First Team

JIM GOODWIN | THERE'S MORE TO COME FROM THE GROUP

5th January 2024

Having reached the midway point of the cinch Championship season, Dundee United Manager Jim Goodwin is satisfied with his side’s efforts so far but demands more of the same heading into the final few months. 

Watch his press conference in full below!

BITTERSWEET GAYFIELD OUTING

On Tuesday, the Terrors opened their account for 2024 with a routine 3-0 victory over Arbroath.

Louis Moult ended his run of seven matches without a goal as he grabbed a brace, those strikes bookending a delightful Glenn Middleton dink just after the interval.

However, United stars Declan Gallagher and Scott McMann were forced to be withdrawn from play due to respective injuries.

Opening with an update on the fitness of the pair, Goodwin began “It was a good performance at Arbroath and another important win but the disappointment was those two guys limping off.

“Gallagher has been carrying this groin issue for the best part of a month now and he’s been trying to soldier on and get through it.

“But on Tuesday he’s tweaked it again and it looks as though he’s done a little more damage to it. He’s going to be a major doubt for Saturday.”

The Scotland international was withheld from action in both of our SPFL Trust Trophy matches earlier in the campaign as a precaution as he continued to battle with a niggling groin injury.

Fellow defender McMann felt the full force of a strong Keaghan Jacobs tackle at Gayfield, with the initial impact seeing him unable to complete the 90 minutes.

An ever-present since his arrival in August 2021, the 27-year-old’s knock doesn’t appear to be as serious as first feared.

“Scott McMann was on the wrong end of a poor tackle and rolled his ankle”, continued Goodwin. He’s got plenty of bruising and swelling around the area. It's another key player for us that’s there’s going to be a big question mark around for Saturday. 

“That one won’t be a long-term - he’s 50/50 for Saturday. Scott being the type of character that he is, if he’s 50/50, he'll no doubt want to play.”

The duo joined skipper Ross Docherty, sidelined since our clash with Ayr United at the beginning of December, and Academy graduate Archie Meekison on the treatment table.

“Both those players have been instrumental to the great defensive record we have in the league. We have those two added to Docherty and Meekison - we’ve got some important players missing for the weekend but there are opportunities for other members of the squad to step in." 

DEPUTISING WITH DISTINCTION

The potential absence of Gallagher will likely see Ross Graham deputise for his senior counterpart. After entering the fray against Arbroath, the boyhood Arab made 13 ball recoveries, three interceptions and won ten duels.

Should Graham be named in the starting XI against Morton, it will mark the first occasion of such in the league since May.

The 42-year-old added: “If Gallagher is to miss out, Graham came on against Arbroath and was immense. He settled in alongside Kevin Holt really well - that’s why we have a squad. 

“There are plenty of other managers out there with similar problems to ourselves at the moment. We just have to mix things up a little bit and get a strong team on the park to do the job on Saturday.

THE TITLE RACE 

The race for the cinch Championship title remains finely poised. Raith Rovers lead the way at the summit, three points ahead of United, albeit having played an extra match. 

Whilst the Irishman would no doubt rather see his charges occupy top spot, he admits the lay of the land in the second tier attracts positive attention from neutrals eagerly anticipating the outcome.

“I think it's very entertaining for the league - it shows the high quality and the great performances Raith Rovers have managed to put in. It’s good for the competition. Of course, I’d love to be 10-15 points clear at the top and things to be a lot easier but it makes it more exciting to be a part of.”

“In other seasons gone by, the average points total required to win the league is around the mid-60s. I would imagine it’s going to take a lot more than that to get the job done this season - We’re sitting on 41 already and were only halfway through the season!”

When analysing the last five 36-game Championship seasons, an average of 63 points has been sufficient to raise the trophy aloft at the culmination of the campaign.

“We’ve just got to focus on what we can do - we’ve only lost one game in 18 and conceded just seven goals in that time. It’s been a really good first half of the campaign.”

'THERE'S MORE TO COME FROM THE GROUP'

Goodwin’s quiet confidence in his side is based in statistics. Across the continent's professional leagues, Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven are the only team able to better United’s remarkable defensive record - the Dutch outfit have conceded just six goals from their opening 16 league matches, of which they have emerged victorious in all.

“I think you’d be hard pushed to find a team in any other team in Europe that’s got a better defensive record at the halfway point of a season, whilst scoring goals as well. 

“We’re very pleased with what we’re doing right now. As it stands, we’re playing well but we are only at the halfway point so we have to make sure we keep pushing, keep trying to improve daily on the training pitch.

Populating his first-team squad with homegrown players is also a source of satisfaction for the United Gaffer.

No fewer than ten Academy graduates have been utilised in the league by Goodwin so far this season, three of which surpassing double-figure appearances.

“We’ve also got so many academy graduates playing regularly within the first team which is a big thing for our club because of the investment we make within the academy. Some of those players, like Kai Fotheringham for instance, has been a real key player - he’s one of our top goalscorers. 

“I still think there’s more to come from the group and we have to maintain what we’re doing right now throughout the second half of the campaign.”

TON'S TURNAROUND

Our opposition for Matchday 19 are currently the form side of the division, with 14 points garnered from their last six outings.

Heading into the last scheduled meeting, which ultimately fell victim to sub-zero west coast temperatures, the Ton sat rock bottom of the table. However, Dougie Imrie’s men are now just one victory away from leapfrogging Airdrieonians into the top four. It has been a truly remarkable turnaround in Greenock.

“I’m delighted for Dougie Imrie, an ex-teammate of mine, and Andy Milne as well who is my ex-Assistant-Manager, because they were maybe under a little bit of pressure a few weeks ago.

“They’re unbeaten in six in the league with four wins and a couple of draws. Morton are a very well-organised team with a lot of experienced players within the ranks, some of whom I’ve worked with in the past. The likes of Alan Power, Kirk Broadfoot and Calum Waters for example.”

Boasting the second oldest squad in the league, with an average age of 28.2 years, a reliance on long balls and early crosses has brought a chance of fortunes at Cappielow. They lead the charts for long passes per 90 minutes and when compared to ourselves this term, make almost 100 fewer passes during a typical match.

Back in September, United were held to a 1-1 draw by Morton at Tannadice. Moult opened the scoring in the opening exchanges with a well-placed header, but Robbie Muirhead was on hand to capitalise on a rare defensive mix-up and notch an equaliser. The dubious dismissal of Mathew Cudjoe further compounded the tangerine frustration.

“We know what we are going to be up against on Saturday - they are a very aggressive and physical team. We’re going to have to win all of our individual battles on Saturday but if we can play to the levels we have played at in recent weeks then we give ourselves a good chance of winning the game. It’s certainly not going to be easy.”

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