Dundee United

Image source, SNS

Dundee United welcome back Max Watters and Julius Eskesen but Krisztian Keresztes is suspended and Dario Naamo, Pan Camara (hamstring), Isaac Pappoe (knee) and Yevhen Kucherenko (calf) are out injured.

Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday is still working his way back to fitness while Filip Stuparevic (knee), Aston Oxborough (hand), Sam Nicholson (knee), Zach Robinson (Achilles), Jordan McGhee and Eseosa Sule (both thigh) remain out.

Image source, SNS

Amar Fatah insists it is "positive energy only" as Dundee United bid to end their slump against Motherwell on Saturday.

The Tannadice club sit eighth in the Premiership after six games without victory, but winger Fatah is remaining upbeat.

The 21-year-old said: "We speak a lot about the situation of course, but I think we see a bright side of it that it's just a bad moment, so the important thing is that we stick together.

"In a certain way, it's good that the bad moments happen this early so we can recover. Positive energy only.

"It's hard to really say what's going wrong at the moment. Maybe it's just the games come so quick and we have changed some things, but we need to find the consistency.

"I see this month as a huge moment where we need to prove to ourselves - these challenges coming up are exciting.

"We have Motherwell at home, Celtic at home, Hibs at home then Aberdeen away. These are really good games to look forward to and we need the mindset to win all of them.

"You can see clearly they [Motherwell] trained a lot in their system and the way they try to play. They're playing well, both attacking and defensively, but we need to show no fear and try to play our game."

Fatah, who is on a season-long loan from French club Troyes, scored his second United goal in the recent 2-2 draw with Rangers.

"This club suits me and the playing style that I try to bring," he added.

"I want to help the team as much as possible to be in the top six and to showcase myself in this league."

Image source, SNS

• Dundee United have won four of their past six home league games against Motherwell (L2), as many as their previous 12 beforehand (W4 D4 L4).

• Motherwell have won five of their past seven games against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership (L2), as many as their previous 19 prior (W5 D4 L10).

• Dundee United are winless in six Scottish Premiership games (D3 L3), their longest run within a single season in the competition since April 2023 (11).

• Motherwell are unbeaten in eight league games (W5 D3), their longest run within a single season since April 2013 (also 8).

• The Steelmen last enjoyed a longer unbeaten run within a single league campaign in March 2010 (12).

• Motherwell haven't conceded in four successive league games, last going on a longer run of clean sheets in February 2010 (5).

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has refused to rule out signing another goalkeeper in January. (The Courier), external

Dundee United are set to miss out on a six-figure youth development payment after the Scottish FA opted to axe its Club Academy Scotland (CAS) funding, which paid out an annual sum in the region of £2m split between clubs who meet stringent criteria. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Jim Goodwin is hoping Dundee United can transform their fortunes against a Motherwell side he describes as "the most in-form team in the league".

While Motherwell are up to third with an eight-game unbeaten league run, United are enduring "the toughest period" of Goodwin's tenure.

The Tannadice side, currently in eighth place, have just one victory in 10 games and are seeking a first win in seven this weekend.

"It's only natural when you're on the type of run that we're on that your confidence is going to take a bit of a hit," manager Goodwin said.

"But we believe in what we're doing. We are going through, probably, the toughest period that I've experienced during my time as United manager.

"Football is not a bed of roses all the time, you've got to find a way to get through these difficult periods."

United are now tasked with overcoming a visiting Motherwell side that Goodwin feels have been "totally transformed" under new boss Jens Berthel Askou.

The Steelmen defeated United 2-0 at Fir Park in late October and have lost just twice in 16 league outings.

"It's quite a remarkable transformation and he deserves a huge amount of credit," the Irishman added.

"Given results, and where Motherwell are sitting in the table, I imagine there's people all over Europe taking notice.

"Motherwell are the most in-form team in the league. The new manager has been incredible in terms of their playing style and they're as difficult an opponent as you can face at this moment in time.

"But we have to believe we're capable of winning the game. We didn't do ourselves justice at Fir Park, the second half was a lot better from us, so we have to make sure we start this game the way we did in the second 45 over there."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before the Premiership game with Motherwell this weekend.

Here are the main points:

• Goodwin says this is "probably the toughest period I've experienced during my time as United manager" and admits confidence has "taken a bit of a hit" amid a six-game winless run.

• But the United boss "believes in the group" and feels they've shown they are "capable of being a good team", adding he feels he will "find out more about the character" of some of his players.

• Goodwin also feels recent results need "put into context" and insists "some really poor decisions" have gone against his team.

• The manager insists those reasons are not "excuses", adding "the buck stops with me" when it comes to responsibility for recent results and performances.

• On the January window, the United boss is "very pleased with the squad we've built" but says the club are "working on one or two things".

• Goodwin says third-place Motherwell "are the most in-form team in the league" and suggests "people all over Europe are taking notice".

• Dundee United want to "do themselves justice" after the defeat at Fir Park in September.

• Panutche Camara was a "huge loss" in Saturday's defeat to St Mirren as he's a "really influential player" but Goodwin hopes the midfielder will only be out for "a couple of weeks".

• Team news: Max Watters has been back training this week so will be in contention. Dario Naamo could return next week and Julius Eskesen has returned to training.

Shape is not Dundee United's problem, insists manager Jim Goodwin. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Common belief says you should never wake a sleepwalker. Apparently that also applies to Dundee United, because very few in this squad seem brave enough to give this team the almighty shake it so desperately needs.

Honestly, at this point, I'd happily risk the folklore curses and yank the lot of them out of their trance if it stops us sleep-stumbling into the relegation zone.

Because right now? Our form isn't below par, it's completely off the chart. We started the season dreaming of European nights, picturing ourselves jetting off to glamorous places like Vienna, again.

Instead, we're on course for a romantic Friday evening in Dunfermline, eating sub-standard steak bridies and pondering where it all went wrong. We're terrible. Painfully, spectacularly, award-winningly terrible… at present.

And here's the thing that really melts my brain - we have played well at times. Briefly. Fleetingly. So few and far between and rare that I'm unsure if I actually saw it.

Recently, though? It's been a circus. We have goalkeepers that inspire as much confidence as a three-legged chair, defenders who seem allergic to the ball, a midfield that has essentially become 'Panutche Camara and his baffled assistants', and forwards who don't create nearly enough danger for opposition defences.

You don't need a Uefa coaching badge to see where this is heading. Any team with this many issues isn't climbing the table, it's tripping down it.

And the summer transfer window? Oh, we were buzzing. We thought we'd pulled off a recruitment masterclass. We were praising the club like they'd reinvented the wheel.

Now those same players have 'settled in' and we look less like a team and more like a group project where nobody wants to do the work.

Half of them don't even look like they fancy the fight, which is kind of essential in Scottish football, where the weather alone tries to two-foot you every weekend.

It's all a bit grim, to put it mildly. But hey, Santa hasn't shown up yet. There's time. If the big man could kindly leave a competent goalkeeper under the tree, and maybe a defender with a pulse, we might still salvage something.

As things stand, though, top six feels about as realistic as United heading to America next June to compete in the World Cup.

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

St Mirren's 2-0 win over Dundee United was "a perfect example" of what currently separates the two sides, according to former Aberdeen, Rangers and St Johnstone full-back Richard Foster.

The hosts' opener came from "poor defending at the back post" and the second came from a goalkeeping error.

"You don't really see that often from St Mirren," Foster told BBC Scotland's Sportscene.

He suggested centre-half Bert Esselink was at fault as St Mirren midfielder Conor McMenamin met a cross at the back post to head powerfully past goalkeeper Dave Richards.

"You are expecting your defender to at least challenge for the ball," Foster said.

The second came from what "should be a relatively simple save" from Richards, who has replaced Yevhen Kucherenko in goal after the Ukrainian's own recent errors.

At the other end, striker Zac Sapsford fired against Shamal George when through one-on-one with the goalkeeper then sent a powerful free-kick against the crossbar.

"That was the story of the game," Foster said. "When it's not your day, it's not your day.

"St Mirren took the chances that they created, albeit with help from the goalkeeping and defending, and Dundee United never."

Sportscene host Stephen Thompson added: "It's six without a win. They are finding it difficult to replicate that form they had last season and a lot of it is down to the defending. They look fragile. They are gifting goals to teams."

Watch highlights of St Mirren's 2-0 win against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Dundee United 2-0 defeat against St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

Ross: Bad run, bad luck, or just bad. It's hard to work out this United team. Exciting at times, hardworking in certain areas but the sad truth is this kind of performance is becoming a habit. Mentality, mindset, call it what you want, it's not working.

The defence is full of collective and individual errors. The midfield is lacking creativity and the attack works hard but gets poor service and misses the killer touch on too many occasions. We sit deep as a default. We cannot control a game even after spells where we dominate. The guy behind me at Paisley said: "this is actually embarrassing." It was but please let's not boo players at the end. They came over to applaud the support, not themselves. They are falling short but pretty sure they know that.

Jenny: Jim Goodwin should have the next few matches to turn it round. If he doesn't it's time for United to look elsewhere. Almost any other manager in the Premiership could do more with some of the players he has. It seems in a team that's throwing away goals that we have a very capable centre half in the shape of Sam Cleall-Harding who isn't even being considered. Same story with Owen Stirton upfront. Goodwin should use his full squad and not just the ones he signed to turn a catastrophic season into a half decent one.

Kieran: Goodwin is on borrowed time now and games coming up are not getting easier with a home double header against Celtic and high flying Motherwell. St Mirren didn't need to do anything special to get their goals, our season so far has a whiff of deja vu from 2022.

Colum: We need to concentrate more on our own game instead of what we think the opposition can do to us. We can be an exciting team to watch, but a nightmare in defence.

Philip: Goodwin has to go now before we get dragged into a relegation battle. No width, no pace. A striker with nice touches but offers nothing inside the box. Ryan Strain is not a wing back, as always goes backwards near attacks byline. I think Will Ferry has gone backwards or carrying an injury. Goodwin out.

Gary: Pathetic. You cannot be this inconsistent week in week out. The system Goodwin is sticking to doesn't work either. The three at the back needs changing to a solid back four. Strain offered absolutely nothing. Ferry tried but produced very little. The midfield were beaten to everything and had zero effect on the game. Nikolaj Moller is big but his link up play needs work. Players constantly getting put in and out of the team doesn't help the situation. Players need game time and to get to know and trust the players they're playing alongside. 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. But ditch this obsession with the back three. It doesn't work and leaves the midfield overwhelmed. Wouldn't give any player more than four out of 10 on this showing.

Goals from Connor McMenamin and Keanu Baccus earned St Mirren a victory over Dundee United as Jim Goodwin's side continue their winless run.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say on the game via this link.

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "I think the game turned on those two key moments [the goals]. It summed up the afternoon and summed up the last few weeks for us in terms of not defending the box well enough.

"It summed up the afternoon for us. St Mirren were better in those ugly moments. I thought in the second half, we had great opportunities.

"We're going through a really difficult period at the moment. The only way out of it is for us to stick together, keep working hard and hopefully we'll be able to come out the other side of it.

"I don't think that St Mirren were the better team today; I thought we had more dangerous attacks. In the last 10 minutes, we're committing that many bodies forward, and we got caught on the counter attack a couple of times.

"We're on a tough run, we're not shying away from that. We deserve all the criticism that comes our way. We've had too many draws and a defeat today.

"There's no other way to get out of it other than working hard on the training pitch and sticking together."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin urges forward Zac Sapsford to force his way into Australia's World Cup squad. (Daily Record), external

Image source, SNS

St Mirren midfielder Liam Donnelly is struggling with a knee injury and Declan John and Killian Phillips will be be assessed.

Captain Mark O'Hara is still sidelined with a foot issue that could cost him a place in next week's Premier Sports Cup final.

Dundee United midfielder Isaac Pappoe (knee) and goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko (calf) remain out.

Image source, SNS

• St Mirren have lost four of their past five Scottish Premiership games against Dundee United (W1), as many as their previous 13 (W4 D5 L4).

• Dundee United have won three of their past four top-flight visits to St Mirren (L1), as many as their previous 13 (W3 D9 L1).

• St Mirren are winless in eight Scottish Premiership games (D2 L6) – their longest run in the competition since December 2021 (12), when they were managed by current United boss Jim Goodwin.

• Dundee United are without a win in five league games (D3 L2). They last went longer without victory within a single season in the Scottish Premiership in April 2023 (11), which included Jim Goodwin's first four league fixtures in charge. They have never gone six without a win within a single season in the division under Goodwin.

• Dundee United's Scottish Premiership games this season have featured the most shots (409), with the Tannadice men having 175 shots and facing 234 in their 14 matches. They have also had the most goals in their games (44), scoring 21 and conceding 23.

Sportscene pundits Scott Allan and Neil McCann discuss the two big penalty decisions in the 2-2 draw between Rangers and Dundee United at Tannadice.

We asked for your thoughts after Rangers' late penalty snatched a point against Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Eddie: Robbed! Absolutely robbed! No VAR check on a clear handball that was right in front of the ref and no more than 10 seconds checking on another ridiculous penalty against us. What's the actual point of teams like ours turning up? We Absolutely deserved to win that game, don't know which game their manager was watching.

Rayan: We were robbed, never a penalty. If anything it should have been our free-kick.

Gary: Regardless of whether you agree with Rangers' penalty, we should have been awarded one of our own. We need to demand that the VAR audio is released, it was a disgraceful decision

Paul: Disgusting! No penalty for a handball and a penalty given two minutes after the allocated time. I'm done with Scottish football.

Stephen: Well what can we say about that result? United denied a clear penalty then Rangers get a penalty to snatch a draw in the eighth minute of six minutes of injury time. United denied a well earned win in dubious circumstances. That's two VAR checks in a week for penalties that have gone against us, four points dropped largely because of VAR.

Watch the highlights as Rangers score a 98th-minute penalty to rescue a 2-2 draw at Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only

Olympiakos have been linked with a move for Dundee United target Galymazhan Kenzhebek, the Kazakhstan winger who is out of contract with Yelimay Semey at the end of the year, and the Greek league leaders would be able to outbid the Tannadice club should they pursue their interest. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Nedim Bajrami's 98th-minute penalty salvaged a point for Rangers as they snatched a Scottish Premiership draw in controversial circumstances against Dundee United.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.