Match Preview

The Tangerines will host third place Heart of Midlothian this Sunday with a 12.15pm kick-off. United's new Head Coach Paatelainen, who enjoyed a spell with United as player between 1987-1992, was handed the role on Wednesday. With his reputation of a straight talker and a manager that demands hard work and full commitment from his players, Paatelainen will be hoping to get off to a flying start as boss starting with this weekend against a dangerous Hearts side. United's opponents have had a relatively solid start to the season recording a respectable tally of five victories out of a possible ten. However, the Jambos' form has been slightly patchy as of late, picking up only five points in their last six matches. With Sunday being his first team selection of his United managerial career, Paatelainen will have to do without long-term absentees Paul Dixon, Chris Erskine and Paul Paton, whilst striker Mario Bilate's season may be over following a cruciate ligament injury. United are currently occupying the bottom spot in the league and are still awaiting that second league victory since early August at Motherwell.  Whilst defeats have come United's way throughout the majority of the season so far, there have been plenty of golden opportunities to score a handful of goals as well. With the opponents having spent a season in the Scottish Championship, a league they won with ease, the sides haven't met since March 2014 when strikers Nadir Ciftci and Brian Graham scored in a deserved 2-1 victory on a Friday night at Tynecastle. The roundly approved appointment of Paatelainen does offer the Club a fresh start. On Sunday, with a massive Arab backing, a good atmosphere should do wonders in helping United collect the three points and start the climb up the table! Come on United!! Click here for ticket info for Sunday's game.