Dundee United

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Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin has been awarded the Scottish Premiership manager of the month award for the first time in his career.

Goodwin received the accolade for going unbeaten throughout March, winning against St Mirren and Celtic either side of a derby draw at Dundee.

The Tannadice side started April with a 4-2 defeat at Rangers, confirming they will end the season in the bottom six.

United now look safe from relegation trouble, with the team currently in seventh place and 10 points above Kilmarnock in 11th.

And Goodwin says the target is to "finish the season as strongly as possible with six wins from our remaining games, before we turn our attention to the exciting new season ahead".

"I'm delighted to accept this award - but I do so on behalf of my backroom team and the rest of our terrific staff," the United boss added.

"They work tirelessly behind the scenes on a daily basis, all for the betterment of Dundee United. Their efforts deserve as much recognition as my own when accolades such as these are handed out.

"Hopefully, our results in the league throughout March have helped restore some enthusiasm among our loyal fanbase.

"I'm glad we could bring them a couple of really positive performances to enjoy after a difficult period following the turn of the year."

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• Dundee United and Livingston have dropped the joint-most points from winning positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, with 22 each. Dundee United, though, are joint-leaders for points gained from a losing position (13, level with Celtic).

• Livingston have 16 points from 32 league games this season; the only side to have 16 or fewer after 33 games when the division splits in the Scottish top flight under its current format (since 2000-01) were Livingston themselves in 2005-06 (15).

• Dundee United have won both of their last two home league games, and could win three in a row in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since October 2021.

• After their 3-1 defeat in December, Livingston could lose back-to-back top-flight meetings with Dundee United for the first time since February 2005.

• Dundee United have won both of their last two Scottish Premiership games against newly promoted opponents, last winning three in a row in January 2015.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Amid what has turned into a rather frustrating season for Dundee United, there is no doubt that Amar Fatah has been one of their real shining lights - arguably the brightest.

It is fair to say the 22-year-old Swede wasn't a household name on these shores when he arrived on a season-long loan from the French side Troyes last summer.

But his stock and status here have steadily risen after a string of composed, cultured and impactful performances for United.

He has netted nine goals this term, the latest coming in a 4-2 defeat at Rangers last time out, but the goals only tell part of the story, with his performances catching the eye throughout the season.

We shouldn't be too surprised. The fact that Troyes signed him for £4.3m from Swedish side AIK four years ago - a sizeable investment for what was then a raw 17-year-old - is an illustration of the quality he possesses.

So what happens now?

United would dearly love to keep the Sweden Under-21 international at Tannadice beyond the end of his loan.

However, such has been the consistent level of his performances over the course of this season that it is likely to be easier said than done.

Fatah isn't United's player - and there is no doubt there will be plenty of potential suitors, with much deeper pockets, who may be ready to move for the player in the summer.

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Former Scotland left-back Barry Douglas has officially announced he is retiring from "the playing side of the beautiful game", stressing his "immense pride" after a career during which he won league titles in England and Poland.

The 36-year-old has been without a club since leaving St Johnstone following their relegation from the Scottish Premiership last summer.

But, before then, he had twice won the Ekstraklasa, and the Polish Super Cup, with Lech Poznań, the Turkish Cup with Konyaspor and the Championship in England with both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.

"In my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd make it as a professional footballer - never mind win multiple titles in different countries and go on to play almost 500 games," Douglas said on Instagram., external

"Now that I'm finally 'hanging up the boots', I can look back with immense pride, knowing I gave it everything I had."

In a time when the Scotland left-back spot was dominated by Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, Douglas managed just one cap, as a substitute for the former in a 1-0 win over Hungary in 2018.

"Every kid grows up dreaming of playing for their country - so to have made that a reality is something I'll always be incredibly proud of," he said.

Having started his career with Queen's Park, Douglas moved to Dundee United, Lech, Konyaspor, Wolves, Leeds and, after a loan to Blackburn Rovers, returned for a second title-winning spell with Lech before his final season with St Johnstone.

Douglas paid special tribute to his wife, Debbie, saying his globetrotting career was "as much yours as it is mine".

"The truth is, without you by my side, I would never have achieved what I have," he added.

"I'm forever grateful for your support, your sacrifices, and for taking that leap into the unknown when we first moved to Poland together to begin our adventure.

"Now look at us - two beautiful kids, multiple winners' medals and memories that will last a lifetime."

Dundee United midfielder Pan Camara has vowed to do his best to persuade his friend, Amar Fatah, to extend his stay at Tannadice at the end of the 22-year-old winger's loan from Troyes but suggests he is good enough to move to the Premier League. (The Courier), external

James Tavernier looks more likely to leave Rangers this summer with talks with the their 34-year-old captain about a new contract having stalled while pursuing their interest in taking 22-year-old Liverpool wide man Luca Stephenson, currently with Dundee United, on loan. (Football Insider), external

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin fears Ashley Maynard-Brewer's season could be over amid concerns that the 26-year-old goalkeeper may require surgery for a dislocated shoulder. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

Paul said it last week. Go to Ibrox, make it awkward, ask a few questions and maybe even ruin a few weekends in Glasgow.

For long spells, Dundee United did exactly that.

This was not a 4-2 game and that is the frustration. United competed. United carried a threat. United had moments, but as has happened far too often this season, the difference was in the boxes.

Rangers needed very little encouragement, and United gave them plenty.

The opener summed it up.

A routine save turned into a gift, and suddenly the game changes.

Then another lapse leads to another goal, and just like that, you are chasing a game you had been well in.

To their credit, United responded. Amar Fatah was outstanding again. A goal, energy, quality and at 2-1 it felt like there was something there.

But again, the same pattern - Poor defending, a lack of awareness and a game slipping away in a matter of minutes. It has been the story all season, and it ultimately cost United a place in the top six.

Paul spoke about confidence and momentum. We have seen both in flashes. The win over Celtic showed what this team can be. This showed why we are where we are.

Too many mistakes.

Too many soft goals.

Too many "what if" moments.

Now the focus is as simple as finishing the best of the rest.

There is a good team in there, but it hasn't shown it often enough.

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

Watch all the goals in Rangers clash against Dundee United.

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 4-2 defeat against Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Tam: A good performance that was undermined by goalkeeping errors and poor defending, the story of much of our season.

Max Watters missing a sitter to put us in the lead early on is exactly what he's been doing for months, his bad misses must be in double figures by now.

With a competent goalkeeper and a half-decent striker capable of finishing the chances we create, we'd not only be in the top six but challenging for the European places! Must do better next season.

Sean: Ashley Maynard-Brewer does not look like a long-term solution in goal. Conceding four goals is not good enough. Really need to look at youngsters coming through and plan for next season

JennyLee: United didn't deserve to come away from Ibrox with nothing as they delivered a very entertaining and gutsy performance. The reason they did again was down to the defence and the goalkeeper.

When is Jim Goodwin going to stop sticking with the three at the back that's costs us countless points this season? We would have finished in the top six if it wasn't for giving away so many defendable goals. I reckon that's costs us about 20 points this season. Wake up, Goodwin.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "It's not very often you lose a game 4-2 and feel as if you played really well on the day.

"In the first half I didn't think there was a great deal between the two teams. We had our chances, Rangers had one or two chances.

"Then the first goal changes the dynamics and it's a really poor one to concede. My goalkeeper knows he has to do better in that position.

"They score pretty quickly after that again. From our perspective we could defend it better. We don't recognise the danger in behind for the throw-in, we don't stop the cross and don't defend it well enough either.

"It would have been easy for the players to go under at that point.

"Credit to the players, they showed a really positive reaction and score a really good goal just before half time.

"Amar Fatah has had a great season and I thought he was the best player on the pitch all afternoon. At 2-1 we felt we were very much in the game.

"We knew Rangers would come flying out of the traps. It was important to weather that situation but within six or seven minutes unfortunately we go 3-1 behind.

"We wanted to build on fourth place last year and knew how difficult that was going to be with the teams we were competing with when you consider the budgets of some of the teams above us in the league.

"We felt we had enough in the group to be a top-six team and unfortunately we fell short. We know the areas we need to improve - we've conceded far too many goals over the course of the season."

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Rangers are top of the Scottish Premiership for the first time in two years - but only after a frantic and ultimately nervy win against Dundee United at Ibrox.

United's top-six hopes were ended by the loss. What did you make of the performance? What do you want to see between now and the end of the season?

Have your say.

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Vicko Sevelj has confirmed he is in talks with Dundee United over a contract extension, with the club having a 12-month option they can trigger. (Daily Record), external

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Rangers boss Danny Rohl refused to name one player who will miss the game due to a training injury.

Denmark winger Andreas Skov Olsen returns to the squad after recovering from an injury.

Dundee United are set to be without Johnny Russell (calf), Kristijan Trapanovski and Isaac Pappoe (both knee).

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Midfielder Luca Stephenson wants Dundee United to "ruin" Rangers' title race excitement at Ibrox on Sunday.

Rangers will go top of the league with a win before current leaders Hearts play Livingston the following day.

United, who stunned Celtic 2-0 at Tannadice before the international break, haven't won at Ibrox since 2012 but have drawn with Rangers home and away this season.

"They've got their own ambitions going for the title and we know the pressure is going to be on them," Stephenson said.

"They can't afford to drop any points but we want to go there and ruin that atmosphere and ruin that excitement.

"We dampened Celtic's chances last time out and we'll try to do the same to Rangers.

"They have improved as the season's gone on, we know that. But it's roughly the same group of players that we've gone toe to toe with twice and I think if we're brutally honest we should have won both games.

"We know how much the past couple of results against Celtic meant to the fans and the club. I think it's been a while since we've won at Ibrox as well - we want to be the ones to do that.

"We got so close back at the start of the season and we'll be really, really fired up this weekend."

Even a United victory at Ibrox will not be enough to take their top-six bid to the final game if Falkirk avoid defeat at Motherwell on Saturday.

"People will write us off no doubt and it's still going to be a big task," Stephenson added.

"We've got to win our games, do our job, and rely on favours elsewhere as well but we've never going to give up on it.

"Even if it doesn't happen, we've still got a lot to play for after the split regardless of where we are. Whether it's as a collective or on a personal level, there's always something to play for in football."

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has lamented the loss of "one of the best wingers in the league" for the rest of the season, leaving a question mark over the North Macedonia international's future at Tannadice.

Goodwin confirmed Kristijan Trapanovski "underwent some surgery" on Wednesday on a knee injury the 26-year-old sustained in last month's Scottish Cup defeat away to Falkirk.

Trapanovski, who has two caps for his country, is out of contract this summer having signed a two-year deal when arriving from Shkupi in his homeland in 2024.

He has since made 58 appearances, albeit 28 of them off the bench, scoring seven goals.

But he has only made eight starts and scored once this season.

"It's been a difficult campaign for Kristijan, very stop-start - he's had a number of injuries," Goodwin added.

"We know when he's fit, and he's on it, he's one of the best wingers in the league. But, unfortunately, the injuries have curtailed his progress."

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• Rangers have had 19 different goalscorers (excluding own goals) in the Scottish Premiership this season; since their promotion in 2016, only in 2023-24 (20) have they had more in a single campaign.

• Rangers are unbeaten in 12 league meetings with Dundee United (W8 D4) since a 1-0 defeat in August 2021.

• Dundee United have only won one of their past 22 league visits to Rangers (D4 L17), a 3-2 victory in April 2011 under Peter Houston.

• Dundee United have won two of their last three league games (D1), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W2 D4 L5).

• Rangers have won 10 of their 12 home league games under Danny Rohl (D2), more than any other Scottish Premiership side since his first such match in charge in October.

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Jim Goodwin has called on Dundee United to replicate the level of performance they produced in their victory over Celtic as they bid to derail Rangers' Scottish Premiership title bid on Saturday.

United defeated the other half of the Old Firm 2-0 at Tannadice in their last match before the international break to leave Martin O'Neill's side five points adrift of leaders Hearts.

"We've got to take a lot of confidence out of that Celtic game," manager Goodwin said looking ahead to facing second-top Rangers, with whom they have drawn 2-2 home and away this season.

"I thought it was really dominant and it's not very often over the last few years have I been able to say that when you're playing against a team with the quality that Celtic have got.

"Going to Ibrox is slightly different. Rangers are at home, they don't often lose too many games in the league. There's so much at stake for both teams as well.

"Obviously Rangers can't afford any slip-ups, they can't afford the gap at the top to widen and, from our own perspective, we're still pushing for the top six, albeit we need all the cards to fall in our favour."

United must win their final two matches and hope Falkirk lose both of theirs to have a chance of edging into the top six on goal difference when the Premiership splits into two for the final round of fixtures.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to travel to Rangers on Saturday.

Here are the main points:

• Winger Kristijan Trapanovski, who is out of contract in summer, will "probably miss the rest of the season" after having knee surgery on Wednesday.

• Goodwin says it has been a "difficult campaign" for Trapanovski, adding: "When he's fit and on it he's one of the best wingers in the league but unfortunately the injuries have curtailed his progress."

• After an impressive victory over Celtic, Goodwin admits the international break "probably came at the wrong time given the form we were in going into it". But the United boss is hopeful the week off "doesn't curtail that positive momentum we had".

• Goodwin is pleased "the guys who were away on international duty all came back injury free" and is "looking forward for the trip to Ibrox".

• The United boss says his side have to "take a lot of confidence" from their "dominant" performance against Celtic.

• United need to beat Rangers - and Falkirk lose at Motherwell - to keep alive their slim top-six hopes and Goodwin knows "there's so much at stake for both teams" at Ibrox. He adds: "We're still pushing for top six even though we need all the cards to fall in our favour. We've certainly not given up hope."

• The Tangerines are unbeaten against Rangers this season and "have to believe in ourselves" at Ibrox, with Goodwin adding: "We've had a settled team so there won't be too many changes. We're just hoping for a repeat performance of the one we got against Celtic."

• On playing at Ibrox: "If Rangers don't get an early goal things can turn in the opponents' favour and that's what we need to do on Saturday. We have to try and get in their faces and when we get the opportunity to play, show a bit of courage and bravery."

• Isaac Pappoe is a long-term injury but apart from that Goodwin says his squad are "in good shape" although "this game probably comes too soon for Johnny Russell".

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Melbourne Victory defender Joshua Rawlins is being watching closely by Dundee United as they continue targeting the A-League market. (Football 360), external

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

A coupe of weeks ago Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin said he was expecting a busy summer transfer window.

He has already started the recruitment process with pre-contracts for Lachlan Rose and Jesse Randall already confirmed. And it sounds like plenty more new faces will follow.

United have a raft of players whose deals are up in the summer – and what the future may hold for most of them is unclear.

With Goodwin previously highlighting what has been a frailty within the squad at times this term he will probably already have made up his mind about a number of those players. However there will be others he will want to keep, or perhaps he is undecided over.

On paper, seventh place United may have little but pride to play for over the remaining few weeks of the campaign, barring the very outside chance of them sneaking into the top six becoming reality.

However, whether it is a final chance to convince the manager they belong at Tannadice in the long term or to catch the eye of potential suitors elsewhere, those players whose futures are up in the air still have plenty to play for.

Dundee United goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer has done his chances of a longer stay at Tannadice no harm, believes manager Jim Goodwin. (Courier - subscription required), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip