ROSS DOCHERTY | MATCH THE BATTLE EARLY ON

United captain Ross Docherty is targeting the perfect start to our 2023/24 cinch Championship campaign as he sets his sights on maximum points in Angus.

Watch our number 23’s press conference from the DUFC Training Centre in full below!

 Settling In And Boosting Morale

Docherty was the first new face to put pen to paper on a deal at Tannadice this summer, as Manager Jim Goodwin moved quickly to secure the midfielder's services following the expiry of his contract with Partick Thistle.

Harking back his first few days at the club and the reception received from his new teammates, he began: “It’s been great so far. I was the first in the door so there have been a lot of changes even since then. 

"The guys who have been here have made me feel welcome and I’ve helped the ones who’ve come in more recently.

As a senior figure within the dressing room from the off, Docherty was tasked with picking up the pieces of a dressing room left devastated by our relegation to the second tier. 

"You saw some boys a bit down when I first come in because we were coming off the back of a relegation. The more we get together the more we can implement positivity, whether that’s from the manager, people upstairs or fans around the training ground.

"Now, we’re confident, buzzing and raring to go. For new guys like myself you want to repay the faith the club have shown by signing you and for guys who’ve been here last year they’ve got the bit between their teeth and want to show they deserve to the at the club."

No-Brainer

Having been given the armband with previous clubs Ayr United and Partick Thistle, it seemed a foregone conclusion that the 30-year-old would assume the same role at Tannadice.

Docherty has now skippered the side on five occasions, and insists the magnitude of this responsibility is not lost on him.

"I’m delighted I’ve been asked to take the armband. It's a huge privilege to captain a club as big as this - that’s the overriding feeling. It adds a bit of pressure but I look forward to taking that on knowing where the club and myself want to be."

Bouncing Back

United endured somewhat of a double false start at the beginning of the Viaplay Cup, suffering disappointing back-to-back defeats to The Spartans and Partick Thistle respectively - results which ultimately knocked the Terrors out of the competition after just 180 minutes of football.

However, Goodwin's rejuvenated side have responded with three confidence-boosting wins on the spin, seeing off Peterhead, Falkirk and, most recently, English League One outfit Carlisle United.

In the latter, our meticulous pre-season preparations began to bare fruits, with clear and fluid patterns of play evident for any keen-eyed observer of a tangerine persuasion.

"The first two results were disappointing. Performances, as the cup went on, got better and the results started to come. Even with our last game against Carlisle United, albeit it was a friendly, it was against decent opposition."

"I think the fans can expect to see a well-organised team moving forward - we’ve worked a lot on it. I think you have been able to see the progression through pre-season but I’m hoping we can add a bit more at the top end. 

"It's about keeping that momentum and, hopefully, we do that starting the league tomorrow."

Starting As We Mean To Go On

When the Championship fixture list was churned out by the SPFL's supercomputer on Friday 30th June, United could barely have been dealt a more difficult opening day fixture - Arbroath away.

Dick Campbell's odds-defying Red Lichties are poised to kick-off their fifth consecutive season in the second tier, having narrowly escaped the drop on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign.

With a reputation for resolute and direct football, United will need to be prepared to stand toe-to-toe with their physical hosts, whilst no doubt having to simultaneously battle the infamous east coast gales.

"They’ll make it hard for us and they’ll fancy their chances to go and win - I know what they’re like" claims Docherty, who faced tomorrow's opponents three times last year.

"We have to match the battle early on and stamp our quality on them so we can go and win the game.

"It’ll be a hard game. It always is. There are no easy games in this league. Especially up there - it’s a tough place to go and they thrive on it."

Sold-Out Show

Despite the match being televised live on BBC Scotland, Docherty and his teammates are set to be roared on by more than 3,000 travelling Arabs, as the Tangerine Army descend on Gayfield to pack out the terraces for Scottish football's 2023/24 curtain-raiser.

"I’ve seen the ticket sales for tomorrow night, I think its over 3,200, which is huge for us. We want the fans, the players and everyone at the club to be together after what happened last year and put that behind us."

He continued: "At Partick Thistle last year, the away support was brilliant and at away games they can suck the ball into the net when you’re building a bit of pressure so I’m hoping it can be similar for the season going forward.

"We’ve all got determination and motivation and we can’t wait to get going tomorrow night."

'Our Aim Is To Win The League'

When queried on the club's ambitions for the season ahead, the Paisley native was definitive in stating our title-chasing aspirations, concluding: "I'm not going to sit here and say ‘we might get promoted.” Our aim and ambition is to go and win the league.

"We’ve brought players into the club who are capable of doing that, in my opinion. It’s now about proving that. The manager has shown faith in us by bringing us to the club, so it’s about repaying him and taking this club back to where I want it to be."