The chance to go level on points with Rangers on Saturday is a “huge motivation” for Dundee United, says manager Jim Goodwin as he urges his team to create “some nervous tension” at Ibrox.
United are fourth in the Premiership, three points and one place behind Rangers.
“We want to be as close as possible to the teams above us; a win would be fantastic,” Goodwin said. “That is a great motivation for the players.
“We’ve looked at Rangers and I thought St Mirren and Hearts in particular had them very close at Ibrox. We have to learn from that.”
Rangers may have had a slow start to the season, but they have won all six of their home games in the Premiership.
You have to go back 13 years to see the last time United won a league game at Ibrox.
“We go into every game trying to be positive,” Goodwin said, referring to recent wins that have bucked the trend.
“The boys have achieved some of those sorts of records – we hadn’t beaten St Johnstone for about a decade at Tannadice and I think it was about 14 or 15 years since Dundee United last won at Tynecastle.
“Records have to change at some point and there’s no reason why we can’t be the team that fixes another one.”
Rangers, who are nine points behind Celtic and Aberdeen, beat United 1-0 at Tannadice in September, their only away success in five attempts this season.
As Saturday’s hosts play catch-up, Goodwin, who welcomes in-form striker Louis Moult, will hope to take advantage of any jitters in the stands.
“We know how good Rangers fans can be at creating a good atmosphere,” he said.
“But on the other hand, if we can go there and get the game plan right and try to create some nervous tension in the place, we know the fans can quickly attack the players.
“That’s what a lot of coaches would tell their players before these games.
“To play for a club like Rangers you have to have a strong character and that character has been questioned numerous times this season, so we have to put Rangers under as much pressure as we can.
“We have to take the positive from the last time we faced them and I think we have players who can cause problems for Rangers.”
