Scottish Cup heartbreak won't derail Dundee United as Jim Goodwin reveals where priorities lie

Goodwin is adamant his team can shake off their defeat to Dundee and bounce back against Rangers

Jim Goodwin is determined their Scottish Cup exit won’t derail Dundee United’s season and stated that the Premiership has always been their priority.

United crashed out of the cup in the derby on Monday but their manager knows that there is still plenty to play for, with his side currently sitting in third place. The priority for Goodwin has always been Premiership survival but they have come up and surpassed that and he knows they could achieve even more - as they are sitting in a European berth.

Goodwin said: “We're all gutted, as you would imagine, but we won't allow this result to derail what's been a very good season up to now. We're in a great position in the league.“The league is always the priority at the start of the season.

“Of course, we want to go far in the cup competitions. We got to the quarters in the League Cup and we would have liked to go further in this one, but it wasn't to be.”

Goodwin felt aggrieved that a refereeing decision had gone against his team and they didn’t get the luck on the night as they hit the woodwork in their search for an equaliser against Dundee. He reckons the reaction from the United faithful showed that his players had given their all.

Goodwin admitted: “We're disappointed for the supporters who I thought were outstanding here again on Monday and made themselves heard.”I know their reaction when the whistle goes at the end for what the players put into the game was greatly appreciated by the squad.”

United entertain Rangers on Sunday and Goodwin is well aware of that challenge, although his side did take a point from their last meeting at Ibrox. The focused United manager said: “We get back to league business now at the weekend. “It's a really tough game against tough opposition, but we'll need to make sure we're at it.”

It remains to be seen if captain Ross Docherty will be fit for the Rangers clash. Goodwin confirmed he missed the derby because of a minor issue. “Doc's picked up a niggle in the early part of the week,” Goodwin confirmed.

“Obviously, he's our captain, he's our leader. It's always hard to go without him, albeit we've had to go without him for numerous spells this season already. You want to have your best players available to you at these big games and, unfortunately, Doc has had to miss out.”