Two sides at opposing ends of the Scottish Premiership table will come together on Saturday afternoon when Dundee United host Ross County at Tannadice Park.
The hosts are fourth in the division with 16 points from 11 matches, while the visitors are ninth in the standings with 12 points from 12 outings.
Match preview
![Jim Goodwin (Manager) of Dundee United during the 2024/25 Pre Season Friendly match between Dundee United and Luton Town at CalForth Construction Arena, Tannadice Park, Scotland on 26 July 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/jim-goodwin.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Jim Goodwin (Manager) of Dundee United during the 2024/25 Pre Season Friendly match between Dundee United and Luton Town at CalForth Construction Arena, Tannadice Park, Scotland on 26 July 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
Dundee United have enjoyed a stellar start to the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, coming into this game sitting fourth in the table with 16 points, from four wins, four draws and three defeats.
That opening to the campaign is even more impressive considering this is Dundee Utd's first year back in the top flight since suffering relegation in 2022-23, with the Tangerines earning promotion by winning the Scottish Championship last season.
Jim Goodwin, who has been in charge since March 2023, has led the side to eight wins, four draws and five defeats in their first 17 matches across all competitions.
However, their form has taken a nosedive in recent outings, with Dundee Utd heading into this game without a victory in their last three fixtures, losing back-to-back matches against Aberdeen and Motherwell before dramatically drawing 1-1 with Hibernian last time out, courtesy of a 90th-minute equaliser from Sam Dalby.
Goodwin will now be looking for his side to break their winless streak on Saturday with a victory against a team they have defeated in three of their last four encounters at Tannadice Park.
The hosts will be the favourites heading into the matchup, with the visitors having endured another difficult opening to a Scottish Premiership season, with Ross County sitting ninth in the table.
Despite them being towards the bottom half of the standings, Don Cowie will likely be pleased with their start given the Staggies have placed in the relegation playoff place in each of the last two years.
Ross County have been extremely streaky in their first 12 league outings, with the matches featuring an inconsistent cycle of results, but they do remain unbeaten in their last three heading into this one.
They have, however, struggled for goals, highlighted by successive 0-0 draws in their last two matches, with no team scoring fewer than their 10 goals from 12 matches in the league, something they will be hoping to address in this one.
Team News
© Imago
Dundee Utd will be without the services of Craig Sibbald, with the midfielder set to remain on the treatment table until late December after picking up a groin injury in the closing stages of last month.
Ross Graham is also a doubt for Saturday's match with the defender nearing the end of his recovery from a hamstring injury that he sustained in early October, meaning Emmanuel Adegboyega, Declan Gallagher and Kevin Holt are likely to continue in defence.
The visitors are expected to remain without George Harmon, Max Sheaf and Will Nightingale for this match due to injury issues that the trio are not expected to return from for a number of weeks.
Elsewhere, following three successive matches without defeat in the league, their joint-longest run this campaign, Cowie could name a similar starting side for this one.
Having struggled in attack in the opening 12 fixtures, scoring just 10 times, Ross County could look to Ronan Hale, Jordan White and Noah Chilvers to provide the goals here.
Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Walton; Adegboyega, Gallagher, Holt; Strain, Sevelj, Babunski, Ferry; Stephenson, Dalby, Middleton
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Wright, Lopata, Campbell; Brown, Randall, Nisbet, Reid; Chilvers; White, Hale
We say: Dundee United 1-0 Ross County
The hosts may have struggled in recent outings, while the visitors are unbeaten in their last three, but Dundee Utd have enjoyed the better overall start to the campaign, and we expect them to win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
