Dundee United

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• Dundee United are unbeaten in their last three midweek home games (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) in the Scottish Premiership (W2 D1) since a 2-1 defeat to St Mirren in January of last season.

• After beating Ross County 2-0 in their last away league outing, Hibernian are looking to win back-to-back Premiership games on the road within a single season for the first time since February 2021.

• Hibs have won each of their last three away games against Dundee United in the top flight; Hibs last won more successive away visits to a particular side in the competition against St Mirren, a run of five wins from 2018 to 2021.

• Dundee United have only won two of their last 11 top-flight league meetings with Hibernian (D5 L4), including just one of their last six (D2 L3).

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell admits Scottish football could be in for a horrendous few months as the game looks to get to grips with the introduction of VAR in the Premiership, but he is hoping clubs and fans keep their cool and have patience - because the country's officials will get it right. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Dundee United have signed Ukrainian youngster Stanislav Drabych to their academy.

The 11-year-old from Lviv took up refuge with his family in Scotland in March and was previously an academy player in his homeland.

"We take player care very seriously at Dundee United and have done all we can to help Stas and his family,” United head of player care, education and safeguarding Niall Nicolson told the club website.

"Stas also got the chance, as other academy players do, to be the ballboy at a game and when I told him it was like Christmas Day."

There's three players from Rangers, two from both Celtic and Dundee United and one each from Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Ross County in Sportscene host Jonathan Sutherland's team of the week in the Scottish Premiership.

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Australia left-back Aziz Behich says he is putting his hopes of making his country's World Cup finals squad aside as he concentrates on helping lift Dundee United clear of the relegation zone. (The Courier), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Were you at Tannadice, or watching at home? What did you make of Dundee United's performance? Have your say here.

Thomas Duncan, BBC Scotland

United's start to the season has been about as dreadful as it could have been. A manager down already, shipping goals, and no fun to be had at home.

That all changed on Saturday and Fox will hope this can be a springboard. Even before the goals started flowing, they looked more organised in the early stages.

Then, bang. They burst into life. There was always quality in this United squad, and finally it came to bear. McGrath was fantastic, Watt was as sharp as he's been all season, the whole team worked so hard.

Kieran Freeman did.

An assist for Watt's goal helped indeed, but his play throughout was impressive as he flew up and down the right-hand side all night.

The below heatmap illustrates just how attacking his display was.

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Dundee United manager Liam Fox remained cautious after his side's 4-0 thumping of Aberdeen, telling BBC Scotland "it's only three points."

“Obviously really pleased with the result, with the performance," he said. "Let’s not kid oursvles it’s a big result but only three points.

“We rode our luck a bit early on in the game, credit to Aberdeen they put us under pressure. We stood firm and then when the opportunities for us came we were ruthless tonight.

“It’s two in two for Tony [Watt] now, he was good. We still need more from every individual though, we need to keep pushing. And again I repeat myself, it’s only three points.

"They had a fair bit of possession, they’ve got good movement and good players but I thought we coped with that reasonably well tonight.

“It could be [a turning point in our season] but we have to follow it up. We’ve got a very difficult game coming up against Hibs, there's no point taking a step tonight and then taking two back. We'll be back to work and ready to go for Tuesday night.

“For us moving forward that's the level I expect. Some of the criticism has been justified, we’re all aware of and accept that. All we can do is look forward with positivity.”

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Dundee United: Eriksson, Smith, Edwards, McMann, Freeman , Sibbald, McGrath, Levitt, Behich, Middleton, Watt.

Substitutes: Birighitti, Graham, Niskanen, Pawlett, Meekison, A. Sadat, Harkes, Cudjoe, Thomson.

Aberdeen: Roos, Richardson, Stewart, Scales, Coulson, McCrorie, Ramandi, Watkins, Hayes, Besuijen, Miovski.

Substitutes: Lewis, Morris, Barron, Duk, Clarkson, Duncan, Milne, Kennedy, Ramirez.

Image source, BBC Sport

Two former Scotland internationals - centre-half Charlie Mulgrew and striker Steven Fletcher - are unlikely to feature for Dundee United.

Mulgrew missed the home defeat by St Johnstone last week with a thigh injury, while Fletcher picked up a knock in the same game and had to be replaced soon after the break.

Connor Barron is in the Aberdeen squad for the first time this season after training well this week following a knee problem.

Fellow midfielder Leighton Clarkson and defender Liam Scales also come back into contention following suspensions.

Peter Pawlett could return to the Dundee United squad for the first time in eight months when the Tangerines host his former club Aberdeen on Saturday evening. (Courier, external - subscription required)

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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Dundee United have appointed Paul Cowie as their new academy director.

Cowie has been working in the DUFC academy since 2019, and previously held the position of head of academy coaching.

“I have really enjoyed my time at Dundee United over the last four years," he said. "And I am excited to take on the challenge of being Dundee United’s academy director.”

Sporting director, Tony Asghar, added: “Paul’s coaching and leadership abilities are just some of the attributes that allowed the interview panel to make this decision.

"His vision for phase two will be implemented within the Dundee United development system.”