“We’ve got players in this team that can cause Celtic lots of problems,” Jim Goodwin

Jim Goodwin brings his Dundee United to Celtic Park this evening believing his side are capable of securing their first league victory in the east end of Glasgow since 1992…

Celtic defeated his side 4-0 at Tannadice early in the season but that result is a classic example of the scoreline failing to tell the story on an afternoon when Goodwin’s side hit the woodwork on five occasions.

Dundee United had enough about then at the weekend to come back from the disappointment of a controversial VAR call denying them a 3-2 lead before going on to secure the three points against Aberdeen.

His side current sit in four place and if they can get that illusive win tonight and Hearts lose to the Rangers at Tynecastle then Goodwin’s side will narrow the gap on the 1960 Scottish Champions to just one point.

Speaking at his media conference ahead of tonight’s eagerly awaited Scottish Premiership contest the Dundee United boss talked up his team, notably the three in the middle of the park, as he looks to take the game to Celtic in perhaps a similar fashion to both Ferencvaros and Celta Vigo with both Europa League opponents leaving Celtic Park with the three points.

“We have to be confident, we have to be optimistic,” Jim Goodwin said. “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.

We can certainly expect an open game this evening with the days of Dundee United parking the bus seemingly now behind them. The more forward thinking approach has reaped the rewards and tonight Goodwin sees no reason at all to change course.

“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,” he said. “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.”

Hopefully more teams in the league will adopt the same positive approach as Dundee United by setting out take the game to their opponents. Tonight could be a really good game, let’s hope that the best version of Celtic turns up.

Here’s Jim Goodwin’s pre-match media conference ahead of his side’s trip to Celtic Park this evening…