Dundee United suffer dip in form

DUNDEE United’s form since the start of 2025 has been pretty poor with very few highlights to report.

This unfortunate run of form has seen Jim Goodwin’s side slip to fifth in the Scottish Premiership and flat bottom of the current form table.

Since we last reported on any action, United travelled to Celtic and quickly saw themselves 2-0 down at half-time as the hosts flew out of the traps immediately piling on the pressure.

Realistically, the contest was over by the break and it was obvious the Hoops’ main focus was on their upcoming Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich a few days later. Adam Idah added a third late on for the Celts who in reality never really got out of second gear.

United took on Motherwell a week later and came away with what is now a rare victory at Tannadice with that man Sam Dalby on the score sheet again, heading home from a Ryan Strain cross on 31 minutes to score the only goal of the game.

Encouraged by this result, a resurgent Hibs were up next which saw the Leith side run out 3-1 victors in the end with two goals very late in the match leaving a few thousand Arabs shaking their heads in disbelief at what they had just witnessed.

United had taken an early lead through centre-half Ross Graham before the Hibees drew level just before the break. United thought they had gone ahead just after the hour when Dalby headed home until a controversial VAR intervention ruled the goal out for an alleged handball. The decision to disallow the ‘goal’ eventually came after a lengthy four minute VAR check for ‘offside’ and then a further two minute second check.

A retrospective review showed the goal should have stood and it could be pivotal in the race for the top six placings. United then justified to feel aggrieved here despite receiving a retrospective apology for the mistake and it was a sore one to take. Hibs though took their chance for the smash and grab to full effect much to the delight of a packed away end in the Tannadice Shed, which was impressive for a midweek fixture.

United then moved on to Pittodrie and were 2-0 up by half-time with Dalby and Vicko Ševelj on the scoresheet and everything was looking rosy in the Granite City.

Aberdeen though came out a different side in the second period and were on the front foot from the off reaping their rewards through Kevin Nesbit on 75 minutes before the Scotland striker pounced again in the first minute of added time to save a point for the hosts. A point at Pittrodie is not usually a disaster, but the manner of which the game panned out was a kick in the teeth for the travelling Arabs.

And so to the Dundee Derby, which was instantly forgettable for the Tangerine half of the city with Dundee running out 4-2 winners and recording their first victory at Tannadice in 20 years.

VAR again played a huge part in the game with two efforts from the away side ruled out in the first-half for offside, or it could have been much worse.

Dundee went ahead early on with a close range header and soon found themselves 2-0 up after a howler from United keeper Walton gave fans the feeling it was going to be one of those days.

Glenn Middleton pulled one back, but Dundee scored again until a VAR intervention saved United’s blushes and it stayed 3-1 at the break.

United came out slightly better in the second-half and an early Kristijan Trapanovski strike looked like it may be ‘game on’ again. Piling on the pressure on for an equaliser, Jim Goodwin deployed no fewer than four strikers towards the end, but injuries to centre halves Ross Graham and Declan Gallagher left United vulnerable at the back in this ‘gung ho’ approach.

Chances went a begging for Dalby and Ruairi Paton and United were eventually caught out at the back with a penalty award in the 97th minute converted by Dundee’s Simon Murray and a red card for United’s Manny Adeboyega putting the final nails in the coffin.

Goodwin, afterwards, said the goals conceded were unacceptable at this level but in essence his side were second to every ball and tackle and while it may have been a great spectacle for the neutral, it was overall a way below par performance.

United have three games left before the split to try and make amends. Trips to Ross County and Hearts will be no picnic and St Johnstone, who are fighting for their lives, will visit Tannadice in the last game.

United could well now be dragged into a bottom six scenario depending on how they fare in these fixtures and how results go elsewhere. All change then in a season where it looked like the only way was up for a good part of it.