First Team
STORY OF THE MATCH | DUNDEE (A)
21st January 2025
Jim Goodwin shared his thoughts following a narrow 1-0 defeat to our city rivals in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup fourth round.
The Gaffer began his post-match interview by praising the effort and commitment shown by his players, particularly in the second half. "We gave it everything, as you would expect from this group of players," he said. Dundee, however, earned plaudits for their defensive resilience. "They defended the box brilliantly all night, and their goalkeeper made one or two good saves. They carried a little bit of luck too, with Trapanovski’s effort coming back off the upright," Goodwin added.
Watch the Manager's full interview on DUTV
Although critical of his team’s sluggish start to the match recognised the efforts of the players to try and overturn the deficit. "The disappointing thing for us is the way we started the game. You can’t give good opposition a goal of a start," he remarked. While United have shown resilience this season by coming from behind on numerous occasions, this time they couldn’t find the breakthrough despite dominating the second half. Goodwin highlighted moments of indecision in front of goal, showing a lack of composure that saw several chances go begging.
The United boss was left perplexed after midfielder Vicko Ševelj's first-half strike was pulled for a foul in the build-up. He said: “I just don't understand why he blows the whistle. We understood that they'd let the play continue and if it was a foul or clear and obvious error, then they'd give it. Watching that back, there's absolutely no way in the world that is a foul."
Reflecting on the broader performance, he noted a marked improvement after the interval. "In the first 15–20 minutes, I thought we were slashing at things, mistiming headers, and not crisp enough in our passing. We rectified that at half-time and were far better in the second 45. On another day, we score a goal or two, and the result is different."
The Irishman also touched on the new additions to the squad, expressing optimism about their potential impact. Forward Ruari Paton, who impressed in the Championship last season, was unlucky not to score on his debut. "He had a great swivel around the penalty area, but it was cleared off the line," Goodwin said. He also praised midfielder Lewis Fiorini as a bright, attacking player who will add versatility to United’s midfield.
Looking ahead, he emphasised the need to regroup quickly, with the league campaign resuming over the weekend. Despite the disappointment, he expressed confidence in his players’ character and resilience. "The league has always been the priority. Of course, we wanted to go further in the cup, but we won’t allow this result to derail what’s been a very good season up to now."
As the end of the transfer window edges closer, Goodwin suggested the club may still seek defensive cover but stressed it isn’t a priority. With Dundee United firmly focused on their league ambitions, the Manager called for unity and determination as they aim to bounce back from this cup disappointment.
Next Up
Attention turns to the weekend as we return to league duty at Tannadice in front of the Sky cameras with Rangers the visitors for a Sunday lunchtime kick-off.
