Jim Goodwin is urging his Dundee United squad to approach the opening Premiership clash with Rangers without a hint of fear, emphasizing that the team must "lay down a marker" as they step onto the pitch at Tannadice Park. The match, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, marks the start of the Scottish top‑flight season and pits the Tangerines against the Ibrox side on Friday night. This fixture also carries extra significance for Rangers, as it will be Derek McInnes' first competitive appearance in charge of the Glasgow club. Goodwin, however, does not anticipate any major surprises from McInnes, having faced him previously when the latter managed both Aberdeen and Hearts.
"I've managed against Derek McInnes' teams numerous times in the past and Derek's had great success at all of the clubs that he's managed at playing a certain way," Goodwin told Sky Sports News. "I'm not expecting Rangers to be a great deal different from his Hearts team or even the way his Aberdeen team set up a few years ago." Goodwin highlighted the quality within the Rangers squad, noting that they possess a number of highly talented players. Yet he stressed that the key to competing will be Dundee United's mindset. "What they have got is very talented players within their squad but our approach to the game has got to be one of no fear.
We've got to go and set the tone nice and early," he said. The manager believes that a confident, fearless start will not only unsettle the opposition but also send a clear message to the rest of the league about United's ambitions for the season.
The importance of the home crowd cannot be overstated, according to Goodwin. "It's our first game at home at Tannadice in front of our own supporters and I think it's a really good opportunity for us to go and lay down a marker," he added.
The atmosphere at Tannadice is expected to be electric, with fans eager to see how the newly assembled squad performs against one of Scotland's traditional powerhouses. Speaking about the squad's composition, Goodwin noted that Dundee United have already secured nine summer signings.
These new arrivals are expected to bolster the team's depth and quality, helping them to improve on last season's seventh‑place finish. "The objective at the start of any league campaign for a club like Dundee United is to try and secure top six as early as possible and then to try and give ourselves a chance of going and competing for those European places," Goodwin explained. He reminded supporters that the club's ultimate aim is not merely to avoid the lower half of the table but to challenge for spots that could lead to continental competition.
Reflecting on his first season in charge, Goodwin recalled a successful campaign that saw United finish fourth and enjoy a memorable run in European competition. "In my second season here, we enjoyed a fourth‑place finish.
We had a good run at it in Europe, we enjoyed the travelling and the support has certainly travelled in great numbers," he said. Those experiences, he believes, have set a benchmark for the current squad.
"That's what we're hoping to try and achieve again this season," Goodwin added, indicating that the club's ambitions remain high. However, the previous campaign also ended in disappointment with a seventh‑place finish, which fell short of the team's expectations. "Seventh place was a disappointing finish for us. I felt we had enough to go and get top six.
Unfortunately, we just fell a little bit short but we've taken good learnings from last season," Goodwin admitted. He emphasized that the lessons learned will be applied to the new season, with the aim of progressing further up the table. Looking ahead, Goodwin is focused on the crucial period known as "the split," when the league divides into top and bottom halves.
"Hopefully, we can go one step further this time around and make sure that come the time of that split, we're amongst those teams fighting for Europe," he said. This statement underscores the manager's belief that a strong start, particularly against a formidable opponent like Rangers, could set the tone for the rest of the campaign. In summary, Goodwin's message to his players is clear: play with confidence, set the tempo early, and treat the Rangers encounter as a defining moment to showcase Dundee United's intent. By embracing a fearless approach and capitalising on the support of their home fans, the Tangerines hope to signal that they are ready to compete at a higher level and aim for a top‑six finish, with the ultimate goal of securing a place in European competition.
The upcoming match will be a litmus test for the new signings, the tactical plans, and the overall morale of a side determined to improve on past performances.