannadice for Scotland-capped forward Johnny Russell, who was released by Real Salt Lake in November, and the 35-year-old attended Sunday's defeat by Motherwell amid signing talks. (The Courier), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Watch all the action as Tawanda Maswanhise scores twice in Motherwell's Scottish Premiership win over Dundee United.

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 2-0 defeat against Motherwell.

Here's what some of you said:

Eddie: Absolutely not good enough. Jim Goodwin deliberately fielded a weakened team because he had no belief we could win. How are the players meant to respond to that? I'm done with his excuses, he's not good enough to be a Dundee United manager and his defeatist mentality belongs elsewhere.

Kevin: Absolute shambles of a performance. Team selection is baffling, even accounting for rotation. No pressure, no energy and zero interest. We are going to struggle to stay away from eleventh and really don't fancy our chances if we end up in the play-offs.

Ricky: One word - pathetic. It was worse than the Aberdeen game, we are right in trouble. The next game we will get a hiding, it's time for Goodwin to go.

Sean: I wasn't at the game, but it sounds like another inept performance lacking in ambition. Goodwin needs to go at the end of the season. There has been no improvement in the team's performances which is down to coaching and tactics. He can't even make us difficult to beat.

Derek: Expected defeat, but an unnecessary penalty and a deflected goal wasn't too bad. It could have been worse. Roll on Tuesday.

Dave: This was an utterly shameful performance by a bunch of players who were either totally disinterested in trying to make any effort or were so incompetent in their display that they need to question themselves about their desire and pride in their work.

This was simply pathetic and a kick in the teeth for all the United fans who have backed them and travelled in numbers all season. I think Goodwin may be looking for another job shortly!

Motherwell moved a point behind third-placed Celtic in the Scottish Premiership with a comfortable win at home to Dundee United.

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 always knew it was going to be difficult. They've only suffered one defeat in the league since the middle of October so we always knew we were going to be up against it.

"I thought the shape in the first half was really good, we denied Motherwell any real clear cut goalscoring opportunities. The game is turned on the penalty decision as far as I'm concerned.

"Motherwell didn't have a shot on target prior to the penalty kick being awarded. I have no idea why VAR are getting involved in that incident. The referee didn't deem it violent conduct otherwise he would have sent Vicko Sevelj off the park.

"That type of pushing a player away happens 100 times in a game, every weekend and today, for some reason, we find ourselves with a penalty kick awarded against us. Every week we're talking about VAR and the refereeing in the country and it doesn't look like it's going to get better an y time soon.

"We go in 1-0 at half-time extremely disappointed because we didn't feel we deserved to be behind. The second goal was a real killer for us, terrible timing and that made life even more difficult.

"The players kept going, we tried to be aggressive, we tried to press them high up the pitch and forced them into going quite long. We were taking quite a risk going man for man at the back but I thought, apart from the second goal, we dealt with those situations pretty well.

"We could argue we should do better on the ball, I thought we turned over possession far too cheaply at times.

"I think the main talking point is going to be that penalty kick because we feel we should have been going in 0-0 at half time with it all to play for. Psychologically, that has a real negative impact on the players.

"Mathematically we can still do it [make the top six] but we know how difficult that's going to be.

"I've had to manage the group as best I could over recent weeks. Today was our seventh game in four weeks we've got another two games in five days so we'll just try and juggle things around a little bit for Tuesday because we know the significance of what Friday night [in the cup] means."

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Motherwell have Lukas Fadinger back from suspension. Johnny Koutroumbis (calf) and Callum Hendry (groin) face further time on the sidelines and long-term absentee Zach Robinson (Achilles) remains out.

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin has some bumps and bruises to contend with after Tuesday's draw with Aberdeen, while Craig Sibbald (hamstring) and Isaac Pappoe (knee) remain out.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Jim Goodwin has challenged his Dundee United "underdogs" to upset a Motherwell side who are the "best footballing team" in Scotland.

Seventh-place United face a formidable test at Fir Park against Jens Berthel Askou's men, who are fourth in the table and in the title mix while boasting the best defensive record in the league.

Manager Goodwin said: "We will probably be underdogs in a lot of people's eyes given the current form of Motherwell, but we are on a half-decent run ourselves in terms of four games unbeaten and coming into this game off the back of a really good clean sheet against a strong attacking force of Aberdeen.

"We are going to face one of the best teams in the country. They have had lots and lots of plaudits over the course of the season and deservedly so.

"I think you could argue that they are probably the best footballing team consistently since the beginning of the season.

"A quite remarkable season Motherwell have had, their coach deserves a huge amount of credit for what he has been able to achieve in such a short period of time."

United go into the game nine points behind sixth-place Falkirk, with the slimmest of hopes of catching the Bairns.

Their cause hasn't been helped by the fact they have drawn 12 of their 27 league games and kept just four clean sheets, the latest coming in the midweek goalless draw with Aberdeen.

Goodwin said: "I thought the back three in particular against Aberdeen were excellent, defended the box so well.

"And tomorrow afternoon it is going to be no different against a very good attacking team, against a player in [Tawanda] Maswanhise who is having the season of his career so far, high in confidence, very positive and direct, always looking to try and get shots off, so concentration levels are going to be key.

"Our success last season was built around that solid foundation of being really difficult to beat and hard to score against and unfortunately this year we just haven't got the balance right between being solid defensively and being a good attacking team.

"But we know the areas we have to improve, we have been working tirelessly on it in training and hopefully the lads can take a lot of confidence from the performance on Tuesday and take that into the games coming up this week."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before his side's Premiership trip to play Motherwell on Saturday.

Here are the main points:

• Goodwin admits "we will probably be underdogs in a lot of people's eyes" against a Motherwell side who have had a "remarkable" season, but United "believe we are capable of beating any opposition on any given day".

• Goodwin says his defenders can take confidence from the midweek 0-0 draw with Aberdeen, which was just their fourth clean sheet in the league this season.

• He added that "concentration levels are going to be key" against a very good attacking team and a striker, Tawanda Maswanhise, who is "having the season of his career".

• United are seventh in the table, nine points behind Falkirk in sixth, but Goodwin insists "we certainly won't give up the fight" of getting into the top half, adding "we have just got to keep believing".

• Amid what has been an ultra-competitive top division this term, Goodwin believes "'it has been a tough tough league for everybody" and he doesn't believe "there is a team at the top of the table that looks forward to playing any of the fixtures at this moment in time".

• Immersed in a hectic schedule Goodwin admits "there is a bit of fatigue and a few bumps and bruises within the squad".

• And with three games in a week coming up the United boss stresses "we have a few decisions to make tomorrow with regards to the starting 11".

• Goodwin was again asked about the condition of the much-maligned Tannadice pitch and is disappointed it "has become this talking point".

• He adds no blame is being pointed at anyone and stresses it is not down to a lack of investment in the pitch but due to things outwith United's control - namely the horrendous weather combined with a busy schedule of fixtures.

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Teenage defender Sam Cleall-Harding has signed a contract extension with Dundee United to keep him at Tannadice until summer 2029.

The academy graduate, 19, made his debut last season in the 1-0 win at Hearts and has featured six times this term.

"I'm delighted to commit my future to the club I have supported my entire life - it's a dream come true having the opportunity to represent Dundee United every week," he said.

"I'm really grateful for the trust the manager has placed in me - playing in the Scottish Premiership has really helped me develop.

"I want to repay the faith the club have shown me by becoming a valuable member of the squad."

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• Motherwell's Elijah Just has been directly involved in six goals in seven Scottish Premiership games in 2026 (three goals, three assists), as many as he was in 17 appearances in the competition prior to the start of this calendar year (also three goals, three assists).

• Exactly 50 per cent of Dundee United's points in the Scottish Premiership this season have come away from home (15/30) – the highest ratio of any side.

• Motherwell have won their past three home league games against Dundee United, just one fewer than their previous 13 prior (W4 D2 L7).

• Dundee United have only won one of their past six league games against Motherwell (D1 L4), a 1-0 victory in February 2025.

• Motherwell have won their past two league games, and are looking to win three in a row for the first time since September 2023. This is the 13th time since then that they have won back-to-back league matches.

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Dundee United youngster Sam Cleall-Harding has penned a new deal at Tannadice, tying him to the club until 2029.

The defender, 19, has made 10 appearances for the first-team under Jim Goodwin and has recently broken into the starting XI.

Initially making his breakthrough at the end of last season after an injury crisis limited Goodwin's options, he has had to wait for his chance this campaign.

Although he joined Airdrieonians as part of a club cooperation agreement, he has remained in Dundee and been part of every matchday squad.

He didn't make his first appearance until December though, coming off the bench against Hibs. That impressive cameo was rewarded with three starts against Livingston, Hearts and Hibs.

"I'm delighted to commit my future to the club I have supported my entire life - it's a dream come true having the opportunity to represent Dundee United every week," he told club media.

"I'm really grateful for the trust the manager has placed in me - playing in the Scottish Premiership has really helped me develop. I want to repay the faith the club have shown me by becoming a valuable member of the squad."

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

If Saturday felt familiar, Tuesday felt inevitable.

Against Kilmarnock, we did everything except finish the job. Crossbar rattled, penalty saved, chances cleared off the line and Amar Fatah produces a goal worthy of winning any game. For 85 minutes we were in control.

And yet here we are again.

One lapse + one header = one more lead surrendered. Ten games without beating Killie and the worst defensive record outside the bottom two.

Jim Goodwin called it the story of our season and it is hard to argue. We are never quite ruthless enough to see games out and never quite calm enough to see it through.

Then came Aberdeen.

A game we had to win. A game that could have reignited something. Instead we got 90 minutes of nothing aside from Pan Camara hitting the post and Kevin Nisbet missing a sitter.

A dreadful surface swallowed any rhythm that tried to exist so it ended with another draw and a first clean sheet in the league since 13 December.

That is now 12 draws in the league, more than anyone else! Too good to lose most weeks but not good enough to win enough of them.

The worry is not effort, the worry is belief. When we go ahead we look like a team waiting for something to go wrong. When we need a spark, it rarely comes.

There is talent there. Fatah proved that again, Camara is getting back in form and Manny Agyei looks a solid find in midfield, but seasons are defined by moments and right now ours are slipping through our fingers.

Top-six hopes are fading. The frustration is growing. And the story is getting old.

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

Dundee United midfielder Emmanuel Agyei insists the much maligned Tannadice pitch is no problem for him. (Record - subscription required), external

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United midfielder Will Ferry says a rare clean sheet was the only positive they can take from Tuesday night's 0-0 draw with Aberdeen.

It was honours even in a match of few chances on a Tannadice pitch which is still desperately trying to recover from a winter of being battered by the weather.

However, the clean sheet - just their fourth in 27 league games - was gratefully received.

"I am glad the game is done," Ferry said.

"I think that is the best way to describe it, I am just glad it is over. It can't have been great for the fans watching, it wasn't great to play in either.

"It wasn't a classic. That pitch is just awful, we both had to deal with it but I think we would have been better just not turning up and just saying 'there you go have a point each' but we got a clean sheet I suppose that is the positive to take.

"It was torture to play in.

"We have actually kept a clean sheet which is known to everyone that has been our kind of weakness. Weirdly enough we are really happy we haven't conceded."

The result does little for seventh placed United's slim top six hopes, leaving them nine points behind Falkirk who are sixth.

Their season has been hampered by the fact they have now drawn 12 - almost a third - of their Premiership games.

"That is why we are in the position that we are," Ferry added.

"But we can't dwell on what has happened in the past we have just got to move on. Unfortunately we will sit and watch [the game] tomorrow which won't be the most fun thing to do but we will analyse it, we will move on and we will see what we can do at the weekend."

United fans, we asked for your views after Tuesday night's goalless draw at home to Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Ross: Well at least that put the fake top six battle to bed. A terrible game, between two poor sides, on a horrible pitch. Even taking that into account, the number of bad touches from United players was a new low. And talking of low , the atmosphere at Tannadice is a million miles away from the fevered scenes in the Celtic victory. It's gone as flat as a burst balloon. Optimism has been sucked out of the season both on and off the pitch. Ending on a positive note , our new signing Emmanuel Agyei stood out from the mediocre majority.

Andrew: Top six talk is nonsense. We are as good as our pitch. Kept a clean sheet although Kevin Nisbet missed an open goal. We've got a chance to beat St Mirren in the next home game but probably won't. We are poor but so are several other teams, thank goodness.

Tom: Two poor teams served up poor fare on a very poor pitch. Bye bye top six.

Gordon: Just an awful display of low quality football, plenty of effort but no guilt or much skill. Apart from Amar Fatah, United have no threat. Zac Sapsford has gone off the boil and Max Watters can barely simmer at best. Strap in Arabs, its not going to be easy or joyful.

Sam: Jim Goodwin has to go asap, his stubbornness with playing three centre-backs is hurting United and putting us in danger of a relegation play-off.

Dundee United and Aberdeen draw a blank in a midweek Scottish Premiership contest (UK users only).