Jim Goodwin reckons a trip to McDiarmid Park will feel like a home game for Dundee United after their St Johnstone sellout.
It is a huge match for United as it gives them the opportunity to jump above their Tayside rivals and closer to safety in their bottom-six opener. The significance hasn’t been lost on the supporters who sold out their entire 2700 allocation in under an hour. Goodwin said: “The first one at the weekend , St Johnstone, is a great one for us and the supporters.
“The tickets went on sale and they sold out within an hour. It has been an incredible effort from the punters to get behind the team. We will have just as many fans as St Johnstone, if not more. It makes for a good occasion and it is an important game for us as well. St Johnstone are above us at the moment but if we were able to go there and get the win that would help us leapfrog them. That is the incentive for us.
“The fact the supporters are turning out in such great numbers is testament to them and the backing they have given and are giving the club. We are looking forward to having five massive games to come.”
There has been a revival under Goodwin and United head to Perth looking to make it four wins on the spin.
“The boys have been great in fairness,” the Irishman insisted. “We’ve had one defeat in six and have won the last three.
“We are playing against top opposition and teams fighting for survival and Motherwell and Livingston will be fighting to finish top of the bottom half. There is still a lot to play for with every team but from our point of view, we just need to take it a game at a time. It is a good one for us to get back in.
“The boys were training on Saturday and we had the open day and we’re back in it. We now want to take it one game at a time to continue that momentum. The boys are used to winning and that is a real positive.”
Goodwin now believes there’s a connection between the players and fans again. He said: “I really have been blown away by the support the team has received since I have come in. They have really got behind the lads in difficult circumstances, when a large number of them had been frustrated at what they had seen up to a point.
“They were maybe disillusioned with how the club was going but they have really rallied. The team has shown a bit more desire, aggression and commitment all over the park. The fans have liked what they have seen. They see a team who cares and are passionate and the fans have got right behind them. It has given the players real confidence.”
The United boss is happy with the bottom-six scheduling as drop rivals Ross County and Kilmarnock both have to visit Tannadice in the coming weeks.
The Tangerines also have trips to Livingston and Motherwell, with Goodwin confident of securing survival. He said: “We are relatively pleased with them (the fixtures). We anticipated getting Kilmarnock and Ross County at home.
“We are pleased from a logistic point-of-view that we don’t need to travel down to Ayrshire or up to the Highlands. That is a slight advantage but it doesn’t make the games any easier – we know they are going to be tough opposition.”
