Glenn Middleton says Dundee United hope to reel in Aberdeen in third place with the help of a Terrors triumph.
United closed to within six points of ailing Dons thanks to a 2-1 win over St Johnstone on Boxing Day. And Middleton is convinced they’re a different beast to the side that visited Pittodrie in October. United tried to shut up shop with a defensive outlook but lost 1-0 to a late Peter Ambrose goal. Aberdeen were flying at the time and soared three points clear at the top of the league.
But Jim Goodwin’s men have closed in over recent weeks with their consistent form, including draws against Celtic and Rangers. When asked if United’s next ambition was to catch the Dons, Middleton replied: “Definitely. I feel like every game this season we’ve gone into with a positive mindset that we can win it. We showed, especially in the two Old Firm games, that we can compete if we carry out our game plan.
“I feel we’ve maybe got a little bit more in us this time to take the game to them. We owe them one after losing last time. We’re in a really strong position to take the game to teams at the minute. In the last few weeks, we’ve really showed that. This one will be no different.”
Middleton scored for the first time in 17 attempts this season with the equaliser in Perth. Then Sam Dalby won the three points with his ninth in 11 games to take United above Motherwell into fourth.
United were dominant in the second half thanks to Goodwin’s interval instruction at 1-0 down. When asked if the half-time messages tend to be calm, Middleton replied: “Always. Unless you’ve had a real shocker, there’s always a real calm with a strong message.
“There’s no need to shout and bawl. There are other ways to put things over. That’s one of the strengths in the whole squad. In some changing rooms I’ve been in, it can be volatile. But it’s never been like that here.
“Everything is always constructive. There’s a real respect when we speak to each other. And, obviously, when the gaffer is speaking to us, I feel like he has a real trust with us. He knows if he delivers a message at half-time, we’ll carry it out. I feel we keep doing that as a team.
“We’ve come from a goal behind numerous times this season. It’s a great strength to have and shows a togetherness in the squad.”
Middleton’s strike against his old club was the perfect response to Goodwin calling out his scoring record. The winger, who turns 25 on New Year’s Day, took some training ground stick from his boss in the build-up to the Boxing Day clash.
Middleton grinned: “In the nicest way possible, he was telling me that it was about time that I scored! Which was true, to be fair. So thankfully that happened. I think it’s just that, every day in training, I tend to do a lot of finishing. I score a lot in training.
“It’s maybe one of those things that’s maybe not quite happened in the league so far this season. I hadn’t really thought about it too much because I feel like it took me a wee while to get in the team at the start of the season.
“And in a lot of games we’ve not been in all-out attack where we’ve had so many opportunities, so I’ve been doing different jobs for the team. Of course, you’re still in the team to have a threat going forward.
“But, against St Johnstone, we controlled the first half and didn’t deserve to be a goal behind. So it was nice in the second half to get a moment to score. It was definitely right up there in my right-footed collection! I was really happy with it.”
On-loan Wrexham striker Dalby is the Premiership’s top-scorer despite not getting off the mark until October 19. Middleton added: “To have Sam scoring goals as well as bringing the likes of me and others into play the way he does is brilliant. He’s stepped up in key moments.”