Dundee United

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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

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Now the international break is almost packing its bags and leaving, taking with it our will to watch disjointed friendlies, it's back to the real stuff this weekend, proper club football.

Dundee United make the trip to Glasgow to face title-chasing Rangers, and if you ask me, all the pressure sits firmly on the shoulders of the Govan side. They're the ones with silverware on the line. In their eyes, United are likely just turning up to be awkward.

Yes, mathematically, United can still sneak into the top six. Realistically? The chances are about as slim as my Dundee-supporting mates ever witnessing a Scottish Cup win in their lifetime. In other words, slimmer than the gable end of a cigarette paper.

That said, United head west with a bit of a swagger after throwing a rather inconvenient spanner into Celtic's title charge last time out. Confidence is a funny thing in football. It can appear out of nowhere, much like a last-minute equaliser or a questionable VAR decision. Suddenly, there's a sense that there's nothing to fear here.

Danny Rohl has undoubtedly improved Rangers, but let's not pretend they're the all-conquering force of years gone by. They're good, not great - and certainly not invincible. And that's all the encouragement United need.

Jim Goodwin may well stick with the same starting XI for a third consecutive game. In football terms, that's practically a long-term relationship. Consistency has been hard to come by, so if something's working, best not to start tinkering with the Tannadice Tombola. Stick with what has worked.

Now, am I predicting a famous United win? Let's not get carried away, I'm optimistic, but realistic. But a solid performance? A hard-earned point? Absolutely within reach.

We've already shown this season that Rangers don't have the answers to every question United ask. So why not go and ask a few more on Saturday?

At the very least, let's make them uncomfortable. And if nothing else, we might just ruin a few weekends in Glasgow, which, let's be honest, is always a nice bonus.

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

Kristijan Trapanovski's Dundee United future is in doubt after the 26-year-old winger, who is out of contract this summer, was ruled out for six months after the North Macedonia international was told he needs knee surgery. (Daily Record), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Dundee United midfielder Emmanuel Agyei, who is being monitored by Ghana head coach Otto Addo, has revealed he had trials with Nottingham Forest while the 21-year-old was with Dreams in his homeland before joining Ashdod. (The Courier), external

Moldova head coach Lilian Popescu says in-form Dundee United centre-half Iurie Iovu is not in his latest squad because he did not shine in previous matches. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The commanding win over Celtic was greeted with joy from Dundee United supporters - who will also possibly have gone home with a feeling of what might have been.

United have beaten the defending champions twice this season - a fine achievement.

However, this latest victory appears to be too little, too late for Jim Goodwin's side.

While it is not arithmetically impossible for his seventh-place team to creep into the top six, it looks highly unlikely as it requires United to win their two remaining pre-split games, Falkirk to lose theirs, and a big goal difference swing.

What the impressive win over Celtic showed is the undoubted talent that exists in this United squad.

However, on too many occasions this season that talent hasn't been reflected in results - a key reason why United are set to spend the remainder of the campaign in mid-table no-man's land.

If United kick on and finish the season strongly, the sense of what might have been may well grow.

Goodwin is expecting a busy summer transfer window, so a high turnover of players is likely.

While that in itself is no guarantee of success, he will be hoping the changes he makes can deliver a better consistency of performance, and results, next term.

Dundee United captain Ross Graham did not want to show his face locally following his equalising own goal in the recent 2-2 draw with Dundee. (Courier - subscription required), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

Football is a funny old game.

Paul said it last week and after Dens it felt painfully true.

Two goals up with 93 minutes played, the game should be done. Then chaos and collapse. The kind of finish that sticks with you and drains the place.

A week later and it feels like a different world. That is what one result can do.

United did not just beat Celtic. They deserved it. From the first whistle there was a reaction. Bite in the tackles, discipline in the shape with belief in what they were doing. It looked like a team determined to put something right.

The finger pointing has stopped and the mood has lifted. The same players under scrutiny a week ago are now being praised for stepping up.

Will Ferry summed it up with his non-stop running. And finally a goal - maybe not the cleanest finish he will ever score but no one deserved it more!

Ross Graham too. A tough week after the derby but that was a captain's performance.

Across the pitch, United won their battles. Emmanuel Agyei and Vicko Sevelj controlled the middle, Iurie Iovu dealt with everything thrown at him. Amar Fatah carried a constant threat while Neil Farrugia had his best game in Tangerine.

You could pick any number of standouts and maybe that is the biggest takeaway.

This team has never been short of ability. It has lacked consistency and struggled with a nervous disposition after the 85th minute.

Sunday was a reminder of what they can be.

It does not fix everything but it changes the mood and gives belief with two games left before the split.

Funny old game indeed.

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

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Will Ferry believes Dundee United's second consecutive home win over Celtic bodes well for a "strong end" to an otherwise "disappointing" season.

They followed up their 2-1 victory in December with a fine 2-0 triumph over Martin O'Neill's side on Sunday, with the Irish winger scoring his first goal since joining the Tayside club in 2024.

United have also drawn with leaders Hearts and second-top Rangers despite sitting in the bottom six of the Scottish Premiership.

"We have beaten a team going for the title twice, which is good," Ferry said. "Although our season has been disappointing, our best performances have come against the better teams.

"We don't like to roll over and show people too much respect."

United must win their final two matches before the top flight splits into two, and hope Falkirk lose both of theirs, to have a chance of finishing in the top six.

"It had been a long week building up to it because we were hurting after the derby," Ferry said of Dundee's two stoppage-time goals that secured a 2-2 draw.

"We know top six is technically out of our hands and we need a bit of a miracle.

"It's been frustrating this season and I'm sure 90 per cent of our fanbase feel the same.

"All we can do is influence the end to the season. If we can play like we did against Celtic then we can have a strong end to the year."

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Dundee United fully deserved their 2-0 Premiership victory against a Celtic side "bereft of quality", according to former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan.

Goals from Will Ferry and Emmanuel Agyei earned United all three points at Tannadice on Sunday, leaving Celtic five points behind leaders Hearts.

Much has been made of the bare and bobbly playing surface at Tannadice, but Allan says that simply cannot be an excuse for Martin O'Neill's side.

"Once you turn up as a player and you see the surface, straight away you know exactly what type of game it's going to be, especially in that midfield area," Allan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Dundee United are going to be combative, they're going to make you defend, try get you running back to your goals, but then when you do have your moments and you're a Celtic player, you have to get your foot on the ball and show a bit of composure.

"I just thought they were bereft of any quality and when they did get down the sides there was no real belief that they were going to go by someone and create something.

"[Kelechi] Iheanacho was a strange one for me just to come in, especially in a game like that when we haven't seen much of him of late. But think that just sums up where Celtic are in terms of their number nine this season.

"But Dundee United were well worth it. Will Ferry was excellent.

"As much as Celtic didn't put them under a great deal of pressure, Dundee United took their moments and deserved all three points."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

GK: Raphael Sallinger (Hibernian)

Not a vintage weekend for goalkeepers, so three saves and a clean sheet wins it for the Hibs custodian.

RCB: James Tavernier (Rangers)

Can Rangers really afford to lose the goals this right-back gives them every season? Not getting any younger but still delivers, as his free-kick against Aberdeen demonstrated.

CB: Ross Graham (Dundee United)

A lion at the back for United against Celtic. Stifled all the defending champions could throw at him, clean sheet and three points that keep United's slim top-half hopes alive. The perfect riposte to his derby day dejection.

LCB: Liam Donnelly (St Mirren)

The midfielder played on the right of a back three for St Mirren and shone defensively as well as scoring the winner. A big three points away to Falkirk.

RWB: Oisin McEntee (Hearts)

Towering header the decisive moment for Hearts to break the deadlock against Dundee. His physicality and power make him a huge threat at set-pieces.

CM: Marc Leonard (Hearts)

A different kind of midfielder to Cammy Devlin but arrived at the right time to fill the void left by the Australian this season. His delivery for McEntee's vital goal was right on the money.

CM: Emmanuel Agyei (Dundee United)

A robust and dynamic performance from the Ghanaian, topped off with a huge goal.

LWB: Will Ferry (Dundee United)

Normally all about the delivery, but Sunday was all about the finish from Ferry, which opened the scoring against Celtic. Not the cleanest of strikes but it doesn't matter. Remarkably his first United goal.

RW: Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock)

Going to Kilmarnock was the best thing that happened to Steve Clarke, and the same for Curtis. Their paths will now cross in the Scotland camp, and rightly so. Curtis always looked like he had the talent, Kilmarnock are giving him the stage and all parties are benefitting. Scored the second in the big 2-0 win over Livingston.

CF: Joe Hugill (Kilmarnock)

An impressive showing topped with a goal from the former Manchester United youngster, and an assist for Curtis.

LW: Mikey Moore (Rangers)

The 18-year-old clearly had a lot of talent when he arrived at Ibrox, but in recent times he has stepped it up a level and delivered with consistency as Rangers continue their late charge for the title.

We asked for your views on Dundee United's fantastic league win against title-chasing Celtic on Sunday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Paul: Where were the past two performances in the other 29 games? I feel short changed!

Dave: Good display and a special mention for Ross Graham and the other centre-halves. They didn't put a foot wrong. Emmanuel Agyei in midfield was absolutely magnificent. What a find he is! My abiding memory though will be the look on Will Ferry's face when he scored. Priceless.

Ewen: Well I have to say that I went along to Tannadice not quite knowing what to expect. I left full of admiration for my team and my heart bursting with pride. Everything that has been missing for large parts of the season was present. Commitment, passion, drive and not least knowhow. Celtic were very much second best throughout. Well done the Terrors!

Kieran: That's how you respond to derby dejection. To a man we practically bullied Celtic. Yes, the condition of the pitch will be mentioned, but at the end of the day it is putting the ball in the back of the net that counts and we did that. Celtic never looked like scoring. Credit to Graham, he deserved all the stick that was thrown at him last week but is well worth the plaudits this week - a proper captain's performance along with Ferry and Agyei.

Bruce: Excellent performance and gameplan. Players all played their part. Agyei looks an immense signing. Who says three at the back doesn't work? It did against the champions! Well done Jim.

George: Delighted for Jim, who took a big gamble on Graham. Thankfully the player responded and justified the manager's faith. We have been due the 'rub of the green' - no pun intended given the pitch. The Falkirk result opened the door to top six a little and we have managed to get a foot in. Maintain this performance over the rest of the season and who knows?

Watch Dundee United stun Celtic again, delivering a significant blow to the Parkhead side's Scottish Premiership title hopes.

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