Dundee United

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "We're delighted to win any game but to win in the manner we did this afternoon was really pleasing.

"Coming into the game off the back of the disappointment against Dundee seven days ago, when we had arguably one of our best performances of the season, the players showed great character to bounce back - in part my defenders and my captain Ross Graham.

"When you beat Celtic or Rangers, the talking points tend to be about them but today, when people watch the game back, we were the better team.

"The low block was effective, we tried to be really dangerous on the counter attack. We forced the Celtic goalkeeper into going long at times. It was a real team performance today.

"We looked like the team that carried the most threat all afternoon.

"We've got to keep believing. We've got a huge support base at United and they expect nothing less than us giving our all. We know how difficult going to Ibrox is, there's a lot on the line for Rangers as well but we have to keep believing.

"We have to build on performances like this. If we sneak into the top six, it will be a great achievement, but if we don't I'll spend the summer thinking about what could have been, because of the amount of points we've dropped and late goals we've conceded.

"Hopefully we'll pull a rabbit out of the hat."

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Dundee United's Falkirk-bound midfielder Craig Sibbald returns while Luca Stephenson should shake off a knock.

Kristijan Trapanovski and Isaac Pappoe miss out with knee injuries.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor has recovered from a calf strain but Julian Araujo is still struggling with a thigh injury.

Alistair Johnston returned to training after a hamstring injury but is not ready while Arne Engels (thigh), Jota (knee), Callum Osmand (hamstring), Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) are out.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin believes interim Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is being willed on by older coaches to win the league "to prove they can still do it".

O'Neill presided over a glittering five years in charge at Parkhead in the early 2000s and the 74-year-old has had two spells at the helm just this season.

The Northern Irishman took temporary charge back in October following Brendan Rodgers' resignation before being replaced by who Celtic thought was their new permanent manager - Wilfried Nancy.

Following a torrid 33 days in charge, Nancy was sacked and O'Neill returned to Parkhead to see out the season alongside Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham.

Despite a turbulent campaign, O'Neill's side travel to Tannadice on Sunday second in the table, just two points behind leaders Hearts.

"I think it goes to show that age doesn't really matter," Goodwin said.

"People talk about the coaching game being a young man's game now but I am pretty sure there are a lot of older coaches out there willing Martin O'Neill on just to go and prove that they can still do it.

"His experience is incredible, the success that he had at Celtic during his first spell was outstanding, he is probably one of the most successful managers Celtic have had in their modern history and the fact he has been there now a couple of times on a rescue mission this season speaks volumes.

"I couldn't speak any higher of the man himself and the job he has done as a manager but of course we are going out on Sunday to try and upset him and make him very disappointed."

Seventh placed United are looking to bounce back after their late Dundee derby collapse last weekend.

After they play Celtic on Sunday, their next league outing is away to third place Rangers.

"It is not about us trying to influence what is happening at the top end of the table," he added.

"It is about us trying to gain points that are going to help Dundee United, that is the bottom line.

"We dropped a couple of valuable points last weekend but we have got an opportunity on Sunday to go and put that right and that is what we aim to do.

"We know what is at stake for both teams, and in particular what is at stake for Celtic in terms of the challenge they are trying to mount against Hearts and Rangers to go and win the title.

"You could argue there is a bit more pressure on the Celtic players than there is on mine but we are the home team, we had a really good performance and result against Celtic the last time we played them at Tannadice and we have to take confidence from that one into this one."

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Dundee United midfielder Craig Sibbald, who recently agreed a summer return to Falkirk, returns, while Luca Stephenson should shake off a knock.

Kristijan Trapanovski and Isaac Pappoe miss out with knee injuries.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor has recovered from a calf strain but Julian Araujo is still struggling with a thigh injury.

Alistair Johnston returned to training after a hamstring injury but is not ready as Arne Engels (thigh), Jota (knee), Callum Osmand (hamstring), Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United midfielder Neil Farrugia admits it's been "tough" around Tannadice following last weekend's derby capitulation but believes they can channel the disappointment in a positive way against Celtic on Sunday.

The Tangerines were 2-0 up going into added time at Dens Park but were left stunned after Dundee netted twice in the final two minutes to earn a draw.

And United manager Jim Goodwin described the late collapse as "pathetic" but Farrugia insists the squad are ready to bounce back.

"It was a tough couple of days after," he said.

"Mentally it was hard to understand what has just happened but football is a mad game and the next game is just around the corner.

"It is about trying to forget what has happened and somehow take all the positives there were in that game because we were comfortable for 90 minutes. It was just right at the end we just lost that bit of concentration.

"That one point is a very tough one point to get, it definitely feels like a big loss and so those points are something that we are after now and what better time to do it than against Celtic at the weekend."

United are seventh in the Premiership table and sit nine points behind Falkirk in sixth with three games to go before the split.

And while finishing in the top six seems highly unlikely, Farrugia insists United's season is not over.

"I think the teams underneath us have done quite well recently and it is not going to be an easy cruise in the last part of the season," he added.

"We have to be at the top of our game to keep the pressure off. Top six is probably just out of reach at this stage but I think as players it is our job to keep going every week and to find that little bit of motivation to keep going.

"And Celtic at the weekend is a great example, it is a big game against a great team and these are the sort of games that you want to play."

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• Since Martin O'Neill's first away league game of the season in charge of Celtic in November (1-0 win v St Mirren), the Hoops have earned more points on the road (20) than any side in the Scottish Premiership (W6 D2 L2).

• Dundee United have lost a league-high 22 points from winning positions in the Scottish Premiership this season. Celtic have recovered 13 points from losing positions - the joint most of any club (level with United).

• After their 2-1 win in December, United could beat Celtic twice in a row at home in the league for the first time since April 1991 (three in a row).

• That loss at Tannadice was Celtic's only defeat to United in the past 25 meetings in all competitions (W19 D5), keeping 18 clean sheets in this period.

• United have earned 52.9% of their points season at home (18/34), the lowest ratio of any side.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin says the knee ligament damage that could sideline Kristijan Trapanovski for the rest of the season will have no impact on whether he decides to offer the 26-year-old North Macedonia international a new contract. (Daily Record), external

Read all of Friday's Scottish Gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Sunday's visit of Celtic.

Here are the main points:

• Following their late capitulation from 2-0 up in the derby draw with Dundee last weekend, Goodwin says the reaction from the players has been good.

• After criticising his squad for the way they handled the closing stages of that game, Goodwin stresses "we are all in this together" and says they need to show in the remaining fixtures they have learned the lessons to address a fragility that has plagued them this term.

• With seventh-place United destined to spend the remainder of the campaign in mid-table no man's land, Goodwin says it won't be difficult to motivate the players as they all have something to play for and the fans expect "nothing less than 100%".

• He is expecting a difficult game against a "good" Celtic team who are full of quality, but says "you could argue there is more pressure" on the Parkhead side as they challenge for the title

• Goodwin praised the job Martin O'Neill has done at Celtic this season, saying it proves "age doesn't really matter", and thinks there will be older coaches out there willing O'Neill on to show they can still do it.

• With Australian striker Lachlan Rose having signed a pre-contract, Goodwin says United "will continue to look in every market" as they prepare for "a busy summer window".

• Goodwin confirms United did offer Falkirk-bound Craig Sibbald a new deal, but says there was "a real emotional attachment" that has lured him back to the Bairns, adding the midfielder "has been a pleasure to work with".

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin branded his side's late derby capitulation at Dens Park last weekend as "pathetic".

Leading 2-0 going into added time, United were undone by a late double in the final two minutes as Dundee snatched an unlikely draw.

In those dramatic moments United's season was summed up. The Tangerines are seventh in the Premiership but it should be so much better.

The share of the spoils at the home of their neighbours means United have drawn 13 - more than a third - of their 30 league games. A stat that currently earns them the unwanted title of the division's draw specialist.

They have also managed just four clean sheets in the league - only bottom club Livingston have had fewer - and have conceded the joint third most goals (48, alongside Dundee) - only Livingston and Kilmarnock have shipped more.

And having squandered a load of points from winning positions you start to see why what happened at Dens Park during that dramatic finale was United's campaign in microcosm.

United's top-six hopes are all but over and they appear unlikely to get dragged into the battle at the bottom so the remainder of the season looks set to peter out.

While it does, Goodwin - and the fans - will be pondering why a campaign that began with such high hopes has gradually fizzled out.

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Former referee Steve Conroy thinks it is "mission creep" with VAR in Scottish football before new changes to the laws for the upcoming World Cup.

VAR was introduced in Scotland almost four years ago but has frequently been criticised by fans, players, managers and former players.

Now there could be more changes to the scope of technology as football's law-making body the International Football Association Board (Ifab) backed plans to increase the powers of VAR.

For this summer's World Cup in America, VAR will be allowed to intervene on second yellow cards and the awarding of corners, provided the process doesn't slow down the flow of play.

Ifab has also expanded the countdown rule around goalkeepers where they have eight seconds to release the ball from their hands to include goal kicks and throw-ins.

But former referee Conroy thinks involving the technology in more decision-making is bad news for the game.

"It's inescapable that there is more and more mission creep with VAR," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"The authorities seem hell-bent on using it more and more and relying on it and I think that is to the detriment of football.

"I know Ifab are talking about getting them involved for corners and second yellows and all that sort of stuff. As [Celtic interim manager] Martin O'Neill said, soon enough we'll just referee from a port-a-cabin somewhere.

"And this is all happening at the same time as every football supporter survey tells you that they just want it binned."

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

"Football's a funny old game" they say. But by 4pm on Sunday I wasn't laughing as I trudged out of Dens Park.

I was stunned, shocked, mildly traumatised and wondering if there's a support group for fans of teams that can't defend a lead.

Let's rewind. We're 93 minutes into a 95-minute match. United are 2-0 up and cruising. The referee is glancing at his watch, likely wondering what's for tea, and I'm mentally queuing up the victory songs. Life is good.

Then United do what United have specialised in all season, defensive capitulation.

In the space of two minutes, a comfortable derby win turned into the footballing equivalent of watching a waiter proudly present a flaming dessert... before the flames set the tablecloth on fire.

United had been the better side for 93 minutes, but unfortunately this match lasted for 95.

The blue third of the city will be dining out on that comeback for years. Meanwhile, the tangerine two-thirds will be waking up in cold sweats and nervously checking clocks.

United probably still need a few more points to guarantee top-flight football next season and you'd like to think they'll get them. But given this team's talent for turning winning positions into abstract art, nothing feels entirely safe.

Next up: Celtic at Tannadice. A fixture few United fans circle with joy at the best of times, never mind with defensive PTSD still fresh.

One possible advantage? The pitch. At the moment it's a close contest between our defending and the playing surface for most embarrassing thing at the club this season.

Still, there's every chance Celtic won't enjoy trying to play football on something that currently resembles a farmer's field after a tractor rally.

We'll find out soon enough.

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

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Dundee United have announced the summer arrival of Australian forward Lachlan Rose from Newcastle Jets.

The 26-year-old has eight A-League goals for the current leaders and has agreed a two-year contract, with the club holding the option of a further 12 months.

Rose switched from MacArthur to Newcastle Jets in 2024 and has won the Australia Cup with both clubs.

He is the second A-League attacker to agree a pre-contract move to Tannadice, with a deal for Auckland FC winger Jesse Randall revealed in January.

Zac Sapsford joined United last summer, with the former Western Sydney Wanderers striker on eight goals from 37 appearances in all competitions.

Wing-back Ryan Strain, last capped for Australia in 2022, is in his second season at the club.

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Dundee United defender Krisztian Keresztes says there are talks about turning his loan from Nyiregyhaza Spartacus into a permanent move but prefers to concentrate on his performances rather than his future. (The Courier - subscription required), external

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Dundee United midfielder Craig Sibbald has agreed to return to Falkirk this summer after agreeing a pre-contract.

Sibbald, 30, started with the Bairns, making 274 appearances between 2011 and 2018, moving on to Livingston and then Dundee United in 2022.

"I'm very proud to be coming back home where it all started," Sibbald told Falkirk club media.

"This club means everything to me and I'm delighted to sign a deal to return to my boyhood team that I grew up supporting. I can't wait to put the Falkirk shirt on again and give everything for the badge.

"The opportunity to come back at this stage of my career feels right and I can't wait to get started next season.

"Once a bairn always a bairn."

And manager John McGlynn said: "He was very positive as soon as we got a chance to talk to him with regards to coming here and he showed real excitement and enthusiasm to be back at the football club.

"He's an outstanding central midfielder with real experience at the Premiership level for many years. He knows the league inside out and it's great we can continue to bring Scottish players to the football club, and not only that but a player who has been here previously, is from the local area and is absolutely desperate to pull a Falkirk jersey on and give his utmost for the football club.

"It isn't always possible and we often have to cast our net further afield but it's great to bring one of our own back to Falkirk."

We asked for your views on Dundee United's derby collapse at Dens Park on Sunday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Shaun: Jim Goodwin says there's a fragility in the team but it's OK because he's identified it now. We're 30 games in and everyone else identified it months ago. Time to go, Jim.

Bruce: Excellent performance up until additional time. Don't understand why the players can't see it out. Don't think that was the manager's fault.

Dave: I don't like blaming individual players, but Ross Graham is exclusively responsible for the loss of two points. I can forgive the header [for the own goal] but not the challenge that gave Dundee the perfect opportunity to fire in the cross. You could sense what was coming.

George: As soon as Dundee's first went in I feared we would lose another. The defence, Graham in particular, panic and lose concentration as soon as we lose a goal. Don't know what Jim can do as I think it only appears during games. We need to keep together, get through this season, and recruit to ensure this doesn't continue into next season. Don't lose sight of all the good things Jim has done, he deserves the chance to put this difficult season behind him.

Kieran: That's our season done. One of only a few games where Goodwin is blameless for the result. For 93 minutes it's the most dominant display that United have conjured all season. Could have easily been four up on another day but yet again stupid and naive decision-making in defence from our so-called 'captain' gifts Dundee the point that feels like a win for them and a massive defeat for us.

Ian: Terrible but typical United. Game management? Us fans deserve much better but the team deserves exactly what it has - a nothing season. Terribly disappointing... again

Sportscene pundit Scott Allan says there is no way Dundee United should have dropped points against rivals Dundee on Sunday.

United were cruising - 2-0 up in the 93rd minute, before conceding twice at the death to draw.

Captain Ross Graham scored an own goal with almost the last kick of the game and Allan thinks he was put off by the presence of opposition goalkeeper Jon McCracken.

"Football comes down to moments," Allan said. "These two moments, United just don't defend well enough.

"Ross Graham did well throughout the game, but I think he got spooked by Jon McCracken and it ends up in the top corner.

"That's a game that United should never have lost. It was so dominant, especially in the second half."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

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Jerome Prior - Livingston

Five saves at Easter Road are unlikely to save Livingston's season, but they brought a clean sheet and a point nonetheless.

Warren O'Hora - Hibernian

Another solid showing from the centre-back and a clean sheet.

Kieran Tierney - Celtic

His character and class continues to help keep Celtic fighting for a league and cup double.

Michael Schjonning-Larsen - Kilmarnock

A huge goal against Hearts from the Estonian international to earn his Kilmarnock side a massive three points in their fight against relegation, and throw a massive spanner in the works of the Hearts title tilt.

Luca Stephenson - Dundee United

A brilliant, brave back-post header looked like it would give Dundee United all three points in the derby, but it wasn't to be.

Alex Gogic - St Mirren

If any player ever deserved the classic football hard man head bandage it's Alex Gogic. But the Cyprus international goes the extra mile.

With blood erupting from his head after a clash with a team-mate, there was no bandage required. Instead it took staples to stem the flow, topped off by a massive dollop of Vaseline. What a warrior.

He must be the most old-school player in the Premiership, and we love him for it. Great defensively against Rangers.

Nico Raskin - Rangers

Full of energy in the hurly-burly of midfield in poor conditions in Paisley. He delivered the assist for the vital goal.

Tuur Rommens - Rangers

Got high up the field to decisive effect as he sealed a big three points for Rangers.

Yang Hyun-Jun - Celtic

Two goals in a huge game to sink Motherwell. That is now six goals since Christmas for the South Korean international.

Barney Stewart - Falkirk

The young striker is brimming with belief after graduating to Premiership football. 16 goals now in all competitions for the 21-year-old - albeit half of them while on loan at Championship Dunfermline. Four goals in his last 3 games, huge potential.

Findlay Curtis - Kilmarnock

Has brought a bit of X-factor to the Kilmarnock attack. Looks like a player who can ignite things for the Rugby Park side as they fight to get out of the play-off spot.

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Dundee United midfielder Craig Sibbald is set to return to Falkirk next season when his contract at Tannadice expires (Daily Record)., external

Draw number 13 of the season - and it must be the most frustrating by a distance after conceding twice in stoppage time in a derby.

Dundee United were very good for most of the game but were undone by late defensive lapses from set-pieces.

Read the match report.

Let off some steam with your views.

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Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "The way we finished the game pretty much sums up the season for us. It's the reason why we find ourselves in the bottom half of the table.

"Defensively, we've just not been good enough, all campaign. In those moments when we get put under a bit of pressure, too many times we've crumbled.

"I need to be careful with the words I chose. We're all in this together, but the players know what my thoughts are.

"I cannot remember going from feeling so positive to feeling lower than a snake's belly.

"I thought it was one of our best performances of the season, one of the most one-sided Dundee derbies I can remember. I probably would have been disappointed to only finish 2-0, given the opportunities that we had.

"Even at 2-0 we should have enough experience and enough leadership on the park to manage the game better to see it through.

"I'm the manager. It's my responsibility to get it right. As a club, we recognise the mistakes that we've made. I need to make sure we do something about it in the summer."

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Defender Iurie Iovu insists Dundee United will be taking "extra energy" into Sunday's derby against Dundee.

Jim Goodwin's side are two points above their city rivals in the Premiership table as they prepare for Sunday's match at Dens Park.

United were beaten at Tannadice the last time these sides met at the start of the year but were 2-0 winners at Dens back in August.

And Iovu and his teammates are relishing the chance to play in another derby.

"We are very excited to play against Dundee," he told club media.

"It's always a really intense game. It's important for us to win and to make the gap between ourselves and them bigger. We are well prepared, we'll give everything and hopefully win."

United have won just one of their last five Premiership outings and while they still have a slim chance of making the top six, those dreams could be ended today if Falkirk beat Aberdeen.

"Every game is important," Iovu added.

"We keep our focus game by game and try to take three points every week. I'm very excited for Sunday - the rivalry is incredible and it's a match which sums up the beauty of football.

"In football, you have the opportunity to bounce back as fast as possible because we play every week and we need to try to go with a positive mindset. We can't affect what happened in the previous game now or the form of our opposition.

"On derby day, you have extra energy, the atmosphere is amazing and it's important to react the different situations you have to deal with on the day."

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Dundee boss Steven Pressley expects to have Callum Jones back in contention while Billy Koumetio has a chance of returning after a knee injury. Clark Robertson (thigh) is still out.

Dundee United pair Amar Fatah and Iurie Iovu are available after suspension, but Craig Sibbald (hamstring), Isaac Pappoe (knee) and Bert Esselink are set to miss out again.