'Goalkeeping errors a theme of Dundee Utd's season' - Sportscene analysis
Watch Sportscene pundit Leanne Crichton analyse Dave Richards' error in Dundee United's weekend draw at Aberdeen.
MATCH REPORT: Aberdeen 1-1 Dundee Utd
Watch highlights of Aberdeen's 1-1 draw with Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Dundee United striker Zac Sapsford has vowed "those wins will come" as they aim to climb back up the Scottish Premiership table.
A 1-1 draw at Aberdeen on Saturday means eighth-placed United are now unbeaten in four games but have won just two of their past 14 fixtures, a run that includes eight draws.
The latest stalemate means United have the most draws - 10 in 19 games - in the Premiership at the season's halfway stage.
"It is a little unbeaten run, but it would be nice to turn a few of those draws into wins," Sapsford told BBC Scotland.
"I am sure they will come and we are playing the right way to get those wins.
"The dressing room is really positive right now, it is not down and out."
Sapsford admitted the draw at Pittodrie was "probably a fair result", adding "either team could have won the game at the end, but we take a point at the end of the day away from home".
United will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they travel to bottom side Livingston on Tuesday.
"I think we will be expected to win, obviously because they are bottom of the table, but any game in this league is really tough," Sapsford added.
"We will put our best foot forward and we will have a game plan to go and win the game there and hopefully we do."
We asked for your views on Dundee United's 1-1 draw against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Here's what some of you said:
Ross: In this episode of "can't buy a win" United reverted to the tactics of last season - sit back and catch them on the break. The plan was working well until yet another goalkeeper error cost us points. Ten draws in 19 league games and with only three other teams (all below us in the league) having conceded more goals, demonstrates where the issues are. A new goalkeeper is required please.
Jamie: The draw simply papers over the cracks. Goodwin's tactics make Craig Levein's 6-4-0 look attacking. It must be demoralising playing for a manager who has no faith in you to do anything other than sit back for 90 minutes and hope you sneak a goal by some miracle.
Cameron: Would take the point away at Aberdeen although tactically it needs to change as we're drawing too many games. We're set up far too negative. When in front Jim Goodwin never seems to want to finish teams off, he would rather sit on a one-goal lead. Also, the young lad Owen Stirton deserves to play as both Max Watters and Nikolaj Moller haven't been good enough going forward.
Ian: Far too defensive tactics again. Does Goodwin not realise we pay a lot of money to watch this the team and they can't put three passes together? Our keepers must be the worst in the league.
Ross M: Okay let's put aside the often repeated mantra, good point on the road, good point at home. Our win rate is abysmal. Defensive errors and attacking bluntness every week. Academy graduate Sam Cleall-Harding sits on the bench watching Bert Esselink, Iurie Iovu and Krisztian Keresztes who are all technically inferior to him, on and off the ball.
Dave: A mixed bag of emotions with this one. The defensive performance by the back five was superb. Craig Sibbald and Vicko Sevelj were tireless in midfield. Zac Sapsford and Amar Fatah always ready to push forward. A pity Dave Richards made one mistake in an otherwise solid performance. The problems come with Watters, Moller and Ivan Dolcek. Whether it is lack of fitness, lack of interest or lack of ability is up for discussion. Time for Stirton to get some playing time.
Ross Graham and Ryan Strain are expected to be available for Dundee United's derby showdown against Dundee (Courier), external
Dundee United had to settle for a draw after a second-half equaliser by Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
Amar Fatah pounced on a Nicky Devlin mistake to open the scoring for the visitors, but when United goalkeeper Dave Richards could only parry a shot clear, Jesper Karlsson fired the equaliser.
Image source, SNSDundee United manager Jim Goodwin is content with the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen but admits that his side's inability to convert draws into wins is holding them back in the Scottish Premiership.
"I think the draw is probably the right result," he told Premier Sports. "I thought Aberdeen were the better team in the opening 45 minutes and we scored against the run of play.
"It's a real moment of quality [the goal from Amar Fatah]. The second half, I thought we were a lot better.
"We are really disappointed with the equaliser. For all the possession they had, it was in front of us.
"It is a decent point on the road for us as Aberdeen have invested heavily in the summer. Overall, the performance was okay."
While Goodwin lamented the six draws in the latest 10 games, he added: "It is better a draw than a defeat and we have played four top-six teams in the last four games and haven't been beaten."
Image source, SNSAberdeen are without the suspended Dylan Lobban following his red card at Celtic Park. Fellow defenders Gavin Molloy and Kristers Tobers remain absent with knee injuries.
Dundee United have major issues in defence with Ross Graham and Ryan Strain dropping out with groin injuries, Krisztian Keresztes "touch and go" with a calf problem, Iurie Iovu still out with a muscle problem and Luca Stephenson suspended.
Pan Camara is close to a return from a hamstring injury while Isaac Pappoe (knee) and Yevhen Kucherenko (calf) remain out.
Image source, SNSDundee United's Vicko Sevelj is delighted to be taking part in the British festive football tradition that was part of his Christmas experience growing up.
The Croat will feature in United's live televised New Firm derby against Aberdeen at a sold-out Pittodrie on Saturday evening.
The 25-year-old midfielder, who has featured in central defence in recent weeks, said: "It's something that when you were with family at home, you always watched games on Boxing Day.
"In Europe I don't know if anyone else is playing but here of course everyone has heard about Boxing Day and the English and Scottish games are always on the TV. Since I was a kid I always had it on my TV.
"Now here I am part of it and it's different. It's one thing that you miss home at Christmas but it's a big occasion to play these games and be part of it. Back home I would have been on a break for a couple of weeks by this time.
"Some of my family have come here for Christmas and the rest of them are back home enjoying the break, watching me from higher temperatures.
"Boxing Day is unique so you want to show everyone on the TV on these special occasions how good you are.
"Games against Aberdeen are always really intense and we know how much it means to our supporters."
United sit eighth in the William Hill Premiership but have secured results against all of the current top six including a Tannadice win over the Dons.
"Our best games were against top six and we have had really good results," Sevelj said. "Nothing will change on Saturday, our approach is the same, we want to win every game."
Image source, SNSAberdeen have only lost one of their past 16 home league games against Dundee United (W8 D7), and are unbeaten in eight (W5 D3) since a 3-0 reverse in August 2014.
Dundee United have won both of their past two league games against Aberdeen, last winning three on the bounce in August 2007.
Since losing their first two home matches of the Scottish Premiership season, Aberdeen have only lost one of their past seven (W3 D3), going unbeaten in their latest four (W2 D2).
No side has drawn more games than Dundee United (9) in the Premiership this season. Meanwhile, since the start of October, their seven draws is at least three more than any other team in this period.
Dundee United's Jim Goodwin has never won away to former club Aberdeen as a manager in the Premiership, drawing two and losing four of six previous trips with St Mirren (D1 L3) and the Tangerines combined (D1 L1).
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Dundee United's form has been very up and down this season.
Undoubtedly one of the factors behind that has been some really bad fortune with injuries, so the sight of Ryan Strain and captain Ross Graham go off injured during their 1-1 draw with Hibernian will undoubtedly have set alarm bells ringing.
Both have already had lengthy spells on the sidelines this term but the pair – who are very much viewed as key players by manager Jim Goodwin – have established themselves back in the starting line up in recent weeks.
So Goodwin will be keeping his fingers crossed that he will continue to be able to call upon their services during a critical period in the season.
Every team has their injury problems – but United will perhaps feel they have been hit a bit harder than some have on that front this season.
Could it be too simplistic to suggest that the key to the Tangerines going on to deliver the kind of campaign they hope to have is keeping everyone fit? Possibly.
But there is no doubt it would certainly help as they look to improve on their current league position of eighth over the coming weeks and months.
Image source, SNSDundee United are faced with the prospect of four missing defenders for Saturday's trip to Aberdeen amid concern over Ryan Strain's fitness.
Strain and Ross Graham both went off with groin injuries during the 1-1 draw with Hibernian at the weekend while Krisztian Keresztes had to be subbed off at half-time with a calf issue.
Jim Goodwin is also missing Iurie Iovu through injury and is hoping the latest blow isn't too severe.
"Ryan Strain probably looks the more serious of the three," he said.
"Both himself and Ross Graham have been for scans. We're just awaiting the results of those.
"Keresztes, we took him off more of a precautionary measure than anything else. We didn't want to risk him again in the second half for that to become worse. So he's touch and go for Saturday."
"It's a big year for Strainer. He was wanting to try and get back to the form that we all know he's capable of and make a late push for the World Cup. But we don't want to jump the gun with regards to what the injury is. Hopefully, it's nothing too serious."
With games against Aberdeen, Livingston, Dundee and Celtic over the next few weeks, Goodwin is optimistic he has a strong enough squad to get through.
"We've done great recruitment in the summer," the United manager added.
"We tried to strengthen every area and to make sure that if and when the injuries and suspensions came along that we were going to have players within the squad that could step in and do a similar job to the guy that they've replaced. I think Saturday showed that.
"Dario Naamo is a 20-year-old. He came on for Ryan Strain and Dario had been out for a few weeks himself with an injury. Credit to him, he played pretty much 90 minutes and looked fantastic.
"Losing guys like Ross Graham and Keresztes and even Iovu, who I think in the last five or six games that he's played has been very, very consistent, it would make a huge difference and weaken a lot of teams. But it hasn't done to us against some really, really difficult opponents."
Paul McNicoll
Fan writer
Sometimes in football, much like life, it's better to be lucky than good.
Any Dundee United fan who sat through that first half against Celtic last Wednesday will know exactly what I mean, we rode our luck shamelessly. The second half, however, was another matter entirely, and I'm firmly of the view that United deserved the win. Our first over Celtic in eleven years no less, worth the wait, if not the spike in my blood pressure.
Football, again like life, has a habit of springing surprises. Celtic may be enduring a rough patch, but there can't have been many Arabs that headed to Tannadice on the night expecting a home win. Yet there we were, blinking at the scoreboard in mild disbelief.
That result felt like United finally steadying the ship after a few months of choppy seas. A draw with Motherwell, a win over Celtic, and then it was on to the Hibees. Momentum, or something resembling it, at last.
I won't pretend my expectations were sky-high, but my optimism had certainly been revived by the previous two performances. In the end, it wasn't three points against Hibs, but the draw felt fair enough. No grand injustice, no hard-luck story, just about right over the piece.
After a difficult couple of months, I'm feeling more positive about what's to come. Up next: Aberdeen away, Livingston away, and then the small matter of the Dundee Derby. Two huge games with big atmospheres…and Livi away.
Aberdeen will be keen for revenge after we put them to the sword earlier in the season, and they're in far better form now.
It won't be easy, but if Jim Goodwin fancies playing the role of festive villain and ruining a few Christmases in the Granite City, Saturday night feels like a fine time to start.
Paul McNicoll can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast, external
Sportscene pundit Neil McCann analyses manager Jim Goodwin's adaptability in a "very good week" for Dundee United.
We asked for your views on Dundee United's 1-1 draw against Hibernian.
Here's what some of you said:
Lee: United are starting to look much more like the exciting team from earlier this season.
I was delighted to see Sam Cleall-Harding finally get his chance in defence, but Jim Goodwin should have made it a double with Owen Stirton being brought on to replace Nikolaj Moller - who has done nothing to be ahead of him in the queue. Better finishing and it would have been all three points. We go on.
Gordon: Come the final whistle it was a fair result to share the points. However time and time again Hibs' Martin Boyle was not marked when in our box. Surely he was the biggest threat and yet his favourite spot, back post, remained unmarked.
Watch highlights of Dundee United's 1-1 draw against Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSWill Ferry is proud of how Dundee United have come through a "make or break" week of Premiership fixtures.
Saturday's 1-1 draw with Hibs at Tannadice provided further signs that their form is starting to turn back in the right direction.
It was their third game in seven days and followed an impressive midweek home win over Celtic and a goalless draw with Motherwell.
United have won just two of their last 12 games but Ferry is encouraged by how they have performed over thee last few days.
"We looked at these three ourselves and we said this is kind of make or break," the full-back said.
"We have got to back ourselves, we can't crumble, we can't succumb to the pressure.
"We know that the fans haven't been happy and rightly so. We were under a bit of pressure and I think we have shown the bit of character to respond to that.
"It is not easy sometimes when you are getting criticised and you are under the pressure of staying out of a relegation battle, trying to push for top six, it is a fine balance.
"We backed ourselves to come through this week and we are satisfied with how that has gone, we are not buzzing but is better than what we were doing before."
Dundee United and Hibernian settled for a point apiece at Tannadice after Luca Stephenson's opener was cancelled out by visiting forward Martin Boyle before the break.
United also lost Ryan Strain and fellow defender Ross Graham through injury.
Image source, SNSJim Goodwin says it has been a "good, positive week" for Dundee United.
"I can't argue with the end result," the manager tells BBC Scotland after the 1-1 draw with Hibernian. "I think it's probably a fair outcome for both teams.
"I thought Hibs had the better of the opening 45 minutes and I thought that kind of reversed in the second half.
"First half was very stop-start with all the injuries. It was difficult for either team to get any real momentum.
"The second half, I was delighted with the performance, especially off the back of Wednesday night [against Celtic] - there's not a lot of time to recover and we could have done with the game being tomorrow to give us that extra day.
"Hibs were obviously fresher coming into it, but I don't think that really showed in the game, so credit to the players.
"I think their goal is avoidable from our perspective, but given the week we've had with three difficult fixtures. To come through that and have five points I think is acceptable. To come through unbeaten is a real positive."
United lost two defenders to "niggles to the groin area".
"Ryan Strain and Ross Graham have a significant amount of time on the sidelines already and maybe that plays a part in match fitness," Goodwin added.
"But we've got a relatively small squad and we wanted our best players out there and they all felt good enough to start the game today.
"That's the nature of the game. You can't predict these things."
Image source, SNSJim Goodwin has backed Wilfried Nancy to "turn things around" at Celtic after his Dundee United side heaped more misery on the under-fire Frenchman.
Two goals in three minutes from Krisztian Keresztes and Zac Sapsford gave United a first win in eight Premiership games on Wednesday night as they inflicted new Celtic boss Nancy's fourth defeat from four.
Ahead of United's home match against Hibs on Saturday, Goodwin said: "I've always got sympathy for any manager that's going through these challenging moments.
"I've been there myself in the past, and I think every manager out there at every level, will experience it at one point or another.
"It's difficult to explain to people outwith football who have got normal jobs, and maybe don't have the pressures of an entire football club on your shoulders, but we do the job because we love it.
"There's challenging moments in every aspect of life, and you've got to be a strong character, and I'm fairly sure Wilfried Nancy wouldn't have got to be a manager of a club like Celtic if he wasn't that type of character.
"So I'm sure he'll turn things around. He's only been in the door a couple of weeks. But obviously, sympathise with the guy and wish him well."
Goodwin insists eighth-place United were "deserved" winners against Celtic and wants to end the week on a high with victory over Hibs.
He said: "I thought we thoroughly deserved it. When you look at the stats, I know Celtic had some big chances in the opening 45 minutes, but never capitalised on those.
"And in the second half, we certainly were the better team, and we had more shots on target than Celtic. I can't remember the last time managing a team that did that to Celtic.
"We've had more touches in their penalty area than they've had in ours, and Kasper Schmeichel's had to make more saves than Dave Richards.
"So that would tell you that would be deserved to be the winners on the night.
"And we have to take the confidence from that. We've played well in the last couple of games, two top teams in Motherwell and Celtic, who are above us in the league table at the moment and we've got to do that again tomorrow against Hibs."
Image source, SNSDundee United remain without defender Iurie Iovu (muscle) along with Dario Naamo, Pan Camara (hamstring), Isaac Pappoe (knee) and Yevhen Kucherenko (calf).
Hibs wing-back Nicky Cadden is pushing for a return while Martin Boyle has recovered from the illness that limited his involvement against Rangers.
Jordan Obita, Miguel Chaiwa and Rocky Bushiri are on Africa Cup of Nations duty while Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) is injured.
Image source, SNSBoth sides have scored in each of the past seven Scottish Premiership meetings between Dundee United (13 goals) and Hibs (15), with those matches featuring a combined 28 goals (4.0 per game) and sharing an even head-to-head-record (two wins each, three draws).
Hibs have won four of their past seven top-flight visits to Tannadice (L3), more than their previous 18 beforehand (W3 D8 L7).
After beating Celtic 2-1 last time out, Dundee United are looking to win back-to-back league matches for the first time this season, having last done so in April. The Tangerines could also win two home league fixtures on the bounce for the first time since November 2024.
Following a 2-0 defeat at Motherwell and 1-0 loss at Rangers, Hibs could suffer three successive away league losses for the first time since January 2023 (run of 6), while they last lost three in a row on their travels in the Premiership without scoring in May 2014 (4 in a row).
Dundee United have recovered a league-high 10 points from losing positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, coming from behind to beat Celtic 2-1 in midweek. On six of the past eight occasions United have avoided defeat in a league game, they have done so despite conceding the first goal.
Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland
Dundee United's win over Celtic was a long time coming. Ten years, 11 months and 27 days, to be exact.
A 23-game sequence of disappointment, including 18 defeats - and a 9-0 home hammering - plus an aggregate scoreline of 65-9 in Celtic's favour.
All that melted away at a raucous Tannadice on Wednesday night as Jim Goodwin's side roared back from a goal down to earn a much-needed win and crank up the pressure on Wilfried Nancy.
Can it spark a turnaround at Tannadice?
After finishing fourth in the Premiership last season, Goodwin's men have been struggling to back that up this term.
Wednesday marked the end of a seven-game winless run and was just a second victory in 12 for United, who sit eighth.
They were outplayed in the first half by Celtic, but made it to half-time just a goal down and re-emerged totally transformed to stage a comeback triumph through Krisztian Keresztes and a Zac Sapsford wonder goal.
"It's a great result for Goodwin," former United midfielder John Rankin told BBC Sportsound.
"You need bits of luck as a manager and he got a bit of that, but I don't think they won the game through luck.
"Their energy to go and press in the second half was great, but they put balls into areas where it really hurt Celtic."
United have now won 10 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team, as they prepare for the visit of Hibs on Saturday.
Having not won back-to-back games all season, Goodwin will be desperate to back up Wednesday's historic result with another important milestone.
Beyond the weekend, they then have three away games out of four - including a trip to Celtic Park - with the sole home game a Dundee derby.
"Jim should not be under pressure," Rankin added.
"He's done wonders at this football club, he's got them in a really good position.
"He's the first to admit the form is not the way it should be, he wants them higher up the league, but he's got a team there that's willing to work for him."
