2020–21 Dundee United F.C. season

The 2020–21 season was Dundee United's 112th season. It was their first season back in the Scottish Premiership, having been promoted from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2019–20 season.[1] United also competed in the League Cup and Scottish Cup.

Dundee United
2020–21 season
ChairmanMark Ogren
ManagerMicky Mellon
StadiumTannadice Park
Premiership9th
Scottish CupSemi-final
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Nicky Clark (8)
All: Nicky Clark (11)

Season summary

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Dundee United were promoted back to the Premiership after the premature season ending due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland and spent majority of summer months fighting their case in the SPFL and ended up in court with Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers fighting their promotions against relegated teams Heart of Midlothian and Partick Thistle.[2] Also in the off-season, manager Robbie Neilson left for Hearts so Micky Mellon was hired as the new manager for United.[3]

Competitions

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Results and fixtures

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  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season and friendlies

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11 July 2020 Friendly Motherwell 1–0 Dundee United Motherwell
White   55' Report
18 July 2020 Friendly Dundee United 0–0 Livingston Dundee
Report Stadium: Tannadice Park
22 July 2020 Friendly Rangers 'B' 1–4 Dundee United Glasgow
McPake   12' Report Clark   4 pen.'
Butcher   57'
Shankland   60'
Powers   80'
Stadium: Rangers Training Ground
25 July 2020 Friendly Dundee United 1–1 Kilmarnock Dundee
Smith   1' Report Kiltie   46' Stadium: Tannadice Park
25 August 2020 Friendly Dundee United Abandoned   Sheffield United Dundee
15:00 [1]
[2]
Sharp   43' Stadium: Tannadice Park
Referee: Brian McLean
Note: Abandoned after 45 minutes due to weather conditions

Scottish Premiership

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1 August 2020[4] 1 Dundee United 1–1 St Johnstone Tannadice Park
15:00 BST Clark   6' (pen.) Report Craig   55' Referee: Kevin Clancy
8 August 2020 2 Motherwell 0–1 Dundee United Fir Park
15:00 BST Report Reynolds   52' Referee: Steven McLean
11 August 2020 3 Dundee United 0–1 Hibernian Tannadice Park
18:00 BST Report Doidge   65' Referee: Don Robertson
15 August 2020 4 Ross County 1–2 Dundee United Global Energy Stadium
15:00 Paton   22'
Donaldson   29'   87'
Report Appéré   34'
Pawlett   40'
Clark   79'
Referee: Craig Napier
22 August 2020 5 Dundee United 0–1 Celtic Tannadice Park
17:30 Report Ajeti   83' Referee: Andrew Dallas
Note: Live on Sky Sports
29 August 2020 6 Kilmarnock 4–0 Dundee United Rugby Park
15:00 Kabamba   30', 79'
Brophy   45+1'
McKenzie   86'
Report Referee: David Munro
12 September 2020 7 Rangers 4–0 Dundee United Ibrox Stadium
15:00 Kent   13'
Tavernier   39'
Roofe   68'
Arfield   87'
Report Referee: Kevin Clancy
19 September 2020 8 Dundee United 2–1 St Mirren Tannadice Park
15:00 Shankland   33'
Sporle   52'
Report Tait   60'
Connolly   64'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Colin Steven
26 September 2020 9 Hamilton Academical 1–1 Dundee United Hamilton
15:00 Odoffin   75' Report Shankland   4' Stadium: New Douglas Park
Referee: Alan Muir
2 October 2020 10 Dundee United 1–2 Livingston Tannadice Park
19:45 Clark   18' Report Guthrie   53'
Forrest   90'
Attendance: 0
Referee: John Beaton
17 October 2020 11 Dundee United 0–0 Aberdeen Tannadice Park
15:00 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Muir
24 October 2020 12 St Johnstone 0–0 Dundee United McDiarmid Park
15:00 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Andrew Dallas
31 October 2020 13 Dundee United 2–1 Ross County Tannadice Park
15:00 Clark   19 pen.', 51' Report Shaw   81' Attendance: 0
6 November 2020 14 St Mirren 0–0 Dundee United St Mirren Park
19:45 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: David Munro
21 November 2020 15 Dundee United 2–1 Hamilton Academical Tannadice Park
15:00 Clark   76', 80' Report Callachan   65' Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Napier
5 December 2020 16 Livingston 2–0 Dundee United Almondvale
15:00 Pittman   57'
Bartley   73'
Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Don Robertson
13 December 2020 17 Dundee United 1–2 Rangers Tannadice Park
12:00 Smith   33' Report Tavernier   26'
Goldson   44'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
19 December 2020 18 Hibernian 1–1 Dundee United Almondvale
15:00 Magennis   13' Report Bolton   90+1' Attendance: 0
Referee: Gavin Duncan
23 December 2020 19 Dundee United 2–0 Kilmarnock Tannadice Park
18:30 McNulty   25'
Shankland   28'
Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
26 December 2020 20 Dundee United 1–1 Motherwell Tannadice Park
15:00 Clark   90+2' Report Watt   9' Attendance: 0
Referee: Bobby Madden
30 December 2020 21 Celtic 3–0 Dundee United Celtic Park
15:00 Soro   23'
Turnbull   40'
Edouard   76'
Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Willie Collum
2 January 2021 22 Aberdeen 0–0 Dundee United Pittodrie
15:00 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Clancy
12 January 2021 23 Dundee United 2–2 St Johnstone Tannadice Park
18:00 Appéré   9'
Shankland   53'
Report Melamed   16'
Kane   38'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Colin Steven
16 January 2021 24 Hamilton Academical 0–0 Dundee United New Douglas Park
15:00 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Greg Aitken
27 January 2021 25 Dundee United 1–5 St Mirren Dundee
19:45 Harkes   54' Report Shaughnessy   30'
McGrath   42 pen.', 45+1 pen.'
Connolly   80'
Dennis   85'
Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: John Beaton
30 January 2021 26 Dundee United 0–2 Hibernian Dundee
15:00 Report McGregor   21'
Boyle   69'
Stadium: Tannadice Park, Dundee
Attendance: 0
Referee: Gavin Duncan
3 February 2021 27 Motherwell 2–1 Dundee United Motherwell
18:00 Cole   23'
Long   28'
Report Edwards   80' Stadium: Fir Park, Motherwell
Attendance: 0
Referee: Don Robertson
6 February 2021 28 Ross County 0–2 Dundee United Dingwall
15:00 Report Shankland   63'
Edwards   76'
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Grant Irvine
13 February 2021 29 Dundee United 3–0 Livingston Dundee
15:00 Sporle   1'
Pawlett   31'
Shankland   35', 83'
Report Fitzwater   61' Stadium: Tannadice Park, Dundee
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nick Walsh
21 February 2021 30 Rangers 4–1 Dundee United Glasgow
15:00 Hagi   35'
Kent   38'
Aribo   48'
Morelos   64'
Report McNulty   86' Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nick Walsh
27 February 2021 31 Kilmarnock 1–1 Dundee United Kilmarnock
15:00 Medley   64' Report Spörle   18' Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: David Munro
7 March 2021 32 Dundee United 0–0 Celtic Dundee
12:00 Report Stadium: Tannadice Park, Dundee
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Clancy
20 March 2021 33 Dundee United 1–0 Aberdeen Dundee
15:00 Spörle   61' Report Stadium: Tannadice Park, Dundee
Attendance: 0
Referee: Greg Aitken
10 April 2021 34 Hamilton Academical 0–1 Dundee United Hamilton
15:00 Report McNulty   6' Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Bobby Madden
21 April 2021 35 Kilmarnock 3–0 Dundee United Kilmarnock
19:45 Lafferty   32', 35', 43 pen.' Report Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Muir
1 May 2021 36 Dundee United 0–2 Ross County Dundee
15:00 Report White   24'
Iacovitti   28'
Stadium: Tannadice Park, Dundee
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Clancy
12 May 2021 37 Dundee United 2–2 Motherwell Dundee
19:45 Shankland   13'
Meekison   34'
Report Long   54'
Cole   90+1'
Stadium: Tannadice Park, Dundee
Attendance: 0
16 May 2021 38 St Mirren 0–0 Dundee United Paisley
12:00 Report Robson   71' Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Euan Anderson

Scottish League Cup

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Group stage

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7 October 2020 Brechin City 2–6 Dundee United Glebe Park
19:45 Inglis   52 pen.'
Currie   54'
Report Clark   15', 18'
Butcher   40'
Harkes   47'
Smith   60', 90+3'
Attendance: 0
10 October 2020 Dundee United 0–1 Peterhead Tannadice Park
15:00 Report Boyd   51' Attendance: 0
13 October 2020 Dundee United 1–0 Kelty Hearts Tannadice Park
19:45 Edwards   45+3' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Don Robertson
10 November 2020 St Johnstone 0–0
(3-4 p)
Dundee United McDiarmid Park
19:45 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Don Robertson
Note: Live on Premier Sports

Scottish Cup

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3 April 2021 Third Round Dundee United 2–1 Partick Thistle Dundee
15:00 Shankland   78'
Clark   90+1'
Report Tiffoney   25' Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
16 April 2021 Fourth Round Forfar Athletic 0–1 Dundee United Forfar
19:00 Report Pawlett   56' Stadium: Station Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Don Robertson
24 April 2021 Quarter-Final Aberdeen 0–3 Dundee United Aberdeen
15:00 Report McNulty   18', 54'
Edwards   37'
Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Clancy
8 May 2021 Semi-Final Dundee United 0–2 Hibernian Glasgow
16:00 Report Nisbet   27'
Doidge   58'
Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Bobby Madden

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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As of 16 May 2020
No. Pos Player Premiership League Cup Scottish Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   Benjamin Siegrist 32+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 32 0
2 DF   Liam Smith 28+2 1 2+0 0 3+0 0 35 1
3 DF   Adrián Spörle 15+10 2 1+0 0 3+0 0 29 2
4 DF   Dillon Powers 6+8 0 1+2 0 0+0 0 17 0
5 DF   Mark Connolly 23+2 0 3+1 0 0+0 0 29 0
6 DF   Mark Reynolds 33+1 1 3+0 0 4+0 0 41 1
8 MF   Peter Pawlett 15+11 1 2+1 0 1+3 1 33 2
9 FW   Marc McNulty 17+8 3 1+0 0 4+0 2 30 5
10 FW   Nicky Clark 23+7 8 4+0 2 3+1 1 38 11
12 DF   Ryan Edwards 23+0 2 4+0 1 4+0 1 31 4
15 FW   Logan Chalmers 8+6 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 15 0
17 DF   Jamie Robson 33+3 0 3+0 0 4+0 0 43 0
18 MF   Calum Butcher 27+1 0 4+0 1 4+0 0 36 1
19 GK   Deniz Mehmet 4+0 0 4+0 0 4+0 0 12 0
20 MF   Luke Bolton 18+6 0 3+1 0 1+1 0 30 0
21 MF   Declan Glass 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1 0
23 MF   Ian Harkes 30+5 1 2+2 1 3+1 0 43 2
24 FW   Lawrence Shankland 30+2 7 0+0 0 4+0 1 36 8
27 FW   Louis Appéré 11+9 1 2+2 0 0+2 0 26 1
31 GK   Jack Newman 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 3 0
32 MF   Archie Meekison 2+1 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 3 1
36 FW   Darren Watson 3+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 4 0
43 DF   Kerr Smith 3+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 5 0
52 GK   Neil Alexander 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0 0
53 GK   Ross Doohan 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2 0
66 MF   Jeando Fuchs 19+1 0 1+0 0 3+1 0 25 0
Players who left the club during the 2020–21 season
7 MF   Paul McMullan 3+5 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 11 0
11 FW   Cammy Smith 0+4 0 2+1 2 0+0 0 7 2
14 MF   Florent Hoti 1+3 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 4 0
16 MF   Adam King 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0 0
22 DF   Kieran Freeman 1+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 3 0
25 FW   Kai Fotheringham 0+1 0 0+2 0 0+0 0 3 0
26 MF   Chris Mochrie 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 1 0
30 DF   Lewis Neilson 7+2 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 10 0

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
7 St Mirren 38 11 12 15 37 45 −8 45
8 Motherwell 38 12 9 17 39 55 −16 45
9 Dundee United 38 10 14 14 32 50 −18 44
10 Ross County 38 11 6 21 35 66 −31 39
11 Kilmarnock (R) 38 10 6 22 43 54 −11 36 Qualification for the Premiership play-off final
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-Head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only if deciding champion, UEFA competitions qualification, second stage group allocation or relegation).[6]
(R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams play each other three times (33 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).

League Cup table

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Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification STJ DUN PET KEL BRE
1 St Johnstone 4 3 0 1 0 12 2 +10 10 Qualification for the Second round 0–0p 7–0
2 Dundee United 4 2 1 0 1 7 3 +4 8 0–1 1–0
3 Peterhead 4 2 1 0 1 6 5 +1 8 1–3 3–1
4 Kelty Hearts 4 1 0 1 2 4 4 0 4 1–2 1–1p
5 Brechin City 4 0 0 0 4 3 18 −15 0 2–6 0–2
Source: [7]
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) away goals scored, 5) matches won, 6) away matches won, 7) drawing of lots.[8]

Transfers

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See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Mark Ogren Statement: Dundee United Ladbrokes Championship Winners". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. 15 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Club Statement". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. 6 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Micky Mellon becomes United manager". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. 6 July 2020.
  4. ^ "2020/21 Premiership Fixtures Revealed". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. 6 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Summary - Premiership". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  6. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group C". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Dundee United snap up ex-Sunderland goalkeeper Jack Newman". Evening Telegraph. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Ryan Edwards is Tangerine". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. Dundee United FC. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Dundee United: Midfielder Florent Hoti joins on two-year deal". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Jeando Fuchs: Dundee Utd sign Cameroon midfielder on two-year deal". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Paul Watson joins Dunfermline". dafc.co.uk. Dunfermline Athletic FC. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  14. ^ "SAM WARDROP IS BACK AT DUMBARTON!". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Dumbarton FC. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Fleet bring Bingham in". ebbsfleetunited.co.uk. Ebbsfleet United FC. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Osman joins". dundeefc.co.uk. Dundee FC. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Cammy Smith agrees deal". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Dundee United sign Man City winger Luke Bolton on season-long loan". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  19. ^ "McNulty arrives at Tannadice". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. Dundee United FC. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Dundee United: Ross Doohan brought in on emergency loan". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  21. ^ "United midfielder joins the 'Loons'". forfarathletic.co.uk. Forfar Athletic FC. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  22. ^ "CHRIS MOCHRIE JOINS MONTROSE ON LOAN". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. Dundee United FC. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  23. ^ "Paul joins on loan". eveningexpress.co.uk. Evening Express. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Paul joins on loan". dundeefc.co.uk. Dundee FC. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  25. ^ "One in and one out at Raith Rovers". fifetoday.co.uk. Fife Today. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Dundee United youngsters Kai Fotheringham and Lewis Neilson join Falkirk on loan until the end of the season". thecourier.co.uk. The Courier. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Dundee United youngsters Kai Fotheringham and Lewis Neilson join Falkirk on loan until the end of the season". thecourier.co.uk. The Courier. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  28. ^ "Dundee United youngster Nathan Cooney joins Raith Rovers on loan until the end of the season". thecourier.co.uk. The Courier. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.