St Johnstone v Dundee United: Pick of the statspublished at 14:02 BST 15 October
14:02 BST 15 October
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St. Johnstone's Josh Fowler is the top scorer in this season's Scottish Premiership, scoring five goals from just 10 shots (50% conversion), six of which have been on target.
Dundee United have won both of their last two league games, last winning three in a row in April 2025 – when the third win was over St. Johnstone.
After their 1-0 win over Aberdeen, St. Johnstone are looking to earn back-to-back victories in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since February 2025, and first time without conceding since March 2021.
Dundee United have won four of their last seven visits to St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L1) and could win successive trips to McDiarmid Park in the top-flight for the first time since April 2012.
St. Johnstone have lost each of their last three league games against Dundee United, their longest top-flight losing run against the Tangerines since a run of four defeats from May 2001 to January 2002.
'This no longer feels like one good result in isolation'published at 09:49 BST 13 October
09:49 BST 13 October
Ronny Costello Fan writer
After three weeks without Dundee United, it was good to get back to some good old-fashioned Scottish Premiership action.
Even better when you win!
The 1-0 victory over Hibs meant back-to-back league wins, back-to-back clean sheets and finally a first home league win of the season.
It should probably have been more comfortable as well.
Lyall Cameron was outstanding and seemed to spend the afternoon putting team-mates through on goal. Jesse Randall could have had a hat-trick, Daniel Bennie went close more than once and we created enough to have the game wrapped up long before the final whistle...
Thankfully, a thigh-assisted effort claimed all three points.
The encouraging thing is that this no longer feels like one good result in isolation.
The 3-0 success at St Mirren was followed by another strong performance and the midfield of Cameron, Dylan Tait and Zidane Iqbal is starting to look like the heartbeat of the team.
Being United there was still the usual bit of unnecessary stress. Hibs went down to 10 men and somehow United still allowed Martin Boyle a late chance with Jack Walton producing a massive save to secure the points.
After all the stop-start nonsense, international breaks and three-week gaps, this felt like a proper Saturday again.
League football at Tannadice and three points - much better!
Cameron relishing freedom to play at Dundee Unitedpublished at 09:31 BST 12 October
09:31 BST 12 October
Andy Burke BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Tannadice
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Lyall Cameron says he is relishing the freedom he has been given in the Dundee United side by manager Jim Goodwin.
The midfielder was man-of-the-match in Saturday's 1-0 Premiership win over Hibernian and set up Daniel Bennie for the decisive goal.
Cameron says the trust he has been given by Goodwin to be the team's creative fulcrum has given him great confidence.
"I'm really enjoying the way he works," Cameron told BBC Scotland.
"I think the training he does really well. He's focused a lot on the team, all on the same page, on what we're doing.
"He's given me the freedom to go and play, get in good positions, get on the ball and be positive. That's what I'm going to try and do and if i can get some goals and assists to help us win then that's good.
"The positions I'm picking up the ball sometimes I'm going to give it away, trying to thread passes and sometimes they're going to get intercepted occasionally, but having the backing knowing I can keep doing it and keep doing it and if it comes off I can create a chance, it's been really good and I'm enjoying it so far."
'Looking good for a cup run and top four'published at 12:30 BST 11 October
12:30 BST 11 October
United fans, we asked for your opinions on the 1-0 win over Hibs at Tannadice. Here's a taste of what you had to say...
Tom: An entertaining game. United ought to have scored at least another couple of goals. Lyall Cameron and Zidane Iqbal were excellent in an ever-improving young United side!
Kieran: Back-to-back wins and clean sheets - we've not said that very often! Jim Goodwin may well have found his starting XI. Michael Forbes and Bert Esselink bossing the backline. Iqbal and Cameron showing their class. The only gripe was it should have been more. From what was a shaky start to season things look like to be sizzling along nicely.
John: United should have had this game seen out earlier. Too many chances missed but still great to walk away with three points. Three in midfield look excellent and the defence looks really solid. I believe we could be in the chasing pack come Christmas.
Ross: Three thoughts - outstanding defence, brilliant midfield, misfiring forwards. Three names - Bert Esselink, a remarkable redemption and now part of an impressive centre-back duo. Lyall Cameron, a class act who never stops and is a joy to watch. Jim Goodwin, a new squad and a new style, brave management but showing real belief. Long way to go but this could be good.
Keith: Well done Jim, well done every player. Not one 'boo' from the home support. Everyone can see the honest effort from the players and the fact that we are playing some very pleasing football.
Playing the way we are comes with risk but as we all can see it makes for a good watch. All of our defenders, including goalkeeper Jack Walton, did their jobs and showed great understanding and kept Hibs at bay.
Kenny: 1-0 going on 4-0. We have a great spine with Walton, Esselink, Forbes and the excellent midfield of Cameron, Iqbal and Dylan Tait. More performances like this and we'll do well this season. Everyone did their job and it was a thoroughly deserved victory, but we need more precision up front. Looking good for a cup run and top four.
Dundee United 1-0 Hibernian: Have your saypublished at 17:37 BST 10 October
17:37 BST 10 October
Dundee United emphatically dispatched St Mirren to earn just their second Premiership win of the season on manager Jim Goodwin's return following a health issue.
Dundee United 1-0 Hibernian: What Goodwin saidpublished at 17:35 BST 10 October
17:35 BST 10 October
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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "It was a hard-earned three points in the end but I actually thought it was a really good game of football from both teams. I thought it was real attacking intent from both groups of players.
"We're a little bit disappointed, given the chances that we had throughout the course of the game. I thought we could have scored another two or three goals. They had one or two really dangerous counter attacks themselves.
"No doubt my midfielders and my forward players will get all the pats on the back for some of the good football that we played during the game but I think the back four in particular, my goalkeeper's not had a great deal to do, I thought the two centre-backs were outstanding again.
"They defended the box brilliantly when we came under pressure, they're playing against a very good Hibs team. You look at the quality that they have in the forward areas and you know you're going to have moments of pressure where you're going to have to dig deep and show a bit of resilience.
"I thought we'd done that brilliantly but the all-round performance was excellent.
"I spoke before the game about how good teams are consistently good. We had a very good performance in Paisley a few weeks ago and the message to the players was, 'can we go and do it again?' And we certainly did."
When it clicks it's going to take a really good team to beat us - Forbespublished at 08:51 BST 10 October
08:51 BST 10 October
Tyrone Smith BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
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Michael Forbes has hailed the "really good platform" Dundee United have given him as he looks to reignite his international career.
The 22-year-old Northern Ireland defender arrived at Tannadice from West Ham United during the summer.
Having played every minute of every league game so far, his impressive performances have caught the eye of his national boss, Michael O'Neill.
Forbes, whose only previous cap came against Finland in 2023, was recalled for the recent international break and was an unused substitute as O'Neill's side picked up two wins and two draws in their quartet of Nations League games.
Speaking before United's Scottish Premiership visit of Hibernian, Forbes said: "Being recognised by the national team and getting that call-up again shows you that coming up here is a really good platform to progress yourself as a player and challenge yourself against very good opponents, whether it is the big boys or any other team in the league - I don't think any game has been really easy for us.
"Putting in really good performances here can get you that recognition and now I have got myself back involved in the squad, I want to come back here and keep getting better and better.
"I feel like I have done well but there is still more to come. Our national team have done so well over the window so you want to be part of that going forward and this is where I can get myself continually back in the squads and hopefully be a part of it going forward."
After a frustrating start to the season, United's new look team were showing signs of starting to gel going into the break.
United, who are ninth in the table, have lost just one of their past four games, a sequence that included commanding away wins at Kilmarnock and St Mirren.
And Forbes said: "It has slowly been coming together, the Kilmarnock performance and then obviously the St Mirren performance were both really impressive.
"On the day whenever it clicks, I feel it is going to take a really good team to beat us, no matter who it is."
Goodwin well versed on Reedijk as United eye first home winpublished at 17:40 BST 9 October
17:40 BST 9 October
Tyrone Smith BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
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Jim Goodwin hopes his homework pays off with Dundee United ruining Marink Reedijk's Hibs bow on Saturday.
The Tannadice boss has studied Reedijk's work with former club Beveren to prime United for a Hibs style and formation change under the Dutchman, who was appointed last month following the sacking of David Gray.
"First of all I am really disappointed for David Gray and it will be sad not to share the touchline with him tomorrow," said Goodwin."
"I have the utmost respect for him as a person and manager I think he has done a terrific job during his spell at Hibs.
"As you would imagine we have done our homework on the new manager in terms of how his team played at Beveren and I would expect him to try and bring some of those principles to this current Hibs squad.
"A number of those players have been at Hibs for a considerable period of time, but there is no getting way from the fact it is going to be a change of formation and a change of style of play.
"The Hibs ownership wouldn't have made that decision if they didn't want that type of change.
"I believe they will play in a back four tomorrow as opposed to David Gray predominantly playing with a back three.
"I am led to believe the new manager likes a high press and very aggressive at the top end of the pitch, whereas David Gray predominantly sat off the game and tried to hit teams on the counter-attack.
"We have tried to let our players know and make them aware of the types of changes to expect."
United are ninth in the table, one point above Hibs, and targeting a first home league win of the season after an upturn in form, losing just one of their past four games.
Goodwin said: "We certainly don't want this dragging on any longer and tomorrow would be a great time to start getting three points at home.
"As always the main focus has been on ourselves and can we replicate the performance we saw in Paisley a few week ago?"
Goodwin on Reedijk 'homework', different Hibs & United momentumpublished at 15:21 BST 9 October
15:21 BST 9 October
Tyrone Smith BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before the visit of Hibernian on Saturday (15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines:
With Marink Reedijk taking charge of Hibs for the first time, Goodwin praised the "terrific job" the Dutchman's predecessor David Gray did at Easter Road.
On what to expect from Reedijk's side, he says: "We have done our homework on the new manager in terms of how his team played at Beveren and I would expect him to try and bring some of those principles to this current Hibs squad."
He expects Hibs to be a high pressing, attacking team and adds: "There is no getting way from the fact it is going to be a change of formation and a change of style of play."
While Goodwin has primed his players for a different Hibs, he has challenged them to replicate the performance they delivered in winning 3-0 at St Mirren last time out.
United "would have preferred not to have the three-week break" after that game as they seek to continue recent momentum.
Goodwin adds: "Good teams put on that type of performances consistently and we want to be a good team."
His squad are in good spirits with Goodwin saying this has been "one of the best weeks of training" in a number of months.
United are looking for their first home league win of the season and Goodwin doesn't want "this dragging on any longer".
Paatelainen felt betrayed by United sack - gossippublished at 08:37 BST 9 October
08:37 BST 9 October
Mixu Paatelainen blames wrong timing for his seven-month spell as Dundee United manager and felt betrayed by the club after being sacked shortly after chairman Stephen Thompson saying the Finn was not to blame for relegation. (Daily Record, external)
Dundee Utd v Hibs: Pick of the statspublished at 15:43 BST 8 October
15:43 BST 8 October
This will be Marink Reedijk's first game as Hibernian boss. The last permanent Hibs manager to lose his first top-flight game in charge was Pat Fenlon in December 2011 (2-0 v Rangers).
Despite starting just four of their seven Premiership games this season, Jesse Randall has scored (2) or assisted (2) 44% of Dundee United's league goals (4/9), the third-highest ratio by any player for a side, behind only Aberdeen's Kevin Nisbet (71%) and St Johnstone's Josh Fowler (56%).
Both teams have scored in each of the past nine league meetings between Dundee United (16 goals) and Hibs (19), with these fixtures averaging 3.9 goals per game.
Hibs are unbeaten in six league games against Dundee United (W3 D3) since a 3-2 defeat in October 2024.
Dundee United have won two of their past four league games (D1 L1), as many as their previous 10 beforehand (W2 D3 L5).
Is long-ball football on way out of Scottish Premiership?published at 10:23 BST 8 October
10:23 BST 8 October
Nick McPheat BBC Sport Scotland
Are underlying numbers from the start of the Scottish Premiership season suggesting a refreshed approach could be taking hold across the league?
Well, the success stories at Motherwell and Falkirk last season seem to have had an influence.
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin was humble enough to reveal that Jens Berthel Askou - now head coach at Toulouse in Ligue 1 - has inspired him to change his ways after more than 15 years as a player and manager in Scotland.
Goodwin's side are one of a number of Premiership teams to have undergone a stylistic shift this term, and that is reflected in the league's overall numbers, albeit the sample size remains small after just seven matches for each club.
Compared with the previous five Scottish top-flight seasons, passes per game have soared to 886. That is an increase of 58 on last term. Five years ago, the average was 795.
Passing accuracy is also at a high of 81%, which is quite a remarkable increase on the 73% recorded in 2023-24.
That is down to more short passing. The percentage of long passes across the league (13%) is now at its lowest level of the past five years. Perhaps surprisingly, Hearts and Rangers go long more than any other teams.
Goodwin's United, meanwhile, have gone from average possession of 42% last term to 50% this season. Their accurate passes per match have rocketed from 219 to 320.
It is a similar story for St Mirren under Craig McLeish and Neil McCann's Kilmarnock, while league leaders Celtic and Alfred Johansson's Motherwell are locked at the top of the possession chart on 61%.
The promotion of St Johnstone back into the league, replacing Livingston, has added another side who aim to play a more expansive brand.
The recent appointment of Dutch head coach Marink Reedijk at Hibernian will only enhance that.
Richards' move to Kilmarnock collapses over 'administrative error'published at 09:45 BST 8 October
09:45 BST 8 October
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Dave Richards' move to Kilmarnock has fallen through after the English FA refused to grant international clearance.
Kilmarnock last week announced the signing of the 32-year-old goalkeeper, who had been a free agent since leaving Dundee United in the summer, on a contract until January.
However, the Rugby Park club have been unable to complete his registration.
"Following our announcement, which was subject to international clearance, the English FA has refused this due to an administrative error related to Dave's previous registration," said Kilmarnock.
"We share Dave's bitter disappointment about this news and thank him for his professionalism throughout. Everyone at Kilmarnock wishes him well for the future."
'Cost of away tickets is borderline scandalous'published at 18:04 BST 7 October
18:04 BST 7 October
Tyrone Smith BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
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BBC Sport Scotland has been taking a look at away ticket pricing in Scottish football.
It is an issue which has been tackled at the highest level south of the border, with a £30 away ticket cap having been in operation in the Premier League for a decade.
Is anything similar on the agenda north of the border?
While it doesn't appear to be at the moment, we have been canvassing the thoughts of fans across the Premiership.
An adult away fan going to a league game at Dundee United will pay between £26-£39 depending on the fixtures, with concessions ranging from £6-£24
Dundee United fan Paul McNicoll, of The Dode Fox Podcast, says: "The cost of away tickets is borderline scandalous - some of the venues are a lot higher than others.
"It would be good if the clubs could get on the same hymnsheet with that, maybe if there was a standard fee for an away ticket, but it feels like we are miles away from that.
"It just keeps going up and up and I am not really sure when it is going to stop. It doesn't really entice many people or families to go to away matches.
"A cap would be helpful but it would depend what that cap was. From a fan's point of view £25 would seem pretty fair to me. But we are so far over that with some teams already that I just don't foresee it coming down."
Did Tennent's Sixes revival live up to expectations?published at 11:40 BST 6 October
11:40 BST 6 October
Paul McNicoll Fan writer
The international break has robbed me of my fix of club football, so I was hopeful the Tennent's Sixes would provide some much-needed entertainment.
Did it live up to my expectations? Well, a little. Then again, my expectations weren't exactly sky high.
These tournaments often flatter to deceive. The nostalgia kicks in, familiar faces appear, and before long we're reminded some former heroes are no longer quite as mobile as they once were.
At times, it resembled walking football with added ambition and the occasional hamstring on the verge of handing in its notice. Still, there were moments of entertainment, but I do have a few gripes.
The goals: Why on earth weren't the posts flush with the backboards? Having them sticking out looked daft, as though the organisers had bought the wrong equipment and decided nobody would notice.
The crowds: Hats off to everyone who attended, but watching on television, the stands didn't exactly look bursting at the seams. I was hoping for a bit more atmosphere, but charging £25 per session for an adult didn't make it overly appealing, or affordable, to most. Nostalgia is lovely, but apparently costly.
The transfers: What a nonsense. The appeal is watching familiar players represent familiar clubs. Not the same players representing multiple teams on the same day and even turning out for sides they never had any affiliation with.
The coverage: Premier Sports could, and should, have done better. The production felt half-baked, lacking the energy and polish you'd expect from an event with this much history. And don't get me started on the camera work.
To be fair, it was a decent first effort and the concept has plenty of potential. But if this is to become an annual event, the organisers need to sharpen things up considerably.
Personally, I'd love to see the old format of the Tennent's Sixes return. Current players, proper fitness levels, genuine competitiveness, full houses and, for good measure, the odd random English team thrown into the mix. Alas, that ship has sailed.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch some actual club football on Saturday. These past few weekends with no Dundee United to watch has me longing for the days when players could run for 90 minutes without needing a lie down and a small team of medical professionals to ensure they make it through their day.
Goodwin glad to see Iovu get minutes - gossippublished at 07:58 BST 6 October
07:58 BST 6 October
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin was pleased to see defender Iurie Iovu get some game time with Moldova during the international break. (Courier - subscription required, external)
Sapsford on failed Chester move as Dundee United look to January - gossippublished at 07:49 BST 5 October
07:49 BST 5 October
Dundee United striker Zac Sapsford, 24, has revealed his first attempt at breaking into British football with National League North club Chester was thwarted by the Australian's registration problems and the Covid pandemic. (Record - subscription required, external)
Tennent's Sixes remembered: Kissed by Cloughiepublished at 13:30 BST 2 October
13:30 BST 2 October
David Currie BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
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The Tennent's Sixes returns for the first time in 26 years, albeit in a legends format, this weekend.
The original tournament featured first-team players and ran from 1984 until 1993.
Among the players who helped make the headlines was former Dundee United and Scotland midfielder Jim McInally.
It wasn't just the stars of Scottish football who graced the sixes pitch with their skills. On a couple of occasions, English clubs crossed the border to take part.
In 1988, twice European Cup-winning manager Brian Clough brought Nottingham Forest to Glasgow for the indoor football festival.
McInally spent much of the time trying to avoid Cloughie in the build-up to United's match with Forest in the group stage.
The Scot had spent two years at Forest under Clough before moving to Coventry City and then to Tannadice in late 1986.
"I was terrified of coming face to face with Cloughie as I had slaughtered his assistant in the press when I left," the 62-year-old tells BBC Scotland.
"My memory of that night was hearing him outside our dressing room door asking if I was inside.
"When he was told that I was, he walked in, gave me a big kiss and told me it was lovely to see me."
McInally was a Uefa Cup finalist and Scottish Cup winner with United under another formidable boss, Jim McLean.
"It was about the only tournament we could go down and enjoy as Jim didn't take it too seriously and you knew you couldn't be fined for anything afterwards," he added. "We didn't do very well."
Forest, with England internationals Stuart Pearce, Nigel Clough and Neil Webb in the ranks, beat United 3-2 en route to the quarter-finals before losing to Aberdeen in a penalty shootout.
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