Jim Goodwin hopes Dundee United can secure top-six spot against Hearts

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has urged his players to finish off their top-six quest at Tynecastle after warning that St Mirren look a good bet to win at Dens Park and carry on their push.

United’s victory over Ross County left them needing a point from their final two matches before the William Hill Premiership split and doing so against Hearts this Sunday would keep their opponents at bay.

Goodwin believes his former club will beat both Dundee and Ross County in the coming weeks and aims to make sure there is no drama when they host St Johnstone on April 12.

The former St Mirren player and manager said: “We have put ourselves in a great position and we haven’t been out of the top six pretty much all season which is credit to the group off the back of recently being promoted.

“We are in a really strong position and it’s very much in our hands. We don’t want to be relying on anyone.

“St Mirren have had a really good season. They are hitting a bit of form at the right time and I would expect St Mirren to win their next two fixtures and that ultimately means we need to get a result in our next two games.”

Hearts are only a point ahead of both St Mirren and Motherwell with a trip to Fir Park on the horizon after Sunday.

Goodwin said: “It’s fair to say it’s probably more of a must-win fixture for Hearts than ourselves but we’re not going with a negative mindset of trying not to lose the game.

“We want to go there and try and win the game. We have to have a good defensive shape with the quality of players they have in the forward areas.

“But I believe St Mirren will win their next two fixtures and I think that’s going to mount a lot of pressure on Hearts.

“They have to, I suppose, be a bit more open and expansive than we need to, and if we can exploit those areas on the counter-attack then that’s something we will look to do.”