Jim Goodwin promises Dundee United will go toe-to-toe with Celtic
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin is not hiding from Wednesday night's big test with Celtic. The Terrors are on a fine run, winning three of their last four games, and they arrive at Parkhead searching for their first away win over the Bhoys in the league in more than 30 years.
Celtic have been in excellent league fotm, winning all but one of their games so far, most recently beating Hibs away from home after coming from behind.
The Hoops also beat Dundee United 4-0 away from home when they met in the Premier Sports Cup earlier this season, but that was early in the campaign.
A lot has changed since that game, and Goodwin believes a win is very much on the table for his side.
“We have to be confident, we have to be optimistic,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “The team are in a really good place at the moment, scoring goals, playing some fantastic football.
“We have a midfield three at the moment as dominant as any three midfielders in the country, defensively we’ve looked solid, and at the top end of the pitch we’re creating chances.
“So I think we go into this particular fixture in as good a form as what we’ve been for as long as I can remember. History will tell you this particular fixture hasn’t been all that kind to us, given it’s been over three decades since the last time we went to Parkhead and won in the league.
“But believe me when I tell you that this group are full of confidence and full of optimism. This run that we’re on has to change at some point and I don’t see why this group can’t be the ones to go and make the difference.”
Asked about whether he will change his tactics in a bid to thwart what is, on paper, a stronger Celtic side, Goowdin added: "We’ll keep playing this way, just because we’re going to Celtic Park tomorrow doesn’t mean that we’re going to all of a sudden panic under pressure and just lump the ball up the park.
"We haven’t recruited to play that way. So hopefully we give a good account of ourselves tomorrow. You know that Celtic are going to ask questions of you defensively, given the firepower that they have and the level of investment that’s been made in their squad.
“But I reiterate that we believe we’ve got players in this team that can cause Celtic lots of problems as well, both at the top end of the pitch with the pace and the power, but also in that midfield area with the technical ability we’ve got.”
