United have exceeded expectations

AFTER the International break, Jim Goodwin was given the chance to regroup and refocus his Dundee United side in a bid to end a winless run of three league games.

A trip north to Dingwall was first on the cards with both teams desperate for the points for different reasons. With Ross County slipping down the table, United were looking up and still in line for a top-half finish.

As expected, it proved to be a stern test for the Tangerines as it had been on their last visit, which ended in a draw. The game was decided on a headed goal from centre-half Ross Graham in 74 minutes with United taking a vital three points down the road.

Another away day was up next at Tynecastle and it was indeed another Beautiful Sunday as Goodwin’s side sealed their place in the top six.

Top scorer Sam Dalby was again the man on hand to net a fine headed cross from Glenn Middleton and give the Tangerines their second 1-0 victory over Hearts in the capital this season.

The hosts, to be fair, had been the better side up until a straight red card for Hearts’ James Wilson changed the face of the game completely. On first view it seemed the challenge was careless, but not dangerous. However on the VAR review it was evident that he had caught United’s Luca Stephenson above the shin guard and the correct decision was upheld to dismiss the young striker. Even with their numerical advantage United found it difficult to break down the Jambos until Dalby broke the deadlock.

United then took on bottom side St Johnstone at Tannadice in their final game pre-split, with the Perth Saints’ survival chances lifted by their unexpected victory over champions-elect Celtic the week before.

United took a first-half lead from a corner with Dalby supplying a cross box pass for Manny Adeboyega to tap in at the far post to give United their third win in three weeks and their ninth 1-0 win of the season overall. United had chances to finish it off, but for a couple of quality saves from Saints’ keeper Andy Fisher, with the pick of the bunch being a one-on-one with Louis Moult. Saints pushed hard for an equaliser and United in essence rode their luck with a series of chances going begging for the visitors late on.

United’s ability, however, to grind out a result got them over the line on this occasion and move them above Aberdeen into fourth place in table for now.

So, it fair to say Dundee United have exceeded expectations as the promoted side from last year’s Championship. Let’s not forget they were the favourites to be relegated before a ball was kicked in August.

Goodwin’s style has been condemned as ‘anti football’ at times. However, statistics will show that his side have conceded the least number of goals in the top division outwith the big two Glasgow sides and it is effective nonetheless. He has assembled a side playing to their strengths and although it may be not always be ‘silky soccer’ on display, he knows how to play on the merits of his squad and get the best out of them.

Often criticised for making the wrong changes, he is not afraid to mix it up and ‘great resilience’ is very much the name of the game according to the man himself.

United have become very difficult to play against as teams have found out this season and will no doubt rely on this factor for the challenge ahead over the next few weeks. There are tough games ahead and the Tangerines will take on Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Aberdeen and St Mirren—with the latter side making the cut on the last day much to the dismay of Hearts who lost out in the end.

The objective at the start of the season was to stay in this division and where United could have been drawn into a dogfight for that dreaded relegation play-off place, it’s a relief not to be involved at that end of the table even if it means having to forego another city derby for this season at least.