Jim Goodwin is urging his Dundee United squad to approach the season‑opening clash with Rangers without any hint of intimidation, insisting that the team must "lay down a marker" as they step onto the pitch at Tannadice Park under the bright lights of a Sky Sports broadcast. The Tangerines will host the Ibrox outfit on Friday night in what marks the first official match of the Scottish Premiership campaign. For Rangers, it also signals the debut competitive appearance of their new boss, Derek McInnes, who takes charge of the Glasgow side for the first time since his appointment.
Goodwin, however, is not expecting a radical departure from the style of play that McInnes has historically favoured. Having faced McInnes while he was at the helm of both Aberdeen and Hearts, Goodwin says he is well‑acquainted with the manager’s tactical preferences.
"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." He went on to acknowledge the quality within the Rangers squad, noting that the club boasts a number of highly talented individuals.
Yet he stressed that the key to overcoming that talent lies in a collective mindset of fearlessness. "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," Goodwin explained. "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." The manager also highlighted the importance of the home crowd in creating a formidable atmosphere. He believes that a strong start at Tannadice could set the tone for the rest of the season, giving United a psychological edge over a side that will be eager to assert their own dominance under a new manager. Dundee United have already been active in the transfer market, completing nine signings during the summer window.
Goodwin sees these additions as vital pieces in a puzzle designed to improve upon last season's seventh‑place finish. His ambition is clear: to push the club into the top six as early as possible and, ultimately, to challenge for a European qualification spot. "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.
"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." Goodwin did not shy away from reflecting on the disappointment of finishing seventh last term. He believes that the team possessed the quality to finish higher but fell just short of the mark.
The lessons learned, he says, will be applied moving forward. "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. 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," Goodwin concluded. Beyond tactics and squad depth, Goodwin emphasized the intangible factors that can sway a season: confidence, unity, and the belief that the players can compete with the league's traditional powerhouses.
He urged his players to seize the moment, to play with intensity from the first whistle, and to remember that fear is a choice, not a necessity. As the match approaches, both sides will be keen to make a statement.
For Rangers, it's about establishing Derek McInnes' philosophy and showing that the club remains a force in Scottish football. For Dundee United, it's a chance to demonstrate that they can stand shoulder to shoulder with the country's elite, unafraid and determined to carve out a season that could see them back in European competition. The stage is set, the fans are ready, and the message from Goodwin is unmistakable: play without fear, set the tone early, and let the results speak for themselves.