We’re not ‘rattled’: Goodwin

JIM Goodwin insists he wouldn’t care if Raith Rovers were roared on by 5,000 fans at Tannadice as he batted away suggestions that Dundee United are feeling “rattled” in the Championship title race.

The accusation came from Stark’s Park gaffer Ian Murray last week, in the context of Rovers only receiving 1,342 tickets for the nerve-shredding showdown.

That compared unfavourably to the 1,950-strong following they were afforded when given the entire Carling Stand (“The Shed”) last December.

Rovers were informed that operational issues meant that the whole end of the ground could not be offered on this occasion; something that has apparently cut little ice with either Murray or Raith CEO Andrew Barrowman.

Most notably, Murray told the Fife Free Press: “We now know publicly that we’ve got them a little bit rattled.”

Asked directly whether there is any substance to that comment, Goodwin said: “Definitely not, no.

“This is a game of football. There are a hell of a lot worse things happening in the world and, even in football terms, we are the ones sitting top of the table.

“The ticketing situation is absolutely nothing to do with me, and I couldn’t care if they got 500 tickets or 5,000 tickets. It means nothing to me or my players.

“We focus on what we can affect in the game, and what we need to do to get the result.

We are very comfortable – we have some big players in our team. There’s a lot of experience in our squad; boys who have been there, done it and have handled these sort of situations before.

“And we’ve just got to enjoy these moments. It’s great to be fighting for a title, exciting for everyone and we’ll be calm and focused going into Saturday.”

Nevertheless, there is little debate that United are somewhat wobbling.

They have won just six of their 13 games in 2024 and have conceded the opening goal in eight of those fixtures.

It is not title-winning form and time is running out to rediscover their mojo. A victory against Rovers would be the ideal way to do that.

And following two defeats and a draw from three fraught, narrow contests this term, Goodwin reckons his charges are certainly due one.

“Rather than nerves, the overriding feeling is that we are really looking forward to it,” he said.

“There’s a determination to give a good account of ourselves and we definitely feel that we are due a win in one of these games – because two defeats and a draw isn’t good enough.”

Meanwhile, Goodwin is adamant that Liam Grimshaw is “understanding” of why he was hooked at half-time of last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The experienced full-back made an errant decision to lunge into a challenge on Arabim Pepple, allowing the winger to easily scamper past him before dashing down the wing and teeing up Wallace Duffy’s opener.

Grimshaw did not emerge after the break, with Miller Thomson shifting to right-back and Glenn Middleton occupying the left-back berth in Scott McMann’s absence.

“Grimmy was disappointed, generally, and he was disappointed in his part in the goal against us – he recognises it was a poor decision,” added Goodwin. “But I’ve got a good relationship with Grimmy.

“We felt in the second half that we would have lots of the ball – which is exactly how it panned out – and we used Glenn Middleton in that left-back area, but almost playing as a winger. That allowed Miller to go back on to his right side and gave us more balance. Grimmy understands the reasoning behind the change I made.”

ADAMANT: Jim Goodwin ‘is only focused on his own team’.