Jim Goodwin: Dundee United may have to change things up due to poor pitch

Jim Goodwin admitted Dundee United may have to play “more percentage football” in order to contend with a Tannadice playing surface lashed by heavy rainfall in recent weeks.

United have had two home matches postponed over the past month due to adverse weather and it was evident in Wednesday’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup win over Spartans that certain areas of the pitch have still not recovered.

Goodwin’s side host Kilmarnock on Saturday – and Aberdeen on Tuesday – and the manager said: “The pitch is not ideal and plenty has been made of that.

“But we have to find solutions in terms of potentially changing up how we want to play a little bit.

“You saw on Wednesday with some of the passes that were played into midfield, it’s difficult for the players to control.

“We might have to change our approach slightly, play a little bit more percentage football and take that risk element out of it.”

Inconsistent United are aiming to make it three wins on the spin for the first time this season when they host Killie.

“Hopefully we can build on the good results that we’ve had of late and continue to close the gap on Falkirk on the sixth,” said Goodwin.

“That’s two wins now, back-to-back. Obviously, we need to try and continue to build on that and gain some momentum going into the last few games before the split and see where it takes us.

“It’s not going to be easy. Kilmarnock have really picked up under Neil McCann. There’s a change of shape and a change of style of play as well, which we have to contend with.

“They’re scoring lots of goals and we give them the greatest respect.”