Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

9 games that defined Dundee United Championship title triumph

From the opening day at Arbroath to a cathartic win at Tannadice, Courier Sport recalls the matches that mattered.

The scenes at Tannadice prior to Dundee United's 2-0 win over Raith Rovers
The scenes at Tannadice prior to Dundee United's 2-0 win over Raith Rovers; the previous high attendance. Image: SNS

While they effectively claimed the title six days prior, Dundee United made their promotion official last Friday night.

A 0-0 draw against Airdrieonians – a lucky escape from a game in which they were outplayed – was enough to cement top spot and send delirious fans onto the pitch, toasting United’s return to the big time.

And with a game to spare.

It hasn’t always been plain sailing and, as is invariably the case in the Championship, there have been plenty of ugly, attritional encounters along the way. Nevertheless, the Tangerines are worthy champions.

The Dundee United players celebrate their title being made official
The Dundee United players celebrate their title being made official. Image: Shutterstock.

Courier Sport analyses the matches that defined their title triumph.  


Arbroath 0-4 Dundee United (August 4, 2023)

Knowing what we know now – that the Lichties would endure a miserable campaign and crash to relegation; that United would romp to promotion – this would seem a rather routine affair.

But go back to that first week of August and it felt anything but.

Dundee United's Glenn Middleton and Mathew Cudjoe celebrate one of United's four goals.
Mathew Cudjoe celebrates with Glenn Middleton after scoring at Arbroath. Image: SNS

United had ignominiously exited the Viaplay Cup at the group stage, losing to Spartans in the process, and a rebuilt squad remained a work in progress. The pain of a recent relegation was till felt by a wounded fan-base.

The BBC Scotland cameras rolled into Gayfield hungrily eyeing a shock.

Instead, United turned in a performance of physicality, tempo and excellent finishing. Glenn Middleton, Mathew Cudjoe, Craig Sibbald and Louis Moult all found the net during a blistering opening 45 minutes.

A statement of intent.

Partick Thistle 0-5 Dundee United (October 21, 2023)

The crowning moment of the Tangerines’ sensational start to the season.

Kevin Holt of Dundee United with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick against Partick Thistle
Kevin Holt scored a hat-trick against Partick Thistle in a 5-0 win. Image: SNS

This marked the end of United’s first quarter of Championship fixtures, from which they emerged unbeaten. Twenty-one points were accrued, with just four goals conceded.

And they simply swept the Jags aside in Maryhill, making short work of a fine side who were – and remain – credible promotion contenders.

The outstanding Kevin Holt made history, becoming the first United centre-half to score a competitive hat-trick, including one absolute blockbuster from 30 yards.

“Pump it up, United’s going up”, came the chant from a packed away section, characterising the feel-good factor being built by boss Jim Goodwin at this point.

Dundee United 6-0 Arbroath (October 27, 2023)

A game more notable for what it represented, rather than any particular significance in the title race. As a competitive affair, it was a non-event; woefully one-sided.

As a spectacle, it was one for the home supporters to relish.

The Dundee United tifo celebrating their centenary.
The sight that greeted the players as United celebrated the centenary of their name change. Image: SNS

An attendance of 8,489 was present at Tannadice amid horrendous weather conditions to toast 100 years since Dundee Hibernian rebranded to Dundee United FC.

Centenary celebrations included a display of United memorabilia at DC Thomson’s Dundee HQ at Meadowside, while the players sported retro white kits for encounter.

As United sought to rebuild from the ashes of a miserable 2022/23, this was a chance for fans to celebrate successes of yesteryear – and the players stepped up.

Moult (2), Ross Docherty, Kai Fotheringham, Tony Watt and Cudjoe all rippled the net as the Terrors cruised to victory over the abject Lichties.

At this point, United were seven points clear of Raith, albeit the Fifers had two games in hand.

Dundee United 0-1 Raith Rovers (December 16, 2023)

The first major speed-bump on United’s Championship journey.

The Tangerines had exited the SPFL Trust Trophy to Falkirk and, gallingly, the Scottish Cup to League One strugglers Queen of the South, creating the sense of a minor wobble.

Nevertheless, both could be written off as disappointing outings but, ultimately, secondary to escaping the second tier. Providing Rovers didn’t take the ascendancy in the title race, there was no need for panic.

On December 16, Rovers took the ascendancy in the title race.

Raith Rovers stars celebrate Dylan Easton's winner against Dundee United
Raith Rovers stars celebrate Dylan Easton’s winner. Image: SNS.

A relatively even match was decided by one moment of magic from Dylan Easton, with the Raith winger escaping the attention of some powder-puff challenges before curling home the only goal of the game.

In front of 10,334 fans, the Fifers moved five points clear of the Tangerines at the summit of the Championship, with the home fans making their feelings known at full-time.

Raith Rovers 2-1 Dundee United (February 16, 2024)

Following the December meeting between these sides, neither team was able to build any momentum.

Rovers completely failed to hammer home their advantage, picking up five points from a possible 21.

United accrued 14 from a possible 21 – far superior to Ian Murray’s men, but they did fail to beat Queen’s Park, Morton and Dunfermline along the way and didn’t set the heather alight with their football.

Scott Brown unleashes his thunderbolt against Dundee United
Brown unleashes his thunderbolt. Image: SNS

Consequently, when the title rivals renewed hostilities at Stark’s Park in February, Goodwin’s charges boasted a four-point lead over Raith. Simply avoiding defeat would suffice.

Rovers skipper Scott Brown had other ideas, climbing from the bench to lash home a staggering 89th-minute winner against a United side that had enjoyed the better of the contest.

Raith’s social media output in the aftermath – including a “Sliding into Sunday” tweet, accompanied by footage of Jack Hamilton scything down United goalie Jack Walton – did little to build relations between the clubs.

Dunfermline 3-1 Dundee United (March 15, 2024)

Perhaps United’s worst performance of the season.

The first 45 minutes certainly was.

Kane Ritchie-Hosler scores for Dunfermline against Dundee United
The excellent Hosler makes no mistake. Image: SNS

The choice of starting 11 was questionable, the shape was difficult to comprehend – allowing the Pars to break into wide open spaces, and not remedied until half-time – and very few players did themselves justice.

Whether this was the wake-up call the Tangerines needed after an inconsistent, underwhelming start to 2024?

Only those within the Tannadice dressing room will know.

What is for sure: United have not lost since, piecing together a six-game unbeaten run – including the four victories on the trot which sealed the title.

Following that reverse at East End Park, Goodwin’s team selection became more consistent, the tactics were tweaked to be more direct and aggressive, and the Terrors started to grab games by the scruff of the neck once more.

Dundee United 2-0 Raith Rovers (March 30, 2024)

A defining fixture.

The build-up was fractious, with Raith Rovers irked to receive a smaller allocation for the Carling Stand (“The Shed”) than they did for the first meeting between the clubs at Tannadice.

Tony Watt laps up the win for Dundee United
Tony Watt laps up the win over Raith. Image: Shutterstock.

Murray suggested the Tangerines were “rattled”.

Goodwin shrugged that suggestion off, preferring to answer that charge on the pitch.

And United did.

Goals from Watt and Moult sealed a 2-0 win for the hosts, who dominated the contest throughout. It was United’s first win over Rovers this season – and exactly when it mattered most.

Morton 1-4 Dundee United (April 12, 2024)

Already boasting a four-point lead over Raith Rovers, this Friday night fixture afforded United the chance to take a sizable stride towards the title.

Moreover, victory at one of the toughest venues from which to escape unscathed in the Championship would be a massive psychological boost for Goodwin’s side, with Raith’s players and staff no doubt watching on.

And the men in black battered their hosts.

Goals from Docherty and Middleton sent the Terrors in with a 2-0 lead at the break, before Moult and Watt struck in the second period. Robbie Muirhead responded for the Ton.

Ross Docherty perfectly angles a header into the net to give Dundee United the lead
Docherty perfectly angles a header into the net to give Dundee United the lead. Image: SNS

Rovers would go on to draw with Partick Thistle the following day.

Almost there.

Dundee United 1-0 Ayr United (April 20, 2024)

Chris Mochrie’s memorable close-range strike allowed all Arabs to get the party started in earnest, rendering the previous 75 minutes pleasingly irrelevant. It was not a good game.

Nevertheless, the precious three points gave United a realistically insurmountable lead at the summit of the Championship, with fans spilling onto the pitch at full-time to celebrate.

The scenes as delighted United fans took over the Tannadice turf to toast the triumph
The scenes as delighted United fans took over the Tannadice turf to toast the triumph. Image: Shutterstock

They may have rubber-stamped promotion in Airdrie six days later, but this afternoon at Tannadice was packed with more catharsis and relief as a miserable 2022/23 was finally exorcised.

Conversation