Dundee United

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Sunday's derby away to Dundee in the Premiership.

Here are the main points:

• Goodwin has relished having a free midweek: "We've been able to get a bit of energy and freshness into the squad."

• After having to play nine games in five weeks, due to rearranged fixtures, Goodwin feels "things could have been managed better by the league".

• And while the United boss admits that "sounds like excuses", the break has been "worthwhile" for his side.

• United are two points ahead of their city rivals in the table and the manager is hopeful "we can extend that gap at the weekend".

• While United only have the faintest of top-six hopes, Goodwin says "we've still got an outside chance" and will "keep fighting".

• The United boss isn't "overly pleased with sitting seventh" and insists the club "want to be a consistent top-six team and we believe we have the infrastructure and the fanbase to do that".

• On the derby occasion, Goodwin stresses "we all know what this fixture means to the supporters" but he warns it is a "different" Dundee side to the one they beat at Dens in August.

• He knows "it will be a battle, it will be 100 miles per hour at times" but insists United are "ready for it".

• While Goodwin expects "a blood and thunder game", he says "nobody in football wants to see the kind of scenes we saw last weekend" when the Old Firm derby was marred by fan disorder.

• After Dundee boss Steven Pressley admitted he doesn't enjoy derby fixtures, the United boss says: "I love being involved in these big games... you've got to look forward to these types of games."

• After their Scottish Cup exit to Falkirk last week, Goodwin's side "want to restore a bit of pride" and "the best way to do that is go and win your next game".

• The 44-year-old feels "these games are ultimately decided by the team that does the basics better". He has "no concerns about creating chances" but is looking for his side to have "a solid base defensively".

• There are no new injuries for United.

Dundee United are closing in on the signing of Newcastle Jets winger Lachlan Rose (The Courier - behind paywall, external)

Friday's Scottish gossip

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• After their 1-0 win in January, Dundee could secure back-to-back top-flight victories over Dundee United for the first time since November 2004 under Jim Duffy.

• The past four Dundee derbies in the Scottish Premiership have been won by the away side (including United in their past two visits); this is as many away wins as the previous 25 top-flight meetings beforehand (10 home wins, 11 draws, 4 away wins).

• Exactly half of United's Premiership goals this season have come from non-penalty set-plays (18/36) – the highest ratio of any side. Conversely, Dundee have only conceded 19.6% of their league goals from non-penalty set-pieces (9/46), a division-low ratio.

• After only losing two of their opening 10 away league matches of the season (W2 D6), United have since lost three of their past four on the road (W1).

• Dundee have only lost one of their past six home games in the Premiership (W3 D2), a 1-0 defeat to leaders Hearts in January.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

At the start of this month Jim Goodwin celebrated three years in charge of Dundee United.

His time at the helm has been a rollercoaster with plenty of ups - last season being a case in point - and a few lows.

However, this campaign has felt like United are treading water.

The club overachieved by finishing fourth in their top-flight return last term, heightening expectations as a result.

While scaling those heights again was always going to be difficult, United's top-six hopes are effectively over and fans are feeling deflated.

Last Friday's Scottish Cup quarter-final defeat at Falkirk added to that mood.

This weekend's derby with Dundee at Dens Park is a big one from a United point of view – and not just because bragging rights are up for grabs.

A win over their biggest rivals always lifts the spirits and would also put a little daylight between themselves and the Dark Blues, who are currently just two points behind.

But a defeat would put Dundee above United in the table and compound feeling of frustration among the Tangerines support, as well as nudging up the pressure on Goodwin.

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

Hard to dress this up as anything other than a massive missed opportunity.

A Scottish Cup semi-final was on offer and Falkirk away was always going to be tough, but the real frustration is United largely beat themselves.

Coming out half-asleep in a quarter-final and again waiting until conceding or the second half to remember how to play is a pattern that has defined this season.

To the players' credit, Julius Eskesen's goal gave us a lifeline and for a spell Falkirk looked rattled. But the second moment never came and our chance of a semi-final spot just fizzled out.

And that's the story of the season. The league fizzled. The cup fizzled. The whole campaign is quietly drifting away before the clocks have even changed.

So what is left? Pride, really.

Try to be the best of the bottom six and win the derbies that remain. That is where we are now.

This weekend it's a walk up the road to Dens Park and that alone makes it enormous. Win it and the mood shifts quickly but Dundee are in form and if we start the same way we did on Friday night it will not end well.

The season is running out of reasons to get excited. Sunday is one of the few that remain and United cannot afford to waste it the same way they wasted Friday.

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

Former Dundee and Dundee United defender Lee Wilkie believes the pressure will only increase on United manager Jim Goodwin should Dundee win Sunday's city derby. (Courier - subscription required), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your views after Dundee United's Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Falkirk.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Jamie: Season. Over. Another awful first half where Jim Goodwin could not get his tactics right. Another game of three at the back clearly not working, just look at Ross Graham and Vicko Sevelj for Falkirk's second goal. Neither player knows who is defending the Falkirk goalscorer. Zac Sapsford scores worldies but misses sitters. Won't get a chance like this again with so many top teams going out.

George: A game that sums up the season. We start badly, don't play 90 minutes and lose simple goals. The midfield preferred to go sideways or backwards and there's no penetration into the opposition half. The forwards are starved of service and therefore frustrated, dropping deep to try and get into the game. Too negative in our approach which needs to change if we want to salvage our season.

Laura: Tough result but considering the circumstances we battled hard. We are the youngest team in the league and it was always going to be tough to replicate last season. Lack of flexibility over fixture congestion didn't help us. Jim has brought stability and is working hard to rebuild a new team after years of managerial changes. Let's win the derbies and enjoy Johnny Russell's homecoming.

Ross: The players make the same mistakes week in, week out so I don't feel bad about repeating the same criticisms. Totally outplayed by a team with an identity, a style, a passion and positivity - everything United lack this season. Can't defend and just sit back deep, get to the halfway line and run out of ideas. We simply don't seem to understand the word press. Tough watch, at times terrible. Squad, tactics, training, or manager? Sadly it could be all those things and it's not working.

Steve: I've never been of the opinion that Goodwin must go but his time is up. Compared to other clubs who we'll be playing against after the split, he's had a lot of money to spend. Unfortunately a lot of those buys are now showing they're not up to playing in the top division. He also insists on playing a back three which doesn't work. Even when he changes who plays in his defence week by week.

Brian: Even if the fans are wrong and the manager is right, United need a reboot. If we continue with the same set-up and tactics, and lack of confidence, we will be down and out by the end of the season.

First-half headers from Barney Stewart and Finn Yeats sent Falkirk into the Scottish Cup semi-finals and ended Dundee United's hopes of reaching Hampden.

Read the full report here

Have your say here

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "We're all bitterly disappointed to go out of the competition at this stage.

"I don't want to be making any excuses but we've had nine games in five weeks and we could have done without the St Mirren game three days before a Firday night game. Add to that we've had key players suspended but it's a really disappointing outcome but you ca't afford to start like we did.

"We wont allow the season to peter out. We have a big job to close the gap on Falkirk but we'll not give up on that.

"We'll recover from tonight but we have a big game coming up next week, a local derby that's important to our supporters.

"The fans have every right to be disappointed. It's three years I've been here and we've had relative success and they want the team to be in the top six.

"We're very disappointed in our league position and the fans have every right to voice their disappointment."

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Former Dundee United defender Ryan McGowan says Jim Goodwin's side stand two Scottish Cup wins from a successful season.

The Tannadice men, whose top-six hopes are all but over amid a disappointing Premiership campaign, travel to face Falkirk tonight - live on BBC Scotland - for a place in the cup semis.

"They have a really strong team, a team that you should be wary of, a team that is almost set up for a cup competition," Livingston centre-back McGowan told the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

"If you're looking at it from Jim Goodwin's position, two wins and you're in a cup final and all of a sudden your season looks totally different.

"So he'll be hoping it all just seems to click together. If you look at Aberdeen last season, you can just sometimes get into a groove that they can do really well in a cup competition and have bit between their teeth.

"Falkirk, as much as they'll probably be favourites at home, I think they have to be very, very careful of Dundee United and the players they possess."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Jim Goodwin is determined to rectify his poor cup record with Dundee United and lead the club to Hampden by beating Falkirk on Friday night - live on BBC Scotland.

Since taking the reins at Tannadice in March 2023, the Irishman has failed to lead United beyond the quarter-finals of either domestic knockout competition.

A Scottish Cup semi-final place is at stake when Goodwin takes his side to the Falkirk Stadium.

"We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves but it is one thing I haven't yet been able to achieve here in my three years at the club," he said.

"We have enjoyed some good success in terms of winning the Championship, a great league campaign last season to finish fourth, enjoyed European football at the beginning of this season – but we haven't gone far enough in the cup competitions and we haven't been able to bring the supporters back to Hampden for a big game.

"So that is the incentive, the motivation for me certainly on an individual level. Ultimately as a team the players are desperate to go and play at the national stadium because a number of our squad have never done that before."

Goodwin admits the last-eight tie is a "huge game for both teams". United are slight underdogs against a sixth-place Bairns side who sit nine points and one spot above them in the Premiership table.

"I think league form at this stage goes out of the window, the cup is a very separate entity," said Goodwin.

"Both teams know what is required and the only result that matters is a win because that is all that is going to take you to Hampden.

"In the previous three fixtures when we have played against each other there hasn't been a great deal between the two teams. We have won one, Falkirk have won one and the other was a draw.

"I suppose the pleasing aspect is we are unbeaten at their place this season and in the most recent fixture we won 3-2, so we should take confidence from that result and hopefully that will stand us in good stead tomorrow night."

Dundee United's Vicko Sevelj fears Scottish football "is getting too soft" and refereeing decisions "too inconsistent". (Record), external

Will Ferry admits he has "a bad history" in cup tournaments and does not want to be "a curse" as he prepares to help Dundee United get past hosts Falkirk in the Scottish Cup on Friday. (Courier - subscription required), external

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

In what has been a fascinating Scottish Premiership season, Johnny Russell's return to Dundee United adds another layer of intrigue.

At 35 the former Scotland international is no spring chicken, but if United are getting anything close to the player he was when he began his senior journey at Tannadice then it will be a shrewd piece of business.

Given he has spent the last the past eight years in the MLS, Russell is a player who may well have dropped off the radar of some Scottish football fans.

United will be hoping his exploits between now and the end of the season will put him firmly back in their thoughts.

While scoring goals will be his main objective, his presence around the squad will be just as important.

Russell gets what Dundee United are all about, he is also a seasoned pro who will bring welcome added leadership to the dressing room.

While their league season may be petering out, United still have plenty to play for in the Scottish Cup and a quarter-final trip to Falkirk awaits on Friday night.

It would be the ultimate homecoming if Russell can help them navigate that and take another step towards getting their hands on a trophy they last won in 2010.

We asked for your views after Dundee United secured a first win in four game by beating St Mirren 2-1 at Tannadice.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Ross: A hard-fought victory with some decent efforts around the (grass free) pitch. Let's not kid ourselves, the best team won but the Buddies would struggle to buy a win on eBay. With safety in the league hopefully assured, the season now rests on Friday night - go and give Falkirk a good go with high-pressing, high-tempo football. Amar Fatah will be a miss as he worries defenders.

Stef: Not gonna be many pretty games between now and the end of the season on that pitch but the players battled away brilliantly for the three points. Hopefully now keep us away from the danger of the relegation play-off spot and gives the players confidence ahead of a huge Scottish Cup tie on Friday.

Ian: Thankful for three points but my eyes have just stopped bleeding. Not good. Jim Goodwin is sucking the life out the club. Too much panic, too defensive, players are afraid when in possession.

Dave: Getting better. Ross Graham showed up well in defence, Emmanuel Agyei put in a shift doing the dirty work in midfield and Johnny Russell's presence brought a much-needed bounce to the support. At long last Fatah showed us all how a penalty should really be taken.

Watch all the highlights as Dundee United piled more pressure on struggling St Mirren with a 2-1 win at Tannadice. Available to UK users only.

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Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin: "We're delighted to win the game, really pleased with the physicality the players showed.

"We set the team up in a way were we had to compete and win our individual duels.

"The back three were really good at times, winning first contacts. The midfield three in particular were outstanding. I felt before the game whoever won the midfield battle would come out on top in the game.

"I thought we started the game really brightly, and get the goal in that period. Really pleased to go in at half-time leading.

"To concede the equaliser was disappointing but the players showed great character. We were the better team on the night in every area. We had far more of the ball, far more dangerous attacks and deserved to get all three points in the end.

"We didn't want to go into the Falkirk cup game off the back of two defeats. Tonight's game is done, the whole focus now is the game on Friday."

Marcus Fraser's own goal and Amar Fatah's emphatic penalty gave Dundee United a vital three points from a hard-fought Scottish Premiership encounter with St Mirren.

Read the match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Robbie Neilson has backed Dundee United's returning "cult hero" Johnny Russell to give Jim Goodwin's side a much-needed "spark" in the remainder of the season.

Former Scotland forward Russell, 35, has returned to first club United on a deal until the summer after eight years in America's MLS with Sporting City Kansas and latterly Real Salt Lake.

Ex-United boss Neilson was previously a team-mate at Tannadice of Russell, who netted 46 times in 120 games before joining Derby County in 2013.

Speaking on Tuesday morning before Russell's United return was confirmed, Neilson told the BBC's Scottish football podcast: "I think it'll give them a real lift.

"I know Johnny really well. I used to travel through with him years ago, played with him, and when I was in America I spoke to him about potentially coming to the Tampa Bay Rowdies but he ended up going to Real Salt Lake.

"He's got a young family and always planned to come back to Scotland.

"So yeah, I think he will give him a lift because at the moment Dundee United need some sort of spark. It looks a little bit flat.

"It will get the fans onside because he's a bit of a cult hero up there. I haven't seen him playing this season but he's still got quality, got good technique and is still really fit.

"So I think it will be good for both parties."