Is Jim Goodwin Under Threat at Dundee United? Where Things Stand
Saturday's 2-0 derby defeat to Dundee left Jim Goodwin's Dundee United still without a league win and facing their third straight defeat in all competitions, a run that has now brought ten goals conceded and none scored.
United had lost 4-0 to Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup the week before, hitting the woodwork five times without scoring, and then went down at home to their city rivals as Drey Wright and Owen Bevan struck either side of half-time.
The result leaves United second-bottom of the Scottish Premiership with a single point from three league games.
Goodwin didn't shy away from the result afterwards. "I've got to take responsibility on my shoulders," he said. "
As the manager, I've signed all of these players, I've brought them in to Dundee United. I believe in every single one of them."
It's the sort of managerial storyline punters will want to keep an eye on alongside the Scottish Premiership betting, even though no UK betting sites, have yet priced up a market on Goodwin's future.
Here at Free Bets, we'll be tracking the situation at Tannadice and will update this page if a market opens or the pressure increases.
The Numbers Say One Thing, the Table Says Another
Jim Goodwin pointed to the underlying numbers after Dundee United's defeat, with his side enjoying more possession, registering more shots and creating more penalty-box entries and dangerous attacks than their city rivals.
The problem is that none of those numbers count in the table, with United still searching for their first win of the season and now facing a third straight defeat after a promising opening-day draw with Rangers.
Next up is a trip to Kilmarnock, a fixture Goodwin has already described as "huge", and another defeat would put further pressure on the Dundee United boss.
Why the Pressure Is Building Now
Goodwin took permanent charge in 2023 following an interim spell and has since guided Dundee United from the Championship back into the Premiership, including a fourth-place finish that has raised expectations around Tannadice.
This isn't the first time Goodwin has faced pressure during his managerial career.
He was sacked by Aberdeen in January 2023 after a run of defeats, while fan frustration at Dundee United has also boiled over during difficult spells, including after last season's Scottish Cup exit to Falkirk.
With three league games gone, the current run isn't yet a crisis, but another defeat would certainly give punters keeping an eye on the Scottish Premiership betting markets plenty to think about.
Why There Is No Betting Market Yet
There is currently no UK bookmaker offering a market on Goodwin's Dundee United future.
That's understandable this early in the season.
Three league games represent a small sample, and bookmakers will usually wait for a longer run of poor results or a significant development before opening a manager departure market.
What We're Watching
Saturday's trip to Kilmarnock is the obvious game to watch.
A fourth consecutive defeat would increase the pressure on Goodwin and could be the sort of result that prompts bookmakers to take notice, so we'll be keeping a close eye on the latest Scottish football betting markets.
