Dundee United and St Mirren return to action after extended breaks with a Scottish Premiership meeting on Saturday afternoon.

When United last took to the field 10 days prior to their upcoming outing, the rock-bottom side earned a 1-1 draw away to Livingston, while St Mirren will play their first match in two weeks after losing 5-1 to Celtic a fortnight ago.

Match preview

Jim Goodwin took charge of 118 matches as St Mirren manager - after two seasons as an assistant at the club - but is just two games into his tenure at Dundee United.

After losing to another set of former employers Aberdeen on his debut in the Dundee United dugout, Goodwin steered the Premiership strugglers to a hard-fought point against Livingston, ending the club's seven-match losing sequence.

Steven Bradley gave Livi a 13th-minute lead, but Goodwin was proactive with a pair of tactical changes before the second half; Kai Fotheringham was one of the additions and set up Aziz Behich's equaliser, which earned Dundee United the club's second point from losing positions all season.

The Tannadice outfit still remain at the foot of the Premiership but are just three points behind Ross County and Kilmarnock in 10th and 11th respectively with as many as 10 games of the campaign left to play.

St Mirren, by contrast, occupy the lofty heights of sixth but are only one point above seventh-placed Livingston with the fixture split looming.

The Buddies have been able to harbour aspirations of a top-half finish thanks almost entirely to the club's home form; eight of St Mirren's 10 league victories this season have come in Paisley.

However, one of the club's few away successes this term came on their most recent trip to Tayside, with Curtis Main scoring on either side of the interval before Alex Greive wrapped up a rare three points on the road for St Mirren at Dundee United's expense in August.

In fact, the Buddies have beaten Dundee United in each of their last three trips to Tannadice, racking up 10 goals in the process.

Stephen Robinson replaced Goodwin as St Mirren manager 13 months ago but lost eight of his first nine matches before finishing last season with four consecutive clean sheets, hinting at a defensive solidity which has been the foundation for any success this season.

Celtic inflicted St Mirren's heaviest defeat of the campaign last time out, but the reigning champions only found the net in Paisley after half time and once the Buddies had been reduced to 10 men following Charles Dunne's 38th-minute red card when the hosts were leading 1-0.

Team News

Dundee United may be without joint-top scorer and leading assist provider Dylan Levitt for the remainder of the season after the former Manchester United midfielder sustained a serious knee injury against Aberdeen.

Glenn Middleton is also expected to miss out with a hamstring problem, but Peter Pawlett could be in line for his first outing since the opening week of February.

St Mirren have collected a league-high 77 cards this season, and Dunne received the club's sixth red of the campaign against Celtic two weeks ago, sidelining the defender this weekend and beyond.

Jonah Ayunga is set to miss the rest of the season after rupturing his cruciate ligament in January, while Richard Tait has been out with a groin injury since October.

Centre-back Declan Gallagher is also a doubt for the visitors after missing the past two matches with a hamstring issue, but captain Joe Shaughnessy has steadily been building his way back to full fitness in recent weeks.

Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Birighitti; Ayina, Mulgrew, McMann; Smith, Harkes, Sibbald, Niskanen, Behich; Fotheringham, Fletcher

St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Carson; Gogic, Shaughnessy, Fraser; Strain, O'Hara, Kiltie, Baccus, Small; Greive, Main

We say: Dundee United 2-1 St Mirren

The last time Goodwin led Dundee United out against one of his former clubs, he watched his new side lose and got hit by a coin from the visiting crowd - this weekend may prove to be a rather different experience if the Tangerines can build upon their point in Livingston and earn the club's first league victory since January against poor travellers St Mirren.


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