THE GAFFER
Good evening everyone, and welcome back to Tannadice!
I hope you all enjoyed a great summer and I am sure everyone is just as excited as us to get back to home action this evening.
We were really disappointed with Saturday’s result against Falkirk. We’ve had a really good four weeks of pre-season but it certainly didn’t show in that 90 minutes. It’s a bit of a reality check but it is important we don’t get carried away. We have an opportunity to get back on track this evening against another good side. We have to analyse Saturday and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes.
There’s still a great sense of optimism around the club based on our title-winning campaign last season, so it is important we harness that as the weeks progress.
The signings we have made possess some real quality and experience. We know we are still a little bit light at the moment and of course some have come later than others so it may take a while to get them them up to speed. We’re confident in the squad we’re pulling together and it’s important we utilise the group.
Everyone’s focused on getting out of the group and securing a place in the last 16. This is competitive football and we want to make sure we’re in the hat come the knockout stages.
I hope you all enjoy the game!
- Jim Goodwin
THE VISITORS
Stenhousemuir arrive at Tannadice for the first time in over half a century in rude health after a historic 2023/24 cinch League 2 campaign which saw them crowned champions – remarkably the first title of their 140-year history!
Prior to this, the club had enjoyed just three previous promotions all of which are relatively recent – 1998-99, 2008-09 and 2017-18 (via the play-offs),
What’s more, they did it in style! Clinching the title in the first week of April when a goalless draw with East Fife – their 19th shut-out of the season - at Ochilview coupled with Peterhead dropping points away to Bonnyrigg the long wait was over.
GARY NAYSMITH
Masterminding the Larbert outfit’s momentous first title is Gary Naysmith who has brought his experience as a player and in Management to bear.
Capped 46 times by Scotland, his career as a left-sided defender or winger encompassed Hearts, Everton, where he stayed for seven seasons. After spells with Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town, Naysmith returned to Scotland with Aberdeen. In the summer of 2013, Naysmith signed with part-time club East Fife and was appointed the player-manager in December. Thereafter, he managed Championship side Queen of the South from December 2016 until May 2019.
The following August, Naysmith returned to Hearts in a newly created role of managing players loaned out to other clubs. He was appointed manager of Edinburgh City in March 2021, but was sacked in March 2022, despite the team sitting in 4th place of the 2021–22 Scottish League Two table.
In January 2023, he took over the reins at Ochilview and last season, his first full one in charge, he also led the Warriors to a club-record number of wins in a row en route to their first league silverware. The reward for his efforts was the offer of a new deal that extends his Ochilview stay until 2026.
And as the Larbert outfit prepares for life in League One, the majority of last season’s history-making squad remains available - supplemented by a handful of new arrivals.
Regular keeper Darren Jamieson who joined The Warriors in the Summer of 2023 is an experienced keeper with a solid reputation. Previously, Deejay had spells at Livingston, Bo’ness United, Hamilton, Arbroath and Kelty Hearts, as well as an emergency loan spell at Airdrie. He missed only two games last term when Curtis Lyle deputised, and he stays on call after signing a new contract.
Right-back Ross Meechan is enjoying his second spell as a Warrior after previously spending four years at the club. Prior to his initial spell at Ochilview, he featured for St Mirren and Partick Thistle youth teams. He left Stenhousemuir to join Forfar and subsequently Darvel, before returning to FK5.
One newcomer is Kyle Banner who made his debut against Buckie and Naysmith views his signing as a real coup, having made over 200 appearances for Stirling Albion and despite only being 24, adds great experience and versatility
to the squad for the new challenge in League 1. Central defender Nicky Jamieson spent the first five years of his career at Largs Thistle after leaving Greenock Morton’s youth academy. During his days in the Junior ranks, he made over 150 appearances. Also spent a season with both Queen’s Park and Alloa. At the start of season 2021-22, he was signed on loan from Alloa Athletic, a move that was made permanent in the summer of 2023.
Left-back is Kinlay Bilham who came through Ayr United’s Youth Academy which included loan spells to Irvine Meadow and Arthurlie. Released from Somerset Park at the end of last season, immediately establishing himself in the left-back slot where and has already chalked up 39 appearances.
Missing at the weekend was Club Captain Gordon Buchanan who joined The Warriors in the summer of 2023. The vastly experienced centre-back has previously had spells at Airdrie, Dunfermline, Dumbarton, St Mirren, Livingston, Greenock Morton, Falkirk and Queen of the South.
Midfielder Ross Taylor was previously with Auchinleck Talbot, signing
for them in July 2022 after leaving Greenock Morton, having been on loan the previous season to Kilbirnie Ladeside. Scored twice in his 31 appearances in his first season at Ochilview and
notched his third against Buckie last Saturday. Nat Wedderburn is a 29-year-old midfielder. Was a product of the Stoke City youth academy and was capped four times for England’s under-19 side. His early career was spent in the English lower leagues before playing over 60 times in the Championship for Cowdenbeath. Despite failing to keep the Blue Brazil in the league, Nat was picked up by Premiership Inverness where he featured 15 times. He then had spells at Dunfermline, Raith Rovers and Airdrieonians before playing for Dumbarton in League 1. Has made over a century of appearances since signing for Stennie in 2021.
A PAST TALE
Only older Arabs will recall Stenhousemuir’s last visit to here because over half a century has elapsed since the Warriors ventured to Tannadice.
Indeed, other than the clutch of the new SPFL entrants who have yet to play here, no other present league club has waited so long for a trip to Tayside.
That came a little under 52 years ago in a League Cup Sectional tie in which a change of format was implemented in which the group stages comprised two clubs from the First and Second Division.
United found themselves in with Kilmarnock from the top division whilst newly relegated Dunfermline and Stenhousemuir were the lower league representatives. And United were to enjoy starkly contrasting fortunes in the two clashes with the Warriors.
1972-73 was Jim McLean’s first full season in charge and after defeating
Dunfermline 2-0 at home on the opening day, only a remarkable late comeback at Kilmarnock saved the Terrors from a verbal onslaught from Wee Jim!
Two down with 20 minutes left, the Tangerines pulled on back, Doug Smith netting from a penalty. Ten minutes later, Sandy White levelled with substitute Tommy Traynor grabbing the winner two minutes later.
Having drawn their two opening games against the Pars and Killie, Stenhousemuir – then managed by a certain Alex Smith – must have fancied their chances of causing an upset. However, as a contest, it was effectively over with a little over a quarter of an hour played. For the third successive game, Doug Smith slotted home a penalty with two minutes played and Paddy Gardner squeezed in a second with 16 minutes on the clock.
United eventually cantered to a 5-0 victory with goals from Sandy White (55), Kenny Cameron (62) and Archie Knox (79). With maximum points from their first three games, and with the top two qualifying, United were virtually guaranteed progression to the knock-out stages.
And with wins over Dunfermline and Kilmarnock, United were looking to finish the group stages with a 100% record.
However, Alex Smith’s side were looking not just for revenge, but also for the two points that would see them qualify.
Consequently, they were the hungrier side and, living up to their name, the Warriors went at United from the word go and Jim Wight was their matchwinner, scoring two late goals.
But the second round was as far as either side went. United, despite holding Hibs to a goalless draw in the Easter Road second leg, lost 5-2 on aggregate to Hibs.
Meanwhile, Stenhousemuir may have lost 5-0 at home to Rangers in the first leg, but shocked Gers with a 2-1 at Ibrox.
Whilst it has been a long time since the two clubs have met at Tannadice, you don’t have to go back too much in time for the last clash – just five years in fact – for what is the only occasion the sides have contested a knock-out tie, United edging a 2-1 win at Ochilview.
The United goals came from an unusual quarter with Paul Watson and Calum Butcher on target early in the second half with Andy Munro netting a late consolation counter for the home side.
BREAKING BARRIERS
Dundee United fans have thrown unwavering support behind their titlewinning heroes by snapping up over 6,200 season tickets already!
Barriers smashed and boundaries stretched, the total is approaching a new modern-day club record as Arabs secure their ringside seats for our eagerlyanticipated return to the top table of Scottish football.
Last month’s exciting fixture launch event helped raise the tangerine excitement to fever pitch, with the SPFL confirming our maiden match of next term to be a blockbuster Dundee Derby.
More pre-season briefs have already been purchased than our sales total for the entirety of 2023/24!
The Eddie Thompson lower stand is now sold out, set to be the hub of buoyancy within the Calforth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park, with limited availability remaining across our upper tiers.
CLICK HERE to join the Tangerine Army!
THE VISITORS
The men from Somerset Park return north just three months after their last visit saw us clinch the Championship title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
Despite running out victorious in all four meetings last term, we were given stern tests in three of those matches by a side which very much improved following the appointment of Scott Brown.
After finishing in a lowly seventh place, this season promises so much more for the Honest Men after a summer of what appears to be excellent recruitment. A host of new faces have arrived during the close season and the assembled squad should be fighting things out things out at the top end of the table this term.
Pre-season has gone well for our guests with 4-2 victories over both East Stirlingshire and East Kilbride, a 1-1 draw with Celtic and a 3-2 win over near-neighbours Kilmarnock.
SCOTT BROWN
Eyebrows were raised last January when Ayr pulled off a major coup by landing one of Scottish football’s most recognisable faces as Head Coach.
Capped 55 times and highly decorated domestically, Scott Brown brings a professional and winning mentality to the club.
Having made his debut in the dugout at Fleetwood Town, he became one of a lengthy list of names to be given little time before being sacked by the Lancashire club back in September, having led the club to 13th place in League One in his only full season. That decision however saw the Cod Army go on to be relegated after relieving Brown of his duties.
The 39-year-old, who is assisted by former Hibernian teammate Stephen Whittaker, has overhauled the squad this summer and will demand his side are challenging for a play-off place come May.
Scott McMann makes a quick return following his summer departure from Tannadice. The 28-yearold joined United in 2021 from Hamilton Accies and went on to feature 108 times, scoring twice, as he made the left-back position his own for three seasons. A mainstay in last season’s Championship title-winning side, he missed only one league match.
George Oakley has had something of a nomadic career. The 28-yearold has featured for Wimbledon, Kingstonian, Welling, Maidstone, ICT, Hamilton Accies, Pirin (Bulgaria), Kilmarnock and Woking but last term at Morton saw him record career-best figures. A hat trick here in January helped the 6’1” striker to a total of 13 goals for the season.
Jake Hastie spent the second half of last season on loan at Hamilton and helped the Accies to promotion from League
One. The winger/midfielder is a Motherwell youth product who looked to have a bright future, but a 2019 move to Ibrox saw his career stall somewhat with loans to Rotherham, Patrick and Linfield preceding a move to Hartlepool where he suffered relegation from the Football League in the 22/23 season.
Preston-born winger
Ethan Walker became the youngest player to make a league appearance for his hometown club back in 2018 when just 16 years of age. The youngster featured just once more, however, and a series of loan spells followed before he joined Blackburn Rovers. Playing as a striker for the youth team, he was also loaned to Morecambe and Oldham before his arrival at Somerset.
Jay Henderson has arrived on a season-long loan from Ross County for whom he made 15 appearances last season, scoring once. The Irvineborn midfielder was a youth product at St Mirren and has also featured for Clyde and ICT on loan.
Goalkeeper Harry Stone is on loan from Hearts and is no stranger to facing United. The 22-year-old was farmed out by the Tynecastle side to QoS last season and lifted the Man of the Match award as we
were dumped out of the Scottish Cup on penalties.
During the summer, striker Anton Dowds made his loan from Patrick Thistle a permanent move whilst defenders Paddy Reading and Frankie Musonda signed one-year contract extensions to further boost the squad numbers.
ONE TO WATCH
Romanian youth
international Marco Rus joined the club in the summer on a two-year deal from Coventry City. Despite being a regular at U21 level, the midfielder failed to feature for the Sky Blues first team however he did gain experience from loan spells at Hereford, Chorley and Universitatea Cluj.
The technically gifted son of former Romanian internationalist Alin Rus instantly endeared himself to Ayr fans by scoring in their 3-2 pre-season derby win over Kilmarnock.
HOPES OF 3
As was the case with Tuesday’s opponents, there has been a recent encounter in this competition, but again it was away from Tannadice and United rode their luck before advancing to the quarter-finals in August 2021.
Yet, Tam Courts‘ team travelled to Somerset in the wake of an exhilarating win over Rangers courtesy of Jamie Robson’s scoring the only goal of the game.
United never really got into their stride and fell behind on the 56-minute mark when Tomi Adeloye gave the hosts a deserved lead. And as the clock ticked down, Arabs’ hopes of progressing diminished with each passing minute Fortune favoured them when referee Nick Walsh awarded United a soft penalty with ten minutes left which was duly converted by Nicky Clark to save United’s bacon, resulting in a penalty shoot-out. An in it, United held their nerve to advance courtesy of a 4-3 success.
The reward was a tie at home to Hibs in the last eight but that proved to be the end of the road, going down to a controversial 3-1 defeat at Tannadice.
Moving on to the last home meeting and it came in August 1981 when United chased a third successive League Cup title after the 1979 and 1980 successes.
After four straight wins United welcomed Ayr knowing a point would clinch section four. However, the Somerset Park side, led by Willie McLean, brother of Jim, were the nearest challengers, so it was far from a gimmie, given United had only edged the
away meeting by the odd goal in seven. In the fourth minute, a prefect Paul Sturrock cutback was narrowly missed by both Davie Dodds and Ralph Milne, and five minutes later Stuart Rennie had two distinctive saves against Dodds and Frank Kopel. Ayr’s Eric Morris’ 25-yard rocket struck the underside of the bar before bouncing to safety on 14 minutes. Eight minutes later, Sturrock headed inches over. Then Dodds twice went close, a snapshot from the edge of the box and a header from a Milne corner both going just wide.
And having taken care of Hamilton on a 9-0 aggregate, prospects of a third successive final appeared bleak when Aberdeen won the first leg of the semi at Tannadice.
Undaunted, Jim McLean’s men shattered Aberdeen to win 3-0 at Pittodrie, only for Rangers to come from behind to end hattrick hopes in the final at Hampden.
United eventually cantered to a 5-0 victory with goals from Sandy White (55), Kenny Cameron (62) and Archie Knox (79). With maximum points from their first three games, and with the top two qualifying, United were virtually guaranteed progression to the knock-out stages.
And with wins over Dunfermline and Kilmarnock, United were looking to finish the group stages with a 100% record.
However, Alex Smith’s side were looking not just for revenge, but also for the two points that would see them qualify.
Consequently, they were the hungrier side and, living up to their name, the Warriors went at United from the word go and Jim Wight was their matchwinner, scoring two late goals.
But the second round was as far as either side went. United, despite holding Hibs to a goalless draw in the Easter Road second leg, lost 5-2 on aggregate to Hibs.
Meanwhile, Stenhousemuir may have lost 5-0 at home to Rangers in the first leg, but shocked Gers with a 2-1 at Ibrox.
Whilst it has been a long time since the two clubs have met at Tannadice, you don’t have to go back too much in time for the last clash – just five years in fact – for what is the only occasion the sides have contested a knock-out tie, United edging a 2-1 win at Ochilview.
The United goals came from an unusual quarter with Paul Watson and Calum Butcher on target early in the second half with Andy Munro netting a late consolation counter for the home side.
