Rangers fans can very quickly get on the backs of their players, says Goodwin

Dundee United will try to “create some nervous tension” as they travel to play Rangers this weekend and use the home side fans to their advantage.

Jim Goodwin says his side are in a good place and will be aiming for the win at Ibrox despite their long-running poor league form there.

It’s over a decade since the Tannadice club got an away victory against Rangers in the league but the manager insists they have what it takes to end that record.

The manager also revealed he will be aiming to frustrate the home support and create an atmosphere that will benefit his side and make it difficult for the hosts.

United can go equal on points with Rangers if they win on Saturday and Goodwin says that will be a source of motivation

Speaking to the media on Thursday he said: “That is a huge motivation for the players and we want to stay as close as we possibly can to the teams above us.

“A win would be fantastic, we know it’s going to be difficult and I don’t think Rangers have lost a game at home in the league this season.

“And I don’t think Dundee United’s past record over something like the last 100 games at Ibrox is brilliant either, but at the same time we are going into the game with a real positive vibe.

“We had a fantastic performance against Ross County the last time out, we’ve analysed Rangers and watched some of their games back and I thought St Mirren and Hearts in particular, in recent games, ran them really close at Ibrox.

“So we have to take the good parts of those games and try to use that to our advantage as well and learn from them.

“In the game we played against them here (at Tannadice) we didn’t play well in the first-half and deservedly fell behind, but I thought we dominated the second 45 and we have to take great confidence from that.

“If we can go there and get the game plan right and create some nervous tension around the place, we know the Rangers fans can very quickly get on the backs of their players if it’s not going their way and I think a lot of managers would probably try and use that to their advantage.

“So that’s what we intend to do, we will need to be disciplined and when we get the opportunity to play we have to be brave on the ball.

“I don’t think there is any reason we can’t go there and win the game, we go into every game trying to be positive and we have to believe we can be the team to end the club’s recent poor league record at Ibrox.

“Our boys are in a really good place just now, we are only three points behind Rangers so our incentive is to try and win the game and go level with them.

“It’s going to be difficult but we go into every game believing we can win.”