Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has outlined his side’s mission as they prepare to face Hearts at Tynecastle.
Goodwin revealed that his focus is already shifting to the clash with Hearts, with a key objective in mind.
Dundee United bounced back from their derby disappointment against Dundee with a 1-0 victory over Ross County in Dingwall. Ross Graham’s header secured a vital three points, keeping United in fifth place, five points ahead of Hearts in sixth – the team they will face on Sunday.
Eyes on European Football
With a six-point gap over St Mirren and Motherwell, who both have a significantly inferior goal difference, Dundee United’s place in the top six is all but secured. Now, the focus shifts to the race for European qualification.
Hearts Clash Looms
Goodwin isn’t dwelling on the win over Ross County, instead turning his attention to the critical match against Hearts in Gorgie. It’s a pivotal game for both teams. A Hearts victory at Tynecastle would narrow the gap to just two points, keeping them in the hunt for fifth place. However, a defeat could leave them trailing by eight points with only six games remaining.
For Goodwin, the immediate priority is securing a top-half finish.
“I’ve been in the game long enough to know that nothing is done until it’s mathematically confirmed,” Goodwin said.
“St Mirren are in good form and will back themselves to pick up results. Goal difference could still come into play. It was vital to get back to basics, and now we look forward to Hearts.
“The criticism after the derby defeat was justified. That’s what happens when you don’t perform. To have 800 fans make the trip to Dingwall on a Sunday was incredible – and making their journey home a bit easier with a win was very satisfying.
“We knew it would be a tough game, and we needed resilience and team spirit to get the result. It wasn’t pretty or full of quality, but we had spoken during the week about getting back to basics. We set the target of a clean sheet because we always believe we’ll score, and set-pieces have been a big part of our success this season. It was a massive three points.”
