Jim Goodwin certain United will eventually find their win despite disappointing derby defeat.

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin tried to find the positives in a disappointing derby day defeat at home to Dundee earlier today. The result leaves United winless from their opening three league games, and winless in four. Despite an unkind fixture list which saw his side open at home to Rangers, before travelling to Tynecastle. A League Cup draw at home to Celtic was up next, before a derby day where form didn’t go out the window. Much like his post-match reaction to the Hearts game two weeks ago, Goodwin noted how the scoreline wasn’t a full reflection of the afternoon as it was another one where Dundee United just couldn’t find the net. Goodwin said: “Dundee looked dangerous on the counter attack at times, but defensively, I thought they were very rarely troubled. “The opening goal unfortunately comes from us having what looked like a very promising counter attack… The reaction after that is poor in terms of trying to get the ball back. Take nothing away from the strike, it’s a hell of a strike from 35 yards.” “I know what this game is all about at the end of the day. It’s all about winning games of football, results are what matter most. I don’t need to look at the stats from the game today to see that we’ve probably had more possession of the ball, more attempts on goal, more penalty box entries, more dangerous attacks. But, it counts for nothing if we don’t have the three points to show for it at the end of it and that’s the reality of the situation we find ourselves in. “I believe in this group of players, I believe in my staff. I believe we’re doing lots and lots of good things in the week, but ultimately, all of that hard work we’re doing Monday to Friday needs to come to fruition at the weekend and in the last three weeks unfortunately that hasn’t been the case.” He was then pushed on reasons for why his side haven’t scored for three games in a row now, Goodwin said: “Of course, we spend time working on every area of the squad, there’s different sessions for different days of the week and a lot of those sessions are based around the final third in terms of crossing and finishing exercises, no different to what any other team out there does. “It’s hard to replicate the atmosphere and the tension that’s there on a match day on the training pitch. “I don’t think the recent results are down to a lack of effort or a lack of commitment from anyone of my players. I’ve got to take responsibility on my shoulders as the manager. I’ve signed all of these players, I’ve brought them all to Dundee United, I believe in every single one of them. “If you look back on the key metrics we analyse games by, I think you’ll see we’ve probably had the better of most situations in the last couple of games in particular, but we certainly don’t have the results to show for that. Law of averages would say that if we have the better of all those metrics than the opponent, the results will change with it. That’s what my message to the players is.” Goodwin was asked about the reaction from Abdoulaye Yoro, who gave the ball away prior to Drey Wright’s goal, and whether he could have done better to win the ball back afterwards. He said: “He’s a young player, he’s coming from a different type of league and a different environment. We had that conversation at half-time and he knows what’s expected. I don’t mind the mistake, players throughout the team are going to make mistakes from time to time, you know, honest mistakes, but the reaction is important to me. I want the reaction after that to be a positive one to help the team out to make sure that we get back in and rectify that mistake.” Speaking on injury updates, especially that of Will Ferry, who it seemed like would miss the match despite playing the full 90, Goodwin said: “Well yesterday in the build up to the game, doing the press conferences, you don’t want to give the opposition every last bit of information. I don’t like lying to you guys (the press) cause you’re all a good bunch of boys, but at the end of the day, we tried to keep that one in house. It is what it is, we don’t want to give the opposition too much information, but Will trained the last couple of days, trained well and wanted to play. He’s been our best player for the last two years. “Manny (Emmanuel Agyei) just felt his hamstring tightening up yesterday. We sent him for a scan, there’s a wee bit of swelling around the area, but nothing major, there’s no tears or serious strains or anything like that. We’re pushing and hope to have him next week, because he’s a big loss for the team in terms of the performance and what he gives to the team. But I don’t think we’ve lost the game because of Agyei’s absence. ” United have little time to feel sorry for themselves as they travel to Rugby Park next week to face fellow winless side Kilmarnock.

Steven Pressley downplays his side’s performance after Dundee Derby win

Dundee boss Steven Pressley was full of praise for his side following their Dundee Derby victory away at Tannadice. Despite every team in the league outwith Dundee United having a game-in-hand on Dundee, the win leaves them joint top of the league three games into the season. Prior to the match, during the famous walk to Tannadice, Pressley was spotted with a tote bag donning a photograph titled “Blue Men of the Sahara.” The manager was full of praise for his team’s victory away to The Arabs. Pressley said: “They won on determination, they won on grit, so I couldn’t be prouder. We spoke in the week on how we find ways to win away from home and I think that was a good example of it. You don’t always need to play particularly well, but when you show that determination you’ve got a chance.” Despite an impressive win, the Dundee boss continued to modestly downplay his side performance. When asked about if there was any injury to Charlie Reilly, who went off at half-time, he said: “I just made a tactical change at half-time, I don’t think it worked! “We just wanted to stiffen up the middle of the pitch a little bit more, but it maybe brought a little bit more pressure on us at times… But like I said, it was real determination from the group.” When asked about his thoughts on the Dundee fan’s ‘Pressley ball’ sing to the tune of ‘Daddy Cool’ by BoneyM, he joked that today’s showing wasn’t an example of what ‘Pressley Ball’ is. Dundee captain Simon Murray picked up an injury against Aberdeen earlier in the season and when asked about how his players stepped up in Murray’s absence today, Pressley said: “He played his own role. He was in the dressing room before the game, half-time, after the game. He’s got a huge role to play and the players listen to him and respond to him. He’s got a big influence on the group, so although he wasn’t playing today, he was there in spirit.” When asked about any potential transfer activity as the window approaches an end, he said: “You look today, our two centre-backs who were incredible in performance, but we had no one behind that, so we definitely need to bring in a couple centre-backs and maybe another wide player. We’ll decide on that in the coming days. I’ve said it time and time again, but we’re working really hard to do those things and fingers crossed we’ll identify and get in the right players.” Dundee and Pressley will look to continue this good form on the other side of the street next week as they host Hibernian in their next match.

Dundee victorious on derby day: Dundee United 0-2 Dundee

Dundee ran out 2-0 winners at Tannadice Park in the only Premiership match of the week, leaving Jim Goodwin’s side winless three games into the league campaign. The closest derby in British football got off to an extremely slow start as both sides tried to get a foothold in the match. United had most of the possession in the opening stages but failed to create any chances of note. The home fans were in fine voice to start the afternoon. Whilst you’d expect many Dundee United players to be boo’d by the away end, for some reason, Will Ferry was the only one on the receiving end of it early on. Abdoulaye Yoro had the first half chance of the game after getting a shot off following a United free-kick, but his effort was easily collected by Owen Goodman in the Dundee goal. The visitors quickly came up the park following the set-piece and Charlie Reilly managed to get a shot off from range, but his effort was over the bar. Dundee went close after Joe Westley managed to get a shot away outside the box deep into the first half, but his effort was deflected wide for a corner. United earned a corner of their own minutes later and Goodman done brilliantly to get his hands to Vicko Sevelj’s effort to keep the match goalless. Jesse Randall was next to shoot from range, cutting in on his right foot from outside the area, but his shot flew wide of Goodman’s goal. Dundee had a penalty appeal shortly after the half-hour mark as the away side believed Reilly’s strike came off an opposition hand, but their appeals were to no avail. A quick counter attack allowed Randall to get onto his right foot once more, but his effort was deflected and easily collected by Goodman. Idjessi Mitsoko went close for United after some tidy football from United on the edge of the box, a low cross from Mehdi Merghem found MItsoko, but Ryan Astley was able to get a block in from close range. Dundee found the lead late in the first-half. They had another penalty appeal as Ethan Hamilton looked to be fouled in the box, United attempted to breakaway quickly, but Drey Wright latched onto a loose ball and carried it forward into a dangerous area before unleashing a fantastic strike into the bottom left corner, sending the away end into pandemonium. Moments before half-time, Panutche Camara entered the book for a perceived foul on Ryan Finnegan. It nearly went from bad to worse as David Dickinson was sent to the monitor for a potential red card, but after review, Camara’s booking was rescinded and passed to Finnegan for simulation. United’s best chance of the match fell early in the second half as Yoro found space in the box and challenged Goodman, who was able to get low and block the shot with his feet. Dundee’s lead was doubled before the hour mark following a scramble from a corner. Alan Forrest’s left-footed volley looked to be going wide, but it came off the foot Owen Bevan and into the bottom corner of Walton’s net. United looked to pull one back shortly after through an audacious effort from Neil Farrugia, who latched onto a wayward shot from captain Dylan Tait with an overhead kick, which looped over the bar. Dundee kept knocking on United’s door after a goalmouth scramble saw Ethan Hamilton and debutant Bradley Fink’s efforts blocked before Walton caught a third strike in a matter of moments. Zac Sapsford was next to go close for United as he was found free in the box, but a deft touch from Astley sent his strike behind for a corner. Lachlan Rose was through one-on-one moments later, but pressure from the Dundee defence forced him to shoot wide from outside the box. Fink had the Dundee fans on their feet late on after a mazy run on the counter-attack, but was clipped by Sevelj just outside the area. Westley’s subsequent free-kick sailed narrowly over the bar. Despite being two goals down late on, Dundee’s dramatic derby day comeback last season was certainly in the front of United’s minds as they kept pushing late on. Farrugia was next to go for goal with a left-footed effort outside the area, which was narrowly wide. Daniel Bennie then also shot wide just before four minutes of stoppage time were called. Sapsford then saw his close range effort blocked before Sevelj shot wide following that corner. Dundee were happy to hold the ball in the corner in the closing stages, sealing successive league wins. The victors host Hibernian next week whilst Dundee United will travel to Kilmarnock in search of their first league win of the season. Dundee United: Jack Walton, Bert Esselink, Vicko Sevelj, Mehdi Merghem (Neil Farrugia 60′), Panutche Camara, Dylan Tait, Will Ferry, Michael Forbes, Jesse Randall (Daniel Bennie 46′), Abdoulaye Yoro (Lachlan Rose 67′), Idjessi Metsoko (Zac Sapsford 60′). Dundee: Owen Goodman, Idris Odutayo, Ryan Astley, Owen Bevan (goal 57′), Drey Wright (goal, 43′), Ryan Finnegan, Alan Forrest (Bobby Wales 80′), Charlie Reilly (Fin Robertson 46′), Joe Westley (Brad Halliday 90′), Joe Bevan (Bradley Fink 67′), Ethan Hamilton.

Man Utd must “find the answers” after opening day slump

Manchester United’s pre-season optimism took a bruising reality check on opening weekend, falling 2-0 to newly promoted Hull City. The defeat zapped the club’s momentum and marked a historic low, with the Red Devils losing to a promoted team on the opening day for the first time in their history.  While the visitors racked up 21 total attempts, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Bruno Fernandes all forcing saves, clear-cut openings were at a premium, as Michael Carrick reflected post-match. “I thought we had moments and then two set plays caught us today.” “That decided the game in the end. We’ve conceded two goals today from set plays. We’ll look at it and improve it for sure.” Marcus Rashford was introduced at half-time for his first appearance for his boyhood club since December 2024, following his loan spell at Barcelona. While he showed occasional flashes, Carrick admitted the team leaned too heavily on the returning forward. Captain Bruno Fernandes echoed his manager’s frustrations, pointing directly to the physical battle and defensive lapses that cost them the match while acknowledging the supporters’ anxieties. “We know in the Premier League these types of away grounds are difficult to play against,” Fernandes told TNT Sports. “You need to match their intensity and aggression. The two set pieces ended up costing us the game today.” Addressing the travelling support’s visible frustration, the skipper issued a defiant rallying cry. “We understand the frustration. Every season, at the start, we want to compete and win every game, but we need the fans on our side and to believe in ourselves.” For Carrick, the immediate challenge is figuring out if this defeat was just a one-off fluke or a sign of deeper problems. “It’s constant, it’s evolving all the time,” Carrick insisted. “Just because we haven’t got any points today, it won’t change what we do next week. We look forward and be excited with the season that is still ahead of us.”