Dundee United

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "Rangers were by far the better team in first 45, we were second best all over the park. We looked as if we were half a yard off it.

"Second half we carried [the game plan] out a lot better. We have built a really strong, competitive squad.

"Unfortunate thing is we haven't had the whole group available. We're starting to get numbers back and there's real competition.

"We need to make sure we start games like we did in the second half. That's three games in a row where we've been poor in the first half but really good in the second. We can't let first halves pass us by.

"We definitely deserved at least a point, but to not hang on is extremely disappointing.

"The Scottish Premiership is probably the strongest it's been for a number of years. It's going to be a real battle for the top six and European places."

Managerless Rangers' wait for a first home Scottish Premiership win of the season continued after a four-goal thriller with Dundee United ended in a draw at Ibrox.

Have your say on the game here.

Read our match report here.

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Mohamed Diomande is the only absentee from the Rangers squad which drew with Falkirk. Long-term absentees Rabbi Matondo (knee), Dujon Sterling (Achilles) and Kieran Dowell remain out.

Dundee United have no fresh injuries. Owen Stirton has stepped up his recovery from an ankle problem while Ross Graham, Max Watters (both hamstring) and Isaac Pappoe (knee) remain out.

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Dundee United's Nikolaj Moller says the side's "healthy" competition for places can drive them back into Europe for the second season in a row.

Jim Goodwin's Dundee United secured a shot at European qualification with a stellar campaign last year, but failed to qualify for the Conference League.

Moller reckons the side are fully capable of once again targeting a shot at continental competition this year.

"We all feel like we can do something this year, for sure, to compete for European spots, that's what we all strive for," he said.

"We all feel that we have a really, really good squad, good players in every position, a lot of competition in every position.

"There's another good player who could play, this is what you want in a club, it's really healthy.

"We're striving to come as high up in the table as possible.

"We don't fear any team, I would say."

Summer signing Moller is relishing his side's trip to face embattled Rangers on Saturday.

The Swedish forward, who arrived from Swiss top-flight side St Gallen on an initial two-year deal in August, reckons it will be the biggest crowd he's ever played in front of.

"Tomorrow for sure, it's going to be difficult, it's difficult to beat," he said when asked what the biggest crowd he's played in front of so far in his career.

"[I am] excited, you have to view it positively, it's going to be a really cool experience for us players that haven't played in such an atmosphere.

"But you have to go there with no fear and believe that you can win the game, but at the same time enjoy the atmosphere.

"And I'm sure we'll have a very good fan base travelling as well, that will be behind our backs.

"So we're all coming there with no fear and excited, and we believe we can go out there with a win."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin is warning that Saturday's opponents Rangers are in a "false position" in the Premiership and that the Ibrox squad is "full of quality."

United sit fourth in the table but just one point ahead of Rangers in eighth place.

The hosts will be seeking a first league win of the season under the guidance of Under-19s coach Steven Smith as they seek a replacement for the sacked Russell Martin.

"I'm always disappointed to see anyone lose their job but I think Rangers are a team that are full of quality," said Goodwin.

"They've got some very, very good players. I think they are in a false position at the moment.

"We only need to think back to last year when Hibs around about this time were sitting bottom or second bottom in the league and went on an incredible run of results from November onwards and finished the third best team in the country.

"We know Rangers are capable of doing that. They're a bit of a wounded animal.

"Supporters no doubt will be buoyant because they got what they wanted in the end which is a change of manager and we're expecting a completely different type of atmosphere as to what it might have been like a couple of weeks ago."

United have dropped points at home in recent weeks, losing to Kilmarnock and drawing with Livingston, and Goodwin is looking for improvements in defence.

"There's been a number of mistakes that we need to eradicate and we need to make sure we do that quickly," he said. "It's just decision-making in the moment and that's something that the players will learn from.

"The defensive structure is always a big part when you go to places like Ibrox and Parkhead but at the same time, I look at the players that we have in the forward areas and I really believe that if we're performing to the levels that we're capable of then we can most certainly cause Rangers a few problems.

"Of the signings that we made in the summer, the big draw is to come and play at places like Ibrox and Parkhead. That's the reason why a lot of them have come to Scotland. To raise their profile, to play against big teams and to perform well.

"I suppose it could be a positive to the point where there's not that fear factor because I think 12 or 13 of the 14 players we signed have never played at Ibrox before so they don't know what to expect. I think there's a real sense of excitement to go and play in that type of environment."

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's trip to face Rangers on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Goodwin reckons the Scottish Premiership is "a lot more competitive this season" and challenges his side to find consistency in their performances against other sides.

• The manager feels United have been "a little bit inconsistent" and should have amassed more than their current tally, but says that is down to "their own mistakes" that need to be eradicated.

• Thirteen of the fourteen summer signings United made have never played at Ibrox before, with Goodwin adding: "The signings we made in the summer, the draw was to play at places like Ibrox and Parkhead."

• On their new signings, Goodwin adds that he is pleased with how they have "taken to the culture" they are trying to build at Tannadice.

• Goodwin says this weekend's opponents, Rangers, are in a "false position" in the league - currently eighth - and are a "team full of quality" that United can't afford to "gift the opposition chances like we have done".

• He compares Rangers' current position with that of Hibernian 12 months ago, and where the Easter Road club ended the season at the top end of the league table.

• United have no fresh injury concerns for the trip to Glasgow.

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• Rangers have won eight of their last 10 league meetings with Dundee United (D2) since a 0-1 defeat in August 2021 under Steven Gerrard.

• Dundee United have only won one of their last 21 away league games at Rangers (D3 L17), losing 10 of their last 11 (D1) since a 3-2 victory in April 2011 under Peter Houston.

• With just eight points in seven games (W1 D5 L1), this is Rangers' poorest start to a league season (assuming 3 pts/win all-time) since 1978-79, when they had seven points in their first seven. Only in 1964-65 (9), 1978-79 (8), and 1989-90 (9) have they ever had fewer than 10 points from their opening eight matches of a league campaign.

• Dundee United are yet to lose an away league game this season (P3 W1 D2), scoring 2+ goals in each of them. Indeed, their seven away goals is a joint-high in this season's Scottish Premiership (level with Hearts).

• James Tavernier has made 319 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, with only three players – Callum McGregor (355), Marcus Fraser (330), and Stephen O'Donnell (324) – making more since the competition rebranded in 2013. Tavernier is Rangers' top league scorer this season with three goals.

Jim Goodwin has had to change his Dundee United masterplan for the weekend trip to Ibrox. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

New emails undermine the timeline of Dundee United's claim for more than £1.2m in relief from HMRC, according to a tax expert who warns that the Premiership club could face a massive financial penalty over the saga. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin hopes to help Australia defender Ryan Strain realise his World Cup ambitions. (Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

We reporters often ask football managers whether the international break has come at the right or wrong time.

Well, this one has come at just the right time for Dundee United.

It seems ludicrous to suggest that a team who are flying high in fourth in the table - just one point off third - are having a wobble.

But that is exactly what has happened in their past two games.

Home encounters against Kilmarnock and Livingston would have been fixtures United fans expected their side to win.

So a return of just one point from a possible six is well below expectation.

For all that there has been to like about United this season, the Tangerines are in danger of undoing their early good work.

They may be well placed in the table at the moment, but teams are starting to bunch up behind them, with just five points between United in fourth and bottom side Aberdeen.

There is an added pressure that comes with games you are expected to win, and for all the undoubted talent that is in this United squad, they need to find a way of dealing with that pressure to fully deliver on their early season promise.

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Will Ferry has earned a first Republic of Ireland call-up for World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Armenia.

Panutche Camara joins up with Guinea-Bissau as they face Ethopia and Egypt in World Cup qualifying.

Iurie Iovu is part of the Moldova squad for a friendly with Romania and World Cup qualifier against Estonia.

Dundee United forward Amar Fatah has withdrawn from the Sweden Under-21 squad. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

I wouldn't normally start by crediting my podcast buddy Paul but here goes. To echo what he said on this week's episode, it's hard to argue with four points from nine at home because it's exactly what we've deserved.

No less frustrating, but the truth.

There's been no hard-luck story or freak result to hide behind. Against Kilmarnock we were flat. Against Livingston we were better in the second half but the first half was terrible.

For a team with top-six ambitions, that's nowhere near good enough.

Once again, we've been the architects of our own downfall. Sloppy goals, unforced errors, set-piece frailties. Bert Esselink has been one of our most consistent players this season, but even he got caught in the act on Saturday.

It summed things up in the season so far - moments of quality followed by moments of madness.

The stats don't lie. Since Europe, we've shipped goals in bunches and most of them have been gifts.

There's a good side here, but it's buried under self-inflicted damage. Jim Goodwin knows it too, you can hear it in every post-match interview. The gorgeous one even referred to himself as "sounding like a broken record" at the weekend.

We've proved we can mix it in the big games. Rapid Vienna, wins over Aberdeen and Dundee showed that when the tempo is high and the crowd is up, we look a proper team. But when opponents sit in, we seem to struggle.

The league table still looks fine, but results like these can drag you backwards quickly.

We need to stop helping the opposition score. Time to tighten up, United.

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

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Dundee United defender Will Ferry has received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Armenia.

Ferry, who has represented Republic of Ireland at under-19s and under-21s level, has been brought into the squad after Callum O'Dowda and Sammie Szmodics withdrew through injury.

The 24-year-old has been a mainstay for Dundee United since signing from Cheltenham Town in the summer of 2024.

Now the Tangerines vice-captain, the full-back has made 52 appearances for the club and helped them to qualify for Europe last season.

The rest of the Republic of Ireland squad reported to Dublin on Monday as Heimir Hallgrimsson prepares his side to travel to Lisbon to face Portugal on Saturday, 11 October before hosting Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday, 14 October.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Dundee United were came from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw at home to Livingston in tricky conditions on Saturday, they've got one player in my team of the week.

Big goal for the big defender - Krisztian Keresztes' first for the club - as United turned this game around to share the points with Livingston.

Watch all the highlights as Dundee United and Livingston play out a 1-1 draw in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 1-1 draw against Livingston on Saturday.

Here's what some of you said:

Jamie: Time to ditch the three at the back. We look so much better as a team when we have three in midfield. Jim Goodwin is showing a stubbornness that can't go on. The home atmosphere is non-existent at Tannadice as well. Must be rubbish to play in front of. I stand by my prediction of a seventh-placed finish for United this season.

Jenny: Goodwin needs to stop playing the same defensive trio again and again as they keep on shipping goals and are clearly not good enough - with, possibly, the exception of Bert Esselink. Sam Cleall-Harding is a better defender than any of the others and he should be in that team. He knows how to clear a ball and doesn't make schoolboy errors despite being only 19. The sooner Ross Graham is back the better to sort out this defensive mess.

Calum: Rubbish again from United - I thought we were supposed to learn from the Kilmarnock game last week? We didn't win second balls, had little imagination and almost no penetration. What a contrast to performances earlier in the season. How can a team be so Jekyll and Hyde?

Alan: Goodwin's fault for the stupid tactics passing across the back. Same issue with the Hibs game.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "The second 45 obviously was a lot better in terms of our all-round play, possession, getting into dangerous areas. Little bit guilty of wasting some good opportunities in terms of final ball when we get into those good areas.

"The second half was a lot more what we were after from the start of the game. We started a little bit slow. It's another horrendous goal against.

"A really poor mistake, we just don't deal with the situation and find ourselves trailing and having to chase the game again. We were turning over possession far too cheaply.

"We had 19 or 20 attempts on goal and just couldn't find the winner, unfortunately, when we were on top. It's probably a better point for Livingston than ourselves. It's another point on the board but yeah, a major disappointment."

Krisztian Keresztes' first goal for Dundee United secured a Scottish Premiership point after Scott Pittman's strike gave Livingston a deserved first-half lead.

Read the match report here.

Let us know your thoughts.

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Dundee United have Kristijan Trapanovski back in contention but Isaac Pappoe (knee), Owen Stirton (ankle), Ross Graham and Max Watters (both hamstring) remain out.

Livingston could include new signing Joshua Brenet but are expected to be without Ryan McGowan, Cristian Montano, Cammy Kerr and Aidan Denholm.