Dundee United

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

This week hasn't been particularly eventful. Saturday just disappeared following the news the postponement of our game with St Mirren.

The Tannadice pitch needs some TLC, it's certainly patchy in places and the rain last week was relentless.

We could only watch the results from other games and hope for a positive outcome.

Now all eyes are on Saturday. Hearts at home at 20:00 GMT. I'm not a fan of that time, but this game feels like a big deal.

Hearts are top of the league and have been going great guns. While a good performance is important, the right result would be huge.

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

Dundee United have made a move for Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer and have agreed a deal to sign the 26-year-old on a permanent basis. (Daily Record), external

Manager Jim Goodwin says Dundee United's ground staff will be working round the clock to try and ensure Saturday evening's Scottish Premiership meeting with Hearts at Tannadice goes ahead, with more rain expected this week after last Saturday's match with St Mirren at the ground was postponed. (Sun), external

Goodwin admits United can scarcely afford another call-off. (Courier - subscription required), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Dundee United's Vicko Sevelj is set to remain sidelined along with Isaac Pappoe (knee).

Kion Etete will go straight into the St Mirren squad after signing on loan from Cardiff until the end of the season. Oisin Smyth, recalled from a loan spell at Partick Thistle, has returned to the Jags on loan until the end of the season. Saints remain without Jonah Ayunga (tendon), Mark O'Hara (ankle) and Keanu Baccus (hamstring tendon).

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Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin says St Mirren's current League Cup-winning hangover is reminiscent of when he captained the Buddies to glory in the same competition 13 year ago.

On Saturday United host Stephen Robinson's side, who have won only one of their seven league matches since defeating Celtic in the final last month.

Goodwin was captain of the Paisley side the previous time they lifted the cup before failing to win any of their following seven top-flight matches.

"I think it's difficult after the highs of winning the cup then to refocus and get back on to the league programme. I've seen that numerous times," said Goodwin.

"It actually happened to my own team back in 2013. We really struggled to get any momentum in the league after the cup final.

"Stephen Robinson has had lots of injuries to key players as well to contend with, but they've still got a very good, strong squad available to them. We will certainly be preparing for a very difficult fixture.

"They gave us a really difficult game in Paisley last time out and deserved to win the game and we need to make sure we don't have a similar type of performance on Saturday because we can't afford to be on the wrong end of the result."

United are five points off sixth-placed Falkirk after winning just two of their past 13 league games.

"We have to put a run of wins together, something that we haven't been able to do up to now," added Goodwin.

"We're going into that last block of 11 games now prior to the split and we have to start picking up maximum points on a consistent basis."

Dundee United, Gillingham and Oldham Athletic are among a number of clubs eyeing a move for 27-year-old Forest Green Rovers winger Kyle McAllister. (Peter O'Rourke on X), external

Dundee United are exploring a pre-contract agreement with 23-year-old defender Evan Weir, who is out of contract with Walsall this summer. (Mark Hendry on Substack), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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• Alex Gogic, who scored St Mirren's equaliser against Livingston last time out, is set to make his 250th Scottish Premiership appearance (currently 249). He will be only the second non-British/Irish player - after Canada's David Wotherspoon (295) - to reach that figure since the top flight was rebranded to the Premiership in 2013-14.

• Dundee United have lost their past two league games without scoring, last losing three in a row without reply in the Premiership in December 2021 (run of four).

• St Mirren are winless in eight away league games (D2 L6) since beating Falkirk 2-1 in September. Only bottom side Livingston have fewer away points this season (four) than the Buddies (six, level with Dundee).

• After their 3-1 win in October, Dundee United are looking to beat St Mirren twice at home within a single Premiership campaign for the first time since 2013-14.

• St Mirren have won two of their past three league meetings with Dundee United (L1) after losing three in a row without scoring beforehand.

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Jim Goodwin is "not surprised" by interest in Dundee United wing-back Will Ferry and says it is "part of our strategy" to develop players then sell them on.

The 25-year-old has become a key man since moving to Tannadice from Cheltenham 18 months ago and - with a contract until the summer of 2027 - United would be looking for a seven-figure fee if they were to sell.

Vancouver Whitecaps are reportedly planning a move for Ferry after a failed bid to buy him last summer, while Real Salt Lake have been credited with an interest, along with clubs in the Netherlands and England.

"As a manager, of course, you never want to lose any of your good players," manager Goodwin said.

"Will Ferry has been a great signing for us. I brought him in from Cheltenham Town in the lower leagues of England, gave him the opportunity to play in the Scottish Premiership and raise his profile.

"Off the back of his consistent performances over the last 18 months, he's obviously starting to gain the attention of one or two clubs, not just here in the UK, but all over Europe and obviously in the States as well, so I'm not surprised by that at all.

"It's part of our strategy. It's part of our business model. We've got the youngest squad in the Scottish Premiership. We want to bring in good young players, develop them and hopefully one day we'll make good money on them.

"But of course, from a selfish point of view, from a manager's point of view, I don't want to lose my best players."

After adding wing-back Neil Farrugia from Barnsley last week, Goodwin's next priority is to bolster his goalkeeping department following Yevhen Kucherenko's move to Greek club Panetolikos earlier this month.

"I think in terms of the goalkeeping situation, that's still something that we're monitoring at the moment," he said.

"We've only got two senior goalkeepers available to us, in Dave Richards and Ruairidh Adams. We need to try and add a third one to that group just to make sure that we cover ourselves in case of any injuries or suspension."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee United have their first win of 2026, an edgy 2-0 victory over Championship side Ayr in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

It wasn't a vintage display but they got through and in the cup that is all that matters.

Sometimes in a season there can be turning points and manager Jim Goodwin will be hoping this is it.

His players showed plenty of character amid what has been a rollercoaster season for them so far.

Tannadice was viewed by some as the venue for a potential cup shock but Goodwin's side diligently got the job done.

They kept a clean sheet, ending a six game-run without one, while Nikolaj Moller and Panutche Camara netted their first goals for the club.

United have also been rewarded with another home tie against lower-league opposition, this time League Two leaders Spartans.

All in, there were plenty of positives to take from the win, even if it wasn't the kind of sparkling display Tannadice fans would have wanted.

The challenge now is to channel that positivity to reinvigorate a league campaign which has been marred by inconsistency.

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Scottish Cup fourth-round weekend used to be sacred. A date ring-fenced on the calendar of every top-flight supporter because this was when the romance lived. Or at least it used to be.

Down Tannadice way last Saturday, that romance looked like it had texted to say it was knackered and stayed in.

Only around 4,000 souls turned up for Dundee United v Ayr United, and judging by attendances elsewhere across Scotland, this wasn't an isolated case.

It's disheartening.

As a United supporter, I begin every season with a refreshing dose of realism. Winning the league? Not happening.

But a cup? A cup is different. A cup is real, tangible hope. It's the reason we still convince ourselves in August "this could be our year".

The League Cup… well, the League Cup is the League Cup. I still care deeply about that competition, but it's been chipped away at. Early-round kick-offs in July, group stages that feel like a pre-season fitness drill.

But the Scottish Cup? That's different. That trophy has never been devalued. Winning it is still massive, especially for a so-called 'provincial' club. It is history, folklore and generations of "I was there" stories rolled into one battered old piece of silverware.

Which is why falling attendances are so worrying. It suggests the Scottish Cup doesn't feel the same any more even if, on paper, it still is.

So why are fans staying away?

Cost is the obvious culprit. Football is no longer a cheap habit and when you add transport, food and the luxury of a Bovril, something has to give. For many supporters, cup games are the first thing sacrificed.

There's also a creeping sense of predictability. While upsets still happen (and bless them when they do), many fans have been conditioned to expect the same outcomes year after year. Romance is great, but romance with a 90% chance of heartbreak tends to lose its shine.

Then there's the general apathy toward cup football itself. Modern football culture is obsessed with leagues, form tables and 'projects'. Cups are messy. They are gloriously inconvenient and maybe that's part of the problem.

So how do we fix it?

First: pricing. Make Scottish Cup tickets meaningfully cheaper. Not "£2 off if you buy before Tuesday" cheaper, but family friendly why would you stay home cheaper. Treat the competition like the national treasure it is.

Second: scheduling. Stop treating early rounds like an afterthought. Give them proper kick-off times, breathing space in the calendar, and a sense of occasion. Saturday at 3pm still works wonders. Who knew?

Third: sell the chaos. The Scottish Cup should be marketed as football's antidote to predictability. Big clubs hate it for a reason. Lean into that. Remind fans this is where legends are made, giants wobble, and lower-league keepers turn into temporary demigods.

And finally: clubs themselves need to buy in. Rotate less. Respect the competition. Fans can smell indifference a mile away and if the club doesn't look bothered, why should they?

The Scottish Cup deserves noise, hope and that uniquely Scottish belief that maybe, just maybe, something ridiculous might happen.

Because one day it just might. And wouldn't it be a shame if no one was there to see it?

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

Vancouver Whitecaps are among Major League Soccer clubs interested in Dundee United defender Will Ferry, 25. (The Courier - subscription required), external

Football agent John Viola has recalled how he stood firm over personal terms for Ray McKinnon's £750,000 transfer from Dundee United despite receiving the hairdryer treatment from legendary manager Brian Clough before Nottingham Forest came back with a deal four times their original offer plus a big signing on fee. (The Courier), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 2-0 win against Ayr United which sealed them a spot in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Kenny: We got the win, defence looked much better with Sam Cleall-Harding and Ross Graham together but Jim Goodwin just doesn't seem to know his best starting 11, especially in midfield with too many wide players. Another experienced centre forward would be a great addition.

Dave: The first half wasn't a great watch but we were totally dominant in the second. Ayr were a decent team on the day so a clean sheet and two good goals from open play will do me.

Rayaan: It was a scrappy game but we got the result we needed and two players off the mark for United.

Eddie: Glad to get through but that first half was a hard watch yet again. Why oh why can't this team be at it from the first whistle? Three at the back against lower league opposition? It once again begs questions of Goodwin doesn't it? Professional players that can't find a teammate with a pass and can't hold onto possession, quite simply we need to be better.

Goals from Nikolaj Moller and Panutche Camara sealed Dundee United's spot in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup at Ayr United's expense.

Read the match report

Have your say

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "The cup games are about getting the result and making sure your team is in the hat when the draw comes around.

"We never expected today to be easy or straightforward. Ayr United are a good team, well organised with experienced players.

"Scott Brown has recruited really well and we found it difficult to break them down.

"Second half there was an improvement in the tempo of the game and we deserved to win the game in the end.

"We had enough control in the game, but didn't do enough in the final third.

"We scored a couple of good goals and Dave Richards had very little to do. The longer the game goes on without the first goal, you can feel the tension, but the players deserve credit for staying calm and finding that all-important first goal.

"I'm delighted for Nico and Pan. Nico came into the squad late in the summer - he's been working ever so hard to get that sharpness and that goal will give him a lot of confidence.

"We all want to get to Hampden, not just to the semi-final, but you've got to take it one game at a time. What we can look at is past winners who have managed to find a way.

"It was important to get back to winning ways - we've got a really difficult fixture coming up against St Mirren at home."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin is urging his side to "show why we are the Premiership team" when they host Ayr in the Scottish Cup fourth round on Saturday.

United, who are seventh in the Premiership, start as favourites against Scott Brown's second-tier promotion hopefuls.

With defeats in their past two league games - a 1-0 loss to rivals Dundee and 4-0 thrashing at Parkhead - the Tangerines are aiming to spark an upturn in the cup.

"Prior to the Dundee game we were ticking along nicely in the league," Goodwin said.

"Five games unbeaten and now, unfortunately, we have lost our last two fixtures against Dundee and away at Celtic.

"We are all bitterly disappointed with that but we have to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible and that has to start this weekend.

"This is a huge game for us all and it is not going to be easy, we don't underestimate Ayr United."

With the favourites tag comes an expectation to see off an Ayr team who will be travelling to Tayside with the pressure off.

"The expectation is there for us as the Premiership club," Goodwin added.

"Playing at home in front of our own fans but it is one of those that you could look at from the outside and think it is a potential banana skin.

"But at the same time I believe if we perform at the level we are capable of then the result should take care of itself.

"We know they are a good experienced group they have younger players within their ranks that are probably wanting to go and prove a point and feel as if they should be in the Premiership.

"We have got to go and show why we are the Premiership team and everybody needs to be at it."

Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking to beat a host of Premier League rivals to the signing of 17-year-old Aberdeen midfielder Cooper Masson, who is on loan to Kelty Hearts, and 15-year-old Dundee United striker Kai Hutchison. (TeamTalk), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Versatile new United signing Neil Farrugia admits he's "happiest" where he's creating chances, having played a "multitude of positions" this season.

The 26-year-old has joined from League One Barnsley, having previously featured for frequent League of Ireland winners Shamrock Rovers.

While starts were hard to come by at Oakwell this season, he appeared at left-back, right wing and even up front.

"Having the option to have both feet helps you be more unpredictable I found, especially as a forward player," Farrugia told DUTV.

"I think that unpredictability has made me develop that sort of weaker side my weaker foot. I love getting on the ball, making things happen, being very positive on the ball and creating opportunities.

"I've played in a multitude of positions and as long as I'm there trying to create opportunities, that's where I'm happiest."

Most of his football so far came in south Dublin for Rovers, winning four league titles and a couple of cup during his five-and-a-half year spell.

"I've learned so much at Shamrock Rovers and it'll carry me through for the rest of my career," he said. "There was always that expectation where every team wanted to beat you, every team and everyone was rooting for the other team.

"It's a matter of focusing on yourselves and doing it for the people that are in and around the dressing room, and somehow try not to listen to any noise, which could be hard, but that's where the key is really."

Farrugia also has a familiar face in the dressing room, having played with United striker Max Watters last season at Barnsley.

"I've been training hard and I'm ready to go, raring to go, it's always hard coming into a new dressing room in the winter, but I did it last year, so this will be no different.

"Max has been great since I've come in here, showing me the ropes and where everything is, it's very helpful having a familiar face."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin admits he doesn't "want to be doing too much business" in the January transfer window after making Irish wing-back Neil Farrugia his first signing.

"January is never really a window we want top be doing too much business in," Goodwin said.

"We had a very busy summer window with the 14 new signings coming in, but we are always looking to strengthen.

"If there are players like Neil that become available then we are in a strong position to do something about it, but we are very happy with the group of players we have."

The manager also revealed he had previously tried to sign Farrugia before the 26-year-old moved from Shamrock Rovers to Barnsley in January 2025.

"Neil has played a decent amount of football for Barnsley but he doesn't want to be a bit-part player," Goodwin added.

"He is at a really important stage in his career, he wants to be playing regularly and he has ambitions of trying to force his way into the international stage as well so he feels Dundee United and the Scottish Premiership gives him the best opportunity to do that."

While Goodwin doesn't want to add many, he is looking at bolstering his goalkeeper options following Yevhen Kucherenko's move to Greek side Panetolikos.

"I like to have three first-team players in that area," he said. "At the moment we have Dave Richards and Ruairidh Adams, so it is certainly a position we are looking at.

"It is not necessarily to come in and take the place of Dave Richards, but we do need a bit more competition there because if we were to suffer an injury to Ruairidh or Dave then we would leave ourselves in a difficult position."

Meanwhile, midfielder Isaac Pappoe - who arrived on loan from Ferencvaros last summer - looks set to leave after his season was cut short by injury.

"Isaac unfortunately suffered a really serious knee injury and underwent surgery but it looks like his season is going to be over and we have the discussions with Ferencvaros about potentially trying to terminate the loan to free up a loan spot for ourselves," said Goodwin.

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 to host Ayr United in this weekend's Scottish Cup tie.

Here are the main points:

• Goodwin is "really excited" to have signed Barnsley wing-back Neil Farrugia, who was a "serial winner" with Shamrock Rovers.

• Farrugia is player Goodwin has "known for a considerable period of time" and previously tried to sign him before he made the switch from Ireland to England.

• The United boss says "his all-round game and athleticism is really suited to the Scottish Premiership," adding the 26-year-old wants to play regularly and force his way into the Ireland squad.

• On the prospect of more new signings, the manager stresses "January is never really a window where you want to do too much business" but adds United are "always looking to strengthen".

• Goodwin admits they are "looking at" the goalkeeping department where the manager would like to add more cover and competition.

• "Conversations are ongoing" with Ferencvaros to terminate the loan of midfielder Isaac Pappoe, whose season "looks to be over" due to an injury that required surgery earlier this term.

• Goodwin says this weekend's cup tie is a "huge" game and points out that after back-to-back league defeats "we have to get back to winning as quickly as possible".

• He describes Ayr as a "good, experienced" side, who United will give the utmost respect to, but wants his side to "show why we are a Premiership team".

• Goodwin admits, from the outside, the game may look "a potential banana skin" and the expectation is on United as the Premiership team playing at home.

• While the Irishman says lifting a trophy is everybody's "dream", he also believes it's "something we're capable of doing" and stresses "it's not just about Celtic and Rangers, their name is never on the trophy at the beginning".

• No fresh team news but new signing Faruggia is fit and will be in the squad.