Jim Goodwin has been urging his Dundee United squad to approach the upcoming clash with Rangers without any hint of intimidation, emphasizing that the team must "lay down a marker" as they kick off the Scottish Premiership season. Speaking live on Sky Sports, the manager highlighted the importance of confidence and composure when facing the Ibrox side, who will be playing their first competitive match under new boss Derek McInnes.
The fixture is set for Friday night at Tannadice Park, where the Tangerines will host Rangers in what promises to be a high‑profile opener. Goodwin noted that, while it will be McInnes' debut in charge of the Glasgow club, there is nothing unexpected about the style of play the new manager is likely to employ.
"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 praised the quality within the Rangers squad, acknowledging that they possess a wealth of talent. However, he stressed that the key for Dundee United will be to adopt a fearless mindset from the first whistle. "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. He added that playing the opening game at home, in front of their own supporters, provides an ideal platform to make a strong statement. "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," Goodwin explained.
Dundee United have already been active in the transfer market, completing nine signings over the summer. Goodwin sees these additions as a stepping stone toward improving 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," he said. Reflecting on his first season in charge, Goodwin recalled that the team finished fourth and enjoyed a rewarding run in European competition, which brought both travel experiences and a surge of fan support. "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.
That's what we're hoping to try and achieve again this season," he noted. He admitted that the seventh‑place finish in the previous campaign was disappointing, especially given the resources and potential he believed the squad possessed.
"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 said. He expressed optimism that the lessons learned will translate into a stronger push this year.
"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 concluded. Goodwin's message to his players is clear: approach the game with confidence, impose their own style early, and use the home crowd to fuel their performance.
By doing so, Dundee United hope to set the tone for a season that could see them challenge for a top‑six finish and possibly a spot in European competition. The match against Rangers will be a true test of whether the Tangerines can translate their summer signings and pre‑season preparations into tangible results on the pitch, and whether Goodwin's philosophy of fearlessness can become the cornerstone of their campaign.