A Dundee Double-Header Part 1 || Dundee United v Motherwell Preview
- Ruaraidh Blackwood
- Dec 12
- 7 min read
Motherwell come off the back of a fourth straight clean sheet, looking to continue their 8-game unbeaten run with a jaunt to Dundee to take on the Terrors. United come into this game looking to bounce back after a disappointing result away to Jim Goodwin's former side, St Mirren.
With our emphatic win over Livingston at the weekend, we retain third spot by a single goal, with Rangers hot on our heels after their contentious 3-0 win over Killie.
United find themselves potentially slipping into a relegation fight, sitting just four points above the play-off spot. Conversely, with a game in hand (although against Celtic) they could catapult themselves towards the European spots with three points.
The Form Guide...
With the decisive dispatch of Livingston on Saturday, Askou's men made it four clean sheets on the bounce, and upped their haul to 11 points from the last 15 available. Simply sensational form.
A quick mention must also go to our Warrior, Tawanda Maswanhise, for picking up the league POTM award, a feat not done by a Motherwell player since Lennon Miller in September 2024. The Zimbabwean is in fine form this campaign and still remains the joint top scorer in the league with 8.
Dundee United come into this one in...strange form. On the one hand, they led Rangers at home until the Bears' controversial penalty in the 98th minute, and finished with a brilliant point away at Tynecastle, but they've lost emphatically to both Falkirk at home and St Mirren away, as well as a dismal draw against a struggling Killie.
It seems, then, that United may be best playing teams at the top of the table for the rest of the season, as their form against the top 6 is far better than those around them in the league.
JBA Pre-Match...
Jba began with the usual squad update, with no news when it comes to the squad. Other than those long-term injuries that are documented (McGhee, Oxborough, Halliday, etc) there are no other concerns and the whole squad is fit for the trip to Tannadice. The overarching feeling with the long-term injured is "progressing", which is positive to hear.
When asked about the unbeaten run, and how we avoid complacency, JBA mentioned that the key is to not dwell on results. It is also about the ability to learn and take the positives from each game and consistently reproduce and improve with each game.
When asked about Dundee United's league position, and their team overall, JBA was quick to point out that - while results have not been kind - they are a team that has recruited well and has a lot of quality throughout. He also discussed how he firmly believes that the signings they have made will come good at some point, it is only a matter of when, and how Motherwell have to be wary of their threats.
When asked about Tawanda, and the forthcoming AFCON, Askou firstly praised the Zimbabwean's form, but then went on to discuss how his absence leaves a gap, both within the squad and within the scoring charts, so there is absolutely room for others to step up and fill it. One thing I always love about Jens's press conferences is that - while always answering the questions given to him in terms of looking to the future - he has an innate ability to bring the subject back to focus on the next game. This pleases me because it gives the impression that his focus is "what's immediately on the horizon", and doesn't get ideas too far beyond his station; or, at least publically.
Finally, hen asked about the ability to maintain a standard despite multiple different line-up changes in recent weeks, Askou stressed the importance of coaching the principles of the system to each player on the training ground, regardless of their position both in training and matches. He also talked about the fact that - because they've been able to rotate the squad and get minutes into almost every player in the core squad - everyone can feel the momentum that has been building, so hence they know exactly what is expected if and when they're called upon. In particular, he also praised the fact that the players in the squad are very good at supporting and pushing and coaching each other as well, which is pleasing to hear. The fact that there has been a real camaraderie and togetherness between the whole group - as well as the fact that those who've been around the club for a while have adapted so well to the new system, and have been well supplemented by additions in the summer - is also pleasing to see, and testament to how all the staff have bought into Askou's philosophy.
The Teams...
JBA once again showed Motherwell's strength in depth with his starting 11 against Livingston, making seven changes to the side that started against Falkirk the previous midweek. The congestion of fixtures in that period very much a factor, in came O'Donnell, Gordon, Koutroumbis, Watt, Just, Charles-Cook, and Stamatelopoulos, replacing Sparrow, Welsh, Longelo, Priestman, Slattery, Said, and Hendry respectively. The inclusion of Regan Charles-Cook brought far more pace and directness to our counter-attack - something that has definitely been missing over the previous weeks - and was a vital game for the winger's confidence, with some brilliant play and an assist to boot coming in the game.
Another mention must come for Koutroumbis playing at left-back. The Aussie had a fantastic game on that flank, playing with the ability to both provide width as well as cutting inside to become more of an inverted full back. He and RCC caused poor Samson Lawal all sorts of bother, with the Aussie drawing the penalty that became our second.
United made both three personnel changes and a formation change against St Mirren; with Esselink, Camará, and Ahmed dropping out in favour of Graham, Sibbald, and Stephenson. United have also cycled through a couple more conservative formations since our last match against them, swapping from a 4-3-3 to a mix of 3-4-3, 3-5-2, and 5-4-1 (although the latter was only played against Rangers).
The Tangerines have had something of a goalkeeper crisis of late as well, with Kucherenko having more than his fair share of mishaps in the past months. With two errors leading to goals, as well as THREE own goals, the stopper has been dropped since the Falkirk game - in which he flapped their second into his own net from a corner, as well as parrying Calvin Miller's tame shot back towards the winger, giving him a gift of a tap-in for the opener. It could also be said that his hesitance in shutting down Brian Graham gave the veteran the space and time to squeeze his shot in for Falkirk's third, but you can also understand that hesitance considering his performance up till that point in the game. His replacement - Welshman Dave Richards, brought in on a free transfer from Crewe in the summer - hasn't had much more success, shipping 5 goals in the three games since taking the gloves from the Ukrainian. This very much sparks of a backline with very little confidence, and definitely could and should be exploited by the Steelmen.
The Tangerines also haven't kept a clean sheet since September, coming in a 2-0 win over Aberdeen at home, and will certainly be looking to right those wrongs against the Well.
The Tactics...
So, what can we exploit?
Well, my answer to that comes in two forms: one is formational, the other is tactical.
Formationally, if Goodwin lines his team up with a variation of the three-back system he's played of late, we have the numerical advantage on the wings. With the only real width coming from advancing wing-backs (although a 3-4-3 would give them slightly more numbers wide) the immediate thought from me is to use the gaps behind those advancing. This, and the fact that United's three centre-halves mostly stay very narrow, would afford Motherwell more than enough opportunity and space to use wing-play to our advantage, as we have against similar formations so far this term. Therefore, I would postulate that balls into the box - either to the far post or driving to the by-line and cutting it back - would be the best avenue of attack. This has been a rather consistent source of goals conceded for United, with another major source being from rebounds and United struggling to clear their lines. Therefore, overloading the box with late runs should also be a fruitful avenue by winning first or second contact.
Tactically, United have struggled with quick counters and direct play of late, with both St Mirren and Falkirk benefiting greatly from their rather unorganised backline, as well as shoddy decision-making when in transition. Therefore, I would make a point of starting with a similar front line to what we did against Livingston, with Charles-Cook and Tawanda on either wing and staying as high and wide as possible. Furthermore, I would start Longelo on the left (with no disrespect to Koutroumbis) for another wide option, and he could then be used both as an overlapping run when the ball comes down that wing, or a late arrival for a cutback (like the goals that have become his trademark).
Outside of these stipulations, I would really have any number of players in the side, considering how every single one of these players brings something meaningful to the table. It's almost an embarrassment of riches - by Motherwell standards - to have not only a strong starting 11, but also to have true game-changing players waiting in reserve off the bench.
With all that said, the Terrors from Tannadice aren't without their own weapons. For all their form guide isn't great, they have scored in three of their last five games, and are known for making their own use of quick counters and lightning-fast build-up. Zach Sapsford's stunning solo goal against Rangers at home comes to mind, as well as their second that night from Amar Fatah.
On top of this, for all they don't deal with direct play and counter-attacks well defensively, they've been known to thrive with the latter on the front foot, with their equaliser against Killie coming from a well-worked move started and finished by Craig Sibbald. Patient, yet direct build-up gave an opportunity for a cross to the back post, then some neat interplay gave Sibbald the opportunity to slide in and poke home. Something the Well backline will need to be wary of, especially if Longelo is playing wide and high as he usually does.
To Sum Up...
This is absolutely a potential banana skin for the Well, with Dundee United's form against the top teams, but if we stay calm and composed in the final third, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be looking at another positive result for the Well. And with the trip to Ibrox - and the visit of Celtic - on the horizon, these two games against the Dundee sides could be vital confidence-boosters.
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