Preview: Dundee United vs. St Johnstone - prediction, team news, lineups

Liam Fox's side are languishing at the foot of the standings without a win in four matches across all competitions, while Saints sit in eighth position, only seven points above their impending hosts.

Match preview

Dundee United are on course to finish bottom of the standings at the completion of the first phase of the 2022-23 Scottish Premiership campaign.

Fox's struggling side have lost a joint league-high 14 games throughout a demoralising 24-match sequence that has seen his managerial tenure in the Tannadice Park dugout come under increased scrutiny from the Terrors' faithful.

Winless in five league matches, incidentally registering their last victory against St Johnstone on January 2, Dundee United have yet to produce a repeat of their enterprising run of form that resulted in a fourth-placed finish at the end of the first phase of the 2021-22 campaign.

Dundee United switched their attention away from their current league woes last weekend as Fox's troops faced fellow Premiership outfit Kilmarnock in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.

However, the majority in attendance at Tannadice Park were left disappointed at the sound of referee Alan Muir's full-time whistle, as Kyle Vassell's 55th-minute strike proved enough to see Derek McInnes's side progress to the last 16.

That would not be all for the Terrors' boss to deal with when coming to the deconstruction of his side's defeat, as the under-pressure manager will now be without Loick Ayina for the match this weekend after the defender was given his marching orders with 15 minutes left to play in the contest.

However, Dundee United will head into this weekend's encounter against a St Johnstone side who have lost seven of their last eight league matches.

Callum Davidson's side are in eighth position in the 2022-23 Scottish Premiership standings, trailing St Mirren, who occupy the final Championship Group position, by six points.

St Johnstone have only registered a solitary victory across their previous eight league matches, which included a sequence of six successive defeats.

Despite experiencing a recent torrid run of results, Saints possess the third-best away record across the division, with only Celtic and Rangers registering more points per game across the current league campaign.

Davidson's side were last in league action on February 5, when leaders Celtic made the trip to McDiarmid Park. However, in line with the teams' respective performances throughout the current Scottish Premiership season, Ange Postecoglou's side unsurprisingly experienced no qualms in registering a comfortable 4-1 victory over their numerically-disadvantaged hosts.

It was also a night to forget for Andrew Considine, as the St Johnstone defender culminated his eventful night with a straight red card deep into second-half injury time after he had put through his own net within the opening quarter-hour of the contest.

Dundee United Scottish Premiership form:

W

L

D

L

L

L

Dundee United form (all competitions):

D

W

L

L

L

L

St Johnstone Scottish Premiership form:

L

L

L

L

W

L

St Johnstone form (all competitions):

L

L

L

L

W

L

Team News

Dundee United boss Liam Fox will not be able to call upon defender Loick Ayina after his dismissal against Kilmarnock.

Without the services of the aforementioned Ayina, Ross Graham will come into the Terrors' backline alongside veteran defender Charlie Mulgrew and Scott McMann.

After coming off the substitutes' bench to replace Mathew Anim Cudjoe last weekend, 17-year-old Rory MacLeod might be recalled to Fox's opening team sheet as the striker continues his pursuit of finally opening his goalscoring account for the 2022-23 campaign.

St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson will also be forced into making alterations to his defence following Andrew Considine's dismissal against Scottish football heavyweights Celtic.

With a gap appearing in the Saints' backline, Adam Montgomery could be recalled to the visitors' 11 for the trip to Tannadice Park.

Dundee United possible starting lineup:

Birighitti; McMann, Mulgrew, Graham; Smith, Sibbald, Levitt, Niskanen; MacLeod, Middleton, Fletcher

St Johnstone possible starting lineup:

Matthews; Wright, Mitchell, Brown, Montgomery, Gallacher; Carey, Phillips, MacPherson, McLennan; May

We say: Dundee United 0-2 St Johnstone

Previews by email