Jim Goodwin dismisses the notion of "fatigue" as angry The Dundee United manager criticises the team's poor defence in the Kilmarnock loss.

 

Furious Jim Goodwin has criticised Dundee United for their poor defence following their humiliating loss to Kilmarnock in the Premier Sports Cup.

 Marcus Dackers gave United the freedom of the United half to open the score before Brad Lyons scored from a set-piece, but United gave up two terrible goals in a 2-1 loss at Rugby Park.

 The Terrors have already lost to Hearts, Rapid Vienna, and Killie from dead balls after levelling the score through Owen Stirton.

Goodwin, who was clearly annoyed, stated, "I don't really want to talk about tiredness and fatigue because that's not the reason why we concede the two goals."

 Jim Goodwin brought He added Amar Fatah and Luca Stephenson to his starting lineup. Amar Fatah and Luca Stephenson were added to Goodwin's starting lineup.

The first one's behind-the-ball condition is pretty bad. One massive 60- or 70-yard diagonal ball over the top results in a one-on-one because our back line distances are far too great. 

After that, the second objective seems to be a rehashing of last week. 

 We gave up a set play against Rapid and two corners versus Hearts. We give up another wide-free kick today. We respond slowly to the second ball after a large looping ball enters the box and an unimpeded header hits the back post.

"I don't mind losing games when the opposition is by far the better team and they score some really good goals,"

 I declared following the Hearts match. However, the objectives we are currently giving up are completely preventable. Accepting accountability

 "It's certainly not through a lack of information because we analyse every opponent, we go through all their set plays," he continued when asked why United seemed to be struggling with set pieces.

Each member of the team has been assigned a specific role. There are moments when you simply must assume responsibility. 

 Go and challenge, then go and get the second ball from the next man. Luca Stephenson was playing for United again. 

United, who had lost all five of their previous trips to Rugby Park since January 2022, made two changes to the squad that lost to Rapid Vienna in a heartbreaking penalty shootout on Thursday night.

 Alongside Amar Fatah, Luca Stephenson was added to the starting lineup right away for a second United debut. 

 Zac Sapsford, who was wounded, and Panutche Camara left. Julius Eskesen, another recent addition, began on the bench next to Dario Naamo, who was back.

A nightmare beginning Dackers won everything in the air and brought others into the game, but Killie controlled the first several exchanges. Stuart Kettlewell's team was able to launch counterattacks because United's own passing was erroneous. 

 After an unfortunate slip by Vicko Sevelj, Dackers had previously nearly broken the tie before rippling the net after a superb cross from Brad Lyons. 

 But he was unable to manage his long limbs, and the ball was cleared. Minutes later, however, he would not be stopped.

None of United's back three took responsibility for marking Dackers after a straightforward, albeit admirable, long pass from Ben Brannan. Dackers then surged through on goal and blasted a low finish past Kucherenko. 

 Headers being lost to the 6'7" striker?

 Alright. Get the second ball after regrouping.

 To give him the opportunity to bear down on the goaltender after collecting a 50-yard diagonal? Bad stuff. 

 Max Watters, holding his hamstring as he slumped to the turf, was substituted out to end a fairly dismal fifteen minutes for Goodwin. Stirton joined the battle.

Stirton, the comeback kid Ivan Dolcek was inside the box after a superb Will Ferry ball, giving the Tangerines their first clean opportunity, but his first-time attempt went wide of the post. 

 Just a few inches. Encouraged by that moment of effort, the Terrors brought equality back.

 After his crucial penalty miss against Rapid, Ferry released Fatah, who was the focus of a banner of support from the travelling Arabs. The Sweden U/21 star then danced past one challenge before reaching Stirton.

The teenager from Tannadice beat Killie goalie Max Stryjek after spinning his opponent. The shot's accuracy more than made up for its lack of clean contact. 

 That extra-time miss against Rapid

 On the hour, Brannan's curling drive gave the home team a good chance, but Kucherenko had to make a spectacular fingertip stop. Unexpectedly, a goal kick was given, and the Ukrainian refused to contest it.

Lyons was given room to blast a brilliant volley beyond Kucherenko after Liam Polworth's deep throw was nodded back into the heart of the box. No late rally would take place. 

 Killie easily finished the game. Indeed, with Kucherenko stopping Rory McKenzie in the final moments, they ought to have made it more attractive.

 United lost one of their two chances for a better cup run this year.

Low quality "I actually thought the game was pretty poor," Goodwin continued. The quality was incredibly subpar. Kilmarnock is proficient in their field. 

 They are direct, have good energy in the middle of the pitch, and are two large target men up top who get the ball forward early. "We didn't play the tempo we wanted in the first half, but I thought we played some decent football." 

 "The second half? I felt that we had very little to offer moving forward. We deserve to be eliminated from the cup because we ran out of energy and ideas. It's as easy as that.

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