Dundee United

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Aberdeen have Emmanuel Gyamfi available after a head knock while Nicky Devlin might make the bench after returning to training following a three-month lay-off. Alexander Jensen is a doubt while Kristers Tobers (knee) and Nick Suman (ankle) remain out.

Dundee United are set to remain without Amar Fatah, Luca Stephenson (both hamstring), Kristijan Trapanovski, Isaac Pappoe (both knee) and goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer (shoulder).

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Jim Goodwin has called on his Dundee United side to put last week's disappointing defeat by Kilmarnock behind them when they go to Aberdeen on Saturday.

United are seventh in the Scottish Premiership after an up-and-down season and were beaten 3-0 by struggling Killie last week off the back of an impressive derby victory.

However, Goodwin expects a positive response at Pittodrie.

"Last Saturday was a really poor performance from us defensively, which was something that I couldn't foresee before the game given how well we'd played against Dundee," said Goodwin.

"In fairness to the boys, any time we've had a poor performance like that, the bounce back has always been generally positive and that's what we're hoping for tomorrow.

"The players know what is to be expected against a good Aberdeen team who find themselves in a position that they wouldn't have wanted to be in at the start of the campaign.

"They've still got that incentive, I suppose, of trying to finish above us in the table. But if we win, then obviously that secures seventh place and that's got to be the motivation for us."

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• Aberdeen have lost just one of their past 17 home league games against Dundee United (W8 D8) and are unbeaten in nine (W5 D4) since a 3-0 defeat in August 2014.

• United are unbeaten in six league meetings with Aberdeen (W3 D3) since losing 1-0 in October 2024.

• Aberdeen have picked up more points in their past three league games (7 – W2 D1) than in their previous 16 beforehand (6 – W1 D3 L12). At home, the Dons are looking to win three successive league games without conceding for the first time since a run of four from February to April 2023.

• United have lost their past two away league games, last losing three in a row on the road in the Premiership in May 2023.

• Only Hearts (22) and Rangers (21) have scored more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) than United (19) in the Premiership this season, while Aberdeen are the division's lowest scorers from such scenarios (eight). Meanwhile, only Livingston (21) have conceded more goals from non-penalty set-plays than the Dons (19).

Dundee United have made a new contract offer to goalkeeper Dave Richards, with the 32-year-old having deputised for Yevhenii Kucherenko then Ashley Maynard-Brewer this season. (The Courier), external

Manager Jim Goodwin has confirmed that Dundee United's out-of-contract players will know their futures by the end of this week. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

If Dundee United's season was to be illustrated through the medium of dance, it would very much be one step forward and two steps back.

Too often this term, just when it has looked like the Tangerines have turned a corner, they have run into a cul-de-sac. A 3-0 defeat to Kilmarnock last time out is a case in point.

After the high of comprehensively beating their city neighbours Dundee the week before, United were equally comprehensively beaten by Killie - from high to low.

Manager Jim Goodwin has often used the word "consistency" this season - a lack of it proving detrimental to their hopes this term.

Having missed out on a place in the top half of the table, United are currently seventh, comfortably clear of any relegation fears.

The danger for them now is that with nothing other than pride to play for, they simply drift towards the end of the season.

While that is the here and now, Goodwin's focus will also be on next term and trying to find a formula that solves the consistency puzzle.

Ronny Costello
Fan writer

One week you beat Dundee. The next you get battered by Kilmarnock.

That is Dundee United in a nutshell.

After the derby high, this was flat. Really flat. Sloppy goals, slow play and a team that looked miles off it compared to one fighting for survival.

You can dress it up in different ways... End of season. Nothing to play for. Legs gone. Minds elsewhere. Holidays booked.

But it felt more familiar than that.

It felt like the same old story.

A free header from a corner, then a long ball not dealt with, rounded off with a simple back pass that turned into a gift. Three goals, all avoidable. All self-inflicted.

Jim Goodwin spoke about mentality and it is hard to argue. Last week we were aggressive, switched on and won battles. This week we were second to everything that mattered.

That is the frustration. The gap between what this team can be and what it often is.

To be fair, there was still an attacking threat. United created a lot of chances, with an xG of almost two but football is decided in both boxes and right now United are falling short in both.

Derby highs to Killie lows.

Same season.

Same problems.

Ronny Costello can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast, external

Watch the best of the action as Kilmarnock continue their fine home form by beating Dundee United 3-0 to move out of the relegation play-off spot. Available to UK users only.

United fans, we asked for your opinions as Jim Goodwin's side lost 3-0 away to Kilmarnock. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Jamie: Get Goodwin and all of our central defenders out before we become relegation contenders next season.

Ryan: Why change a team that won 3-0 the week before? The defence is bad enough without changes. Max Watters is hopeless as well.

Sean: Another game, another disastrous defensive and goalkeeping display. This against the 11th-placed in the league. We were under no pressure, could just go out and play. I really fear for next season and question whether Goodwin is the man to be in charge. He has had all season to work with these players and we have seen no improvement.

Anon: An absolute disgrace. What's the point? People pay good money and are rewarded with what?

Dave: Terrible pitch, yes. Three or four players having poor performances, yes. I can live with that, it happens. What I can't accept, though, is another three goals shipped by what is nothing short of abysmal defending.

Max Watters, Ross Graham and Sam Cleall-Harding all need to hang their heads in shame because they were at fault. The first two are supposed to be seasoned pros but have shown that they are average players at best.

One note of positivity though - plaudits to Dario Naamo who can take satisfaction from his performance. He was probably the steadiest of all the United players on show.

Keith: Goodwin said the younger players will learn a lesson from this defeat. It's a pity he doesn't learn a lesson. I would rather he wasn't in charge next season.

Anon: Saw it coming. All the talk during was about how Will Ferry was the greatest thing since sliced bread, Vicko Sevelj was getting a new contract and 'we knew what we did wrong and we will fix it during the summer'. No mention of there being four games still to play. Kudos to Killie - they wanted it more.

Lee: United are still losing the same daft goals in May as they did in September. The 'three-at-the-back' has ruined our season and unless Goodwin changes it next season will also be a disaster.

Trying to play through the midfield on that old carpet of a pitch never works. It's like a 12th man for Kilmarnock. If we're serious about improving football in this country, plastic pitches should be banned in the top league.

Kilmarnock beat Dundee United to confirm Livingston's relegation from the Scottish Premiership and lift themselves out of the relegation play-off spot.

MATCH REPORT

HAVE YOUR SAY

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "Of course, we're thoroughly disappointed to lose the game and to lose the goals in the fashion that we did is the most disappointing part of it. We concede really soft goals from our perspective. The three goals were really bad.

"In the first 60, 65 minutes, Kilmarnock were the better team, they were better than us in pretty much every department and they thoroughly deserved all three points on the day.

"The younger players will certainly take valuable lessons from this afternoon and hopefully we'll improve from it."

Dundee United will only sell left-back Will Ferry, 25, if the club's valuation is met, says manager Jim Goodwin. (Courier - subscription required), external

Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Kilmarnock have signed goalkeeper Kieran Wright on a seven-day emergency loan from Rangers.

Killie did not disclose whether either of their two main goalkeepers, Max Stryjek or Kelle Roos, have become unavailable but manager Neil McCann admitted to picking up a number of knocks and bumps.

Tyreece John-Jules (quad), Djenairo Daniels (knee) and Matty Kennedy (hip) are sidelined.

Dundee United are without Amar Fata, Luca Stephenson (both hamstring), Kristijan Trapanovski, Isaac Pappoe (both knee) and goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer (shoulder), while manager Jim Goodwin revealed they had some other unnamed players struggling to be fit.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin is keen to secure Will Ferry - who has been named Premiership player of the month for April - on a new contract amid interest from "a number of other clubs".

The 25-year-old has been a revelation since his arrival from Cheltenham Town in the summer of 2024 and is now entering the final year of his deal.

The wing-back has scored three goals, and set up a further two, in his past two Premiership appearances.

"We will offer Will Ferry an extension on his contract," Goodwin said.

"From a manager's point of view I always want to try and keep my best players but from the club's perspective I understand there is a player trading model in place and in order for that to work we have to sign good young talented players, develop them and raise their profile.

"Will knows what I think of him on a personal level, he is well aware of what our supporters think of him.

"His performances over the last two years have been extremely consistent and it is no surprise to me that he is on the radar of a number of other clubs."

Ferry, a former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, made 42 appearances in his first season at Tannadice across all competitions and set up five goals.

This term, he's got nine assists and four goals in 38 games.

"We brought Will Ferry up from the lower leagues in England," Goodwin added.

"We have given Will the opportunity to play in the Premiership and to raise his profile and he has done fantastically well at that.

"A lot of recruitment now all over Europe is very data driven and Will's numbers over the last two years, defensively, in terms of assisting goals, and obviously now lately adding goals to his game, he will be really high up on a lot of teams' lists."

Having finished fourth on their top-flight return last term, United have missed out on the top six this term but are free of relegation worries.

Goodwin, whose side visit second-bottom Kilmarnock on Saturday, said: "We wanted to be a consistent top-six performing team and obviously we fell short this year and I need to take responsibility for that.

"I think we had a relatively good start in the opening block of 11 games, that middle period is the bit that cost us dearly.

"We know where we went wrong, we know the areas we need to improve on, and we will work hard over the summer to make sure that we are in a better situation come next season and that we don't make the same mistakes."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Manager Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Dundee United's Premiership trip to Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• Goodwin says "without a shadow of a doubt" the club will offer a contract extension to Will Ferry.

• The wing-back, who has a year of his deal remaining, is reportedly attracting interest from elsewhere and Goodwin admits the 25-year-old will be "really high up on a lot of teams' lists".

• Having already agreed pre-contracts with forward Jesse Randall and striker Lachlan Rose, Goodwin says the Tannadice club have "a list of players we believe are realistic targets".

• He sees seventh-place United as a team who belong in the top six and are challenging in Europe: "We know where we went wrong, we know the areas we need to improve on."

• Goodwin is expecting a "really difficult game" against second-bottom Killie, who are "fighting for their lives".

• On United's season being blighted by injuries to key players, the manager says: "I think that is something we will look at when we do our end-of-season review. We sit down as a staff and the medical department and the strength and conditioning guys and everybody else and we will see the areas where we think we can improve for next season to make sure we don't end up in a similar situation."

• Team news: As well as the players already out, United are monitoring a few who picked up "niggles" during the derby win over Dundee last weekend.

Blackburn Rovers are targeting a move for Dundee United's Will Ferry after an impressive campaign. (The 72, external)

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• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in eight Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee United (W4 D4) since a 4-0 defeat in November 2022.

• United are without a win in eight Premiership visits to Kilmarnock (W4 D4) since a 4-2 victory in May 2016.

• Under Neil McCann, Kilmarnock have lost just one of their six home league games (W4 D1); they had lost six of their past seven before he joined (D1).

• United have lost four of their past six away league outings (W1 D1), as many as their previous 15 prior to this (W4 D7 L4).

• Joe Hugill has scored in Kilmarnock's past two home league games; should he also net against United, he would be the youngest player to score in three successive top-flight home appearances for Killie (22y 195d on date of this game) since Chris Maguire in February 2010 (21y 35d).

Dundee United will not allow Vicko Sevelj's contract to expire this summer - and manager Jim Goodwin hopes it can be extended beyond 2027. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish football gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

After the high of finishing fourth in last season's Scottish Premiership, expectations for what Dundee United could achieve this time around would undoubtedly have risen.

They have fallen below those expectations this season after missing out on a top-six spot. However, if you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, there still appears to be plenty for United to be optimistic about.

After spending an unwelcome campaign in the second tier the season before last, re-establishing and cementing their place in the top division remains the immediate short-to-medium-term goal.

Currently seventh in the table - a hefty 15 points above the relegation play-off place - they have once again secured their Premiership status with relative ease.

The performances haven't always been convincing and there have been a few bumps in the road, but generally things appear to be heading in the right direction.

Manager Jim Goodwin will look to continue that development next term. The longer they remain in the Premiership, the better equipped they will feel to steadily challenge for a place in the top half of the table - where they believe they ultimately belong.

Making sure they are not dragged into a relegation battle is therefore a key part of building for the future.

Overall, Goodwin has done a good job at United, with smart recruitment being central to that progress. He is already planning for next season, with several players lined up to arrive in the summer.

Hanging on to his best players will also be a priority - and wide man Will Ferry falls firmly into that category.

Ferry delivered a standout performance in United's 3-0 derby win over Dundee at the weekend, scoring twice and setting up the other goal.

After the game, Goodwin described him as arguably "one of the best signings this club has made for a number of windows".

He also said he would not be surprised if there was interest from elsewhere in the player, who still has a year left on his United contract.

It will be interesting to see how United handle any tempting offers that may come in.

Unless they are offered silly money, you can make a strong case that the value of keeping Ferry - given his importance to the team - exceeds the financial return from any sale.

But, to use the well-worn football trope, every player has his price. The ideal solution for United would be to persuade Ferry to sign a new contract.

Manager Jim Goodwin has confirmed that Dundee United are keen to secure the permanent signing of Krisztian Keresztes if they can afford to take up the option on buying the defender from Hungarian outfit Nyiregyhaza Spartacus. (The Courier - subscription required), external

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

Dundee United fans have long had a soft spot for the song Beautiful Sunday. As it turns out, they picked a good one to live up to the name.

For the final time this season the city rivals squared off. For United, it was all about bragging rights and finishing above them yet again, pretty standard business really.

For the other lot, it was slightly more pressing, their top-flight survival depended on it. No pressure.

United are floating in an end-of-season limbo. Too good to go down, not quite consistent enough to play in the top six, just trying to nail down seventh place and call it a day.

The visitors arrived with big claims. A multi-million-pound centre-half in the making, a supposedly in-demand goalkeeper and a tactical system dubbed 'Pressleyball'.

We've had tiki-taka and gegenpressing, but this sounds more like something you'd play on the beach on your holidays.

So how did United cope? Pretty well, actually.

The first half was classic derby fare, scrappy, tense and not exactly one for the purists.

The breakthrough came in gloriously chaotic fashion. Zac Sapsford fired a shot that was heading somewhere in the general direction of goal, only for Will Ferry, seated on the turf, to unintentionally intervene.

The ball bounced off his knee and trickled in off the post. The highly sought-after keeper? Rooted. Possibly still processing what he'd just witnessed.

The second half followed a familiar script, a bit of early pressure from the visitors, lots of huffing, puffing and not much else.

Then Ferry, clearly deciding one accidental goal wasn't enough for his highlight reel, picked up a pass from Vicko Sevelj, took a touch and absolutely rifled one in from the edge of the box. The keeper, once again, opted for a front-row viewing experience.

At 2-0 in a derby, nerves are inevitable (recent memories at Dens still sting), so the obvious solution? Score a third.

Ferry wasn't done. He danced down the byeline, thoroughly embarrassed his marker and floated in a perfect cross for Ryan Strain to bag his first goal for the club. Judging by the celebration, it's fair to say he enjoyed it. As for the keeper, well, let's just say he remained consistent.

And that was that. 3-0. Job done.

'Pressleyball' dismantled, over 10,000 United fans in full voice and bragging rights safely tucked away for the summer.

There might not have been everything on the line in this one, but beating your rivals never gets old.

A beautiful Sunday indeed.

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