Jim Goodwin keen for Dundee United to finish above ‘big spenders’ Aberdeen

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has urged his players to secure a season-defining victory and finish above “big spenders” Aberdeen.

United will finish fourth in the Premiership if they beat the Dons at Tannadice on Saturday.

However, four defeats in a row and St Mirren’s four-match unbeaten run have put European qualification at risk for Goodwin’s men.

A St Mirren victory at Celtic Park would leave United needing to beat the Dons to avoid dropping to sixth.

However, Goodwin is only looking up.

“I wouldn’t have believed you had you told me back in August that we would be sitting in this situation with 90 minutes of football to play and, if we win, we would finish fourth in the league,” he said.

“That’s all the incentive we need as a group.

“Neither one of us, ourselves or Aberdeen, are in a great run of form going into it but I think that goes out the window. It’s 90 minutes of football.

“We want to finish the season on a high because the last four results have been hugely disappointing for us and we would like nothing more than to celebrate three points in front of our supporters at Tannadice.

“Look, we have obviously analysed the previous four fixtures and none of us are pleased about the outcome.

“But there is no point me drumming on about those now. Saturday is everything for us; it could be the defining moment in a fantastic season for us and an opportunity to finish above one of the big spenders in the league.

“When you consider what Aberdeen did in January to strengthen their squad, I think they spent in excess of £2.5m and for us, who haven’t spent a penny,

to be in with an opportunity to finish above a team who have that kind of resources, would be a great achievement.”