Dundee United

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• Dundee United have won two of their past three Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee (L1), as many as their previous 10 prior (W2 D5 L3). The Tangeries could win back-to-back Dundee derbies in the competition for the first time since January 2015.

• Dundee won their last away league visit to Dundee United 4-2 in March last season, but haven't won successive away Dundee derbies in the top flight since May 1999.

• Dundee United have won their first game in January in both of their past two years as a Premiership side, including a 2-1 win over rivals Dundee in 2025 (also 1-0 v St Johnstone in 2023).

• Dundee have lost their first January game of a calendar year in the Premiership in each of their past three such matches, last winning their January year opener in the competition in 2019 (2-1 v Hearts).

• Dundee have won their past two league games, last winning three in a row in the top flight in October/November 2014.

Yelimay Semey winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek, 22, had been linked with Dundee United but is reportedly moving to Russia. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Jim Goodwin says there is "a lot to be optimistic about" at Dundee United as they head into the new year having risen back into the top six with a five-game unbeaten run.

Boss Goodwin acknowledged United have drawn too many games this season but he believes their recent form shows they are heading in the right direction once more.

"If you go back to last season and the great work that we did to get fourth in the league and having that European experience in the summer, there's been some great memories along the way," Goodwin said, reflecting on the past calendar year.

"This summer we've done fantastic recruitment, signing 14 players. I think you can see the quality that we've added.

"We've got the youngest average-age squad in the league and some of those young players are really starting to grow into the Scottish Premiership and show the qualities that they have - the likes of Zac Sapsford, Amar Fatah, Luca Stephenson, Iurie Iovu - so there's a lot to be optimistic about.

"I think there's still a lot more to come from this group."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Dundee United picked up another important victory with a comfortable performance against bottom side Livingston, and they've got two players in my team of the week.

Another goal for Australian Zac Sapsford, who has impressed overall for United. Versatile, quick, energetic and dynamic with a real eye for goal.

A second successive round of fixtures where 21-year-old winger Amar Fatah has made my team of the week. His goal against Livingston was very similar to the one he scored against Aberdeen, ghosting in from the left and the finish was sublime.

We asked for your thoughts after Dundee United's convincing win over bottom side Livingston.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Kenneth: A well-deserved win. Will Ferry worked very hard and everyone looked up for it. We should have been four or five up but were a bit nervy at 1-0 with a few minutes of the first half to go, against a weak opponent. Great to see our young boys getting game-time and acquitting themselves so well. It feels like we've turned a corner. Now let's have the same commitment and desire against Dundee. Bring it on!

Lee: Fantastic performance. It's only Livi, but it begs the question why we can't set up and have a go at team like we did last night? Good end to the year, roll on the derby!

Ross: At last - an assured and confident performance. Admittedly against a poor Livingston side. However, both a great team and individual performances made for three points and all eyes on the three point prize on Saturday against the Dees. Great to see utilisation of the squad (at last). Special praise to Zac Sapsford for a fine first goal finish, Sam Cleall-Harding who was assured at the back, Craig Sibbald (who gets better and better) and young Owen Stirton who led the line well in his 70-odd minutes. Praise also to the gaffer for ringing the changes and them paying off.

George: Good and much-needed result which hopefully will allow us to kick on with a derby win. Disappointing to lose the goal at the end showing our weakness at the back. Let's win the derby and turn draws into victories until the end of the season and we should achieve a good top-six position.

Watch the pick of the action as Dundee United return to the Scottish Premiership top six with a 3-1 win at bottom club Livingston. (Available to UK users only)

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Striker Owen Stirton says he's "thrilled" to extend his Dundee United contract until the summer of 2028.

The 18-year-old academy graduate made his senior debut in 2023 in United's 3-0 SPFL Trust Trophy win over Dunfermline and since then has gone on to make 16 first-team appearances for Jim Goodwin's side.

This term, he's played eight games for United, including in their Conference League qualifiers, and has scored one goal, in their Premier Sports Cup win over Kilmarnock.

"I'm thrilled to sign a longer contract here as I continue to grow my United career," Stirton said.

"The opportunities I've been given have provided a great platform to showcase my ability and keep developing. Playing in Europe on four occasions was unbelievable, and scoring my first cup goal for United was another dream moment.

"From my loan spell at Montrose to those European nights and my recent Under-19 international appearances, 2025 has been a huge year for my development.

"I feel I've matured a lot and now I want to show that I can play a significant role in the first-team squad as we look to build on a strong campaign so far."

Dundee United are back into the top six for the first time since late October after a convincing 3-1 win away to bottom side Livingston.

Read the full match report.

Give us your thoughts.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin was delighted with "a massive three points" in a difficult venue after the 3-1 win over Livingston.

"We're delighted with the result," he told BBC Scotland. "Everybody knows what a difficult venue this is to come to.

"I thought the performance from the start right through to the finish, apart from the goal we concede late on, was excellent.

"Every player played their part and the backline did brilliantly against Livingston, who are a big, physical team.

"We knew we would carry a threat on the counter attack. We highlighted some areas in the Livingston backline that we thought we could exploit and I thought we targeted those areas really well, getting down the sides of them.

"The switch in the play was a big aspect of our game tonight. Will Ferry had acres of space at times and he was excellent as well.

"The game finished 3-1. Had it finished five or six, I don't think there would have been too many complaints. It is a massive three points.

"It was a really strong performance. The opportunity was there for us to move back into sixth if results went our way and that's how it has happened.

"We always fancy ourselves to score goals and that's been evident. The bit we got undone with early in the season was conceding two many goals.

"We have worked on our shape and the boys have been brilliant and carried it out on the pitch."

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

Saturday summed us up just now.

Another draw and another game where we score first and fail to finish it off. Six points from the past 12 is fine. It keeps us steady. But steady will not be enough if we want top six.

At Pittodrie we did a lot right. Amar Fatah took his goal well. Kerestes, Iovu and Bert stood up to pressure. Dave Richards made good saves, even if the equaliser came from another moment we will all wince at. One mistake. One goal conceded. A 10th draw of the season added to the pile.

That is where we are. Hard to beat. Harder still to turn dominance into wins.

Which is why this week feels massive.

Livingston on Tuesday night is exactly the type of game we must win. No excuses. No moral victories. Three points required. Get in front and see it out.

Then comes Saturday at home and the small matter of the Dundee derby and a chance to make a statement and turn a decent run into a proper one.

Six points this week changes the picture completely. It lifts us into the mix and puts pressure on everyone else. It gives momentum.

Four points would feel like another missed opportunity. Two would feel like stagnation.

We know what we need. Now we need to go and do it.

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

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Livingston remain without Shane Blaney, Aidan Denholm, Cammy Kerr and Adam Montgomery.

Dundee United welcome back Luca Stephenson after suspension while Pan Camara is close to a return.

Ross Graham and Ryan Strain are likely to miss out again and Isaac Pappoe is still out.

Dundee United forward Zac Sapsford, 23, has not given up on his dream of going to the World Cup with Australia. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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• Livingston have lost none of their last seven top-flight home games against Dundee United (W5 D2) since a 0-2 reverse in February 2005.

• Dundee United have only won one of their last eight Scottish Premiership meetings with Livingston (D3 L4), a 2-0 victory in April 2023.

• Excluding years in which they were relegated, Livingston have only won their final top-flight match of a calendar year in three of their previous 11 years (D3 L5), most recently beating Kilmarnock 2-1 to round off 2020.

• Excluding their relegation in 2023, Dundee United have won their final Scottish Premiership match of a calendar year without conceding in both of their last two such fixtures, beating Ross County 3-0 in 2022 and Aberdeen 1-0 in 2024.

• Dundee United's Jim Goodwin has only won one of his nine Scottish Premiership away games as a manager against newly promoted opposition (D3 L5), although that was a 5-1 victory over Dundee United with St. Mirren in January 2021.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin admits having "been underdogs in a lot of people's eyes" in their past four games, they will have to be embrace the mentality of being viewed as favourites going into to Tuesday's trip to Livingston.

A 1-1 draw at Aberdeen on Saturday saw eighth-placed United extend their unbeaten run to four games.

That sequence includes draws with Motherwell and Hibernian, as well as a win over Celtic.

Goodwin has previously admitted his side have sometimes struggled in games they are perhaps expected to win, something he hopes is not the case against a Livingston side who currently bottom.

"I think arguably in the previous four games we have had in the past couple of weeks, we might have been underdogs in a lot of people's eyes," Goodwin said.

"With the greatest of respect to Livingston, I think looking at the game on Tuesday night, given our position in the table and theirs, people might view it as we are favourites.

"But I think this league has shown this season how competitive it is and the fact there are no easy games."

"We drew the game (against Livingston) at Tannadice last time out, albeit we caused our own problems with the Livingston goal, but it is going to be a tough fixture, there are no straightforward games in this league."

Despite the encouraging signs of late, United know they have to improve on a record which has seen them win just two of their past 14 games.

"Defensively we have certainly been a lot better in the past half-a-dozen games or so," Goodwin added.

"We have spent a lot of time on the training pitch working on those areas and I think it has certainly shown in the performances.

"A bit more resilience, a bit more consistency in the shape out of possession, denying the opposition space."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Amar Fatah (Dundee United): Ghosts over the pitch and when the mood takes him seems to have the ability to elude defenders at will.

Drifted in from the left to devastating effect against Aberdeen to put Dundee United ahead in the 1-1 draw at Pittodrie.

Watch Sportscene pundit Leanne Crichton analyse Dave Richards' error in Dundee United's weekend draw at Aberdeen.

MATCH REPORT: Aberdeen 1-1 Dundee Utd

Watch highlights of Aberdeen's 1-1 draw with Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee United striker Zac Sapsford has vowed "those wins will come" as they aim to climb back up the Scottish Premiership table.

A 1-1 draw at Aberdeen on Saturday means eighth-placed United are now unbeaten in four games but have won just two of their past 14 fixtures, a run that includes eight draws.

The latest stalemate means United have the most draws - 10 in 19 games - in the Premiership at the season's halfway stage.

"It is a little unbeaten run, but it would be nice to turn a few of those draws into wins," Sapsford told BBC Scotland.

"I am sure they will come and we are playing the right way to get those wins.

"The dressing room is really positive right now, it is not down and out."

Sapsford admitted the draw at Pittodrie was "probably a fair result", adding "either team could have won the game at the end, but we take a point at the end of the day away from home".

United will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they travel to bottom side Livingston on Tuesday.

"I think we will be expected to win, obviously because they are bottom of the table, but any game in this league is really tough," Sapsford added.

"We will put our best foot forward and we will have a game plan to go and win the game there and hopefully we do."

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 1-1 draw against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Here's what some of you said:

Ross: In this episode of "can't buy a win" United reverted to the tactics of last season - sit back and catch them on the break. The plan was working well until yet another goalkeeper error cost us points. Ten draws in 19 league games and with only three other teams (all below us in the league) having conceded more goals, demonstrates where the issues are. A new goalkeeper is required please.

Jamie: The draw simply papers over the cracks. Goodwin's tactics make Craig Levein's 6-4-0 look attacking. It must be demoralising playing for a manager who has no faith in you to do anything other than sit back for 90 minutes and hope you sneak a goal by some miracle.

Cameron: Would take the point away at Aberdeen although tactically it needs to change as we're drawing too many games. We're set up far too negative. When in front Jim Goodwin never seems to want to finish teams off, he would rather sit on a one-goal lead. Also, the young lad Owen Stirton deserves to play as both Max Watters and Nikolaj Moller haven't been good enough going forward.

Ian: Far too defensive tactics again. Does Goodwin not realise we pay a lot of money to watch this the team and they can't put three passes together? Our keepers must be the worst in the league.

Ross M: Okay let's put aside the often repeated mantra, good point on the road, good point at home. Our win rate is abysmal. Defensive errors and attacking bluntness every week. Academy graduate Sam Cleall-Harding sits on the bench watching Bert Esselink, Iurie Iovu and Krisztian Keresztes who are all technically inferior to him, on and off the ball.

Dave: A mixed bag of emotions with this one. The defensive performance by the back five was superb. Craig Sibbald and Vicko Sevelj were tireless in midfield. Zac Sapsford and Amar Fatah always ready to push forward. A pity Dave Richards made one mistake in an otherwise solid performance. The problems come with Watters, Moller and Ivan Dolcek. Whether it is lack of fitness, lack of interest or lack of ability is up for discussion. Time for Stirton to get some playing time.

Ross Graham and Ryan Strain are expected to be available for Dundee United's derby showdown against Dundee (Courier), external

Read all of Sunday's Scottish Gossip, external

Dundee United had to settle for a draw after a second-half equaliser by Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Amar Fatah pounced on a Nicky Devlin mistake to open the scoring for the visitors, but when United goalkeeper Dave Richards could only parry a shot clear, Jesper Karlsson fired the equaliser.

Read the full match report.

Give us your thoughts.