One of the SPL’s top goalkeeping performers this season is planning to keep Dundee United’s hopes of a third-place finish alive by thwarting championship-chasing Rangers at Tannadice tonight.
With United’s 3-2 win at Ibrox last month still fresh in the memory, Slovakian Dusan Pernis said, “Every time we play against Rangers it’s a very hard game, which makes our win a couple of weeks ago such a great result.
“We’ll be trying to do the same again at Tannadice. Not only did we win last time, we also beat them here in the cup last year, so we know we can do it hopefully we can make it three.
“We’re out of both cups and we must do all we can to make sure we finish fourth and maybe even third. With all the injuries we’ve had fourth would represent a good season for us.
“Our form has been up and down, but March was very good for us and that has put us in a good position.”
The Tangerines have been quietly putting the squeeze on third-placed Hearts, whose draw against Inverness on Saturday meant United can close the gap to six points with a win tonight. However, manager Peter Houston insists the guaranteed Europa League place is still the Edinburgh club’s to throw away.
“They are a good team and if they win their games then third spot is theirs,” he said. “All we can do is win as many matches as possible and see what happens.
“Rangers will play their strongest team against us because they are trying to win the league. That is no concern of ours and we want to finish the season on a high.”
United will be without the suspended Paul Dixon for this game and Saturday’s home match against Kilmarnock. Keith Watson is also sidelined through injury, meaning the full-backs will be two from three of Sean Dillon, Barry Douglas or Mihael Kovacevic.
Houston believes United will have to watch Rangers’ in-form frontman Nikica Jelavic, but insists Ibrox boss Walter Smith will be thinking along similar lines about David Goodwillie, who has just been nominated for the players’ union young player of the year award.
“Jelavic has been magnificent for them this season,” he said. “I thought he was looking good before his injury, but since he came back he has shown exactly why Walter Smith persuaded the board to let him spend £4 million on him.
“He really looks top quality and some of the goals he has scored lately have been superb. He scored a header against us the last time and he is a player we will obviously have to keep a close eye on.
“For us, though, Goodie deserves the recognition and he has still managed to keep banging in goals. He can score in any company, has been in a Scotland squad and has all the talent in the world. This season he has been a revelation for United.”
Rangers are boosted by the return of Madjid Bougherra, with the defender an unused substitute against St Mirren at the weekend. Steven Naismith is also available after serving his suspension.
However, the match comes just too soon for Lee McCulloch as he bids to make his return following knee surgery.The match was originally all-ticket, but two cash turnstiles will be available to United fans only one in the George Fox (number 33), the other in the Eddie Thompson (number four) stand.