MARK BIRIGHITTI | PICKING UP POINTS AT THE RIGHT TIME

There’s a bumper crowd expected at Tannadice as we play host to Livingston on Matchday 33 of the cinch Premiership.
 
Our in-form shot-stopper spoke to the written press at St Andrews ahead of tomorrow’s clash, highlighting our up-turn in form and his thoughts on the season run-in.

A MOVE IN MINDSET

Two wins on the spin - a feat not achieved since the turn of the year - have lifted the spirits inside the tangerine camp.
 
It was Jamie McGrath with two spot-kicks in two games who wrapped up six points for the Terrors as we moved off the bottom of the table.

Mark Birighitti highlighted the subconscious switch in mentality as we jumped above Ross County and Kilmarnock following last weekend's results.
 
“The last couple of weeks have been good. There’s a different vibe among the playing group and everyone's feeling happy, confident and upbeat”.
 
“We’ve had two good results, but we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves because we know how important these next couple of weeks are. Our main focus is this Saturday against Livingston.
 
“We’ve most definitely picked up some momentum, and that can help going into the tail end of the season. It’s the same across any league in football and the Gaffer has mentioned it before, it’s all about how we end the season.”
 
“We’re picking up points at the right time and we want to catch the teams above us rather than be looking over our shoulders.”

FINDING FORM

Our number one also discussed his own performances after being named in the SPFL #TOTW following a stellar showing at Fir Park. Birighitti made seven saves on Matchday 32 – including a crucial block to deny Van Veen early in the second half.

???? Congratulations to Mark Birighitti who has been named in the @SPFL Team of the Week

Birraz made seven saves on Matchday 32 - more than any other 'keeper in the #cinchPremiership ??@MarkBirraz | #DUFC pic.twitter.com/j8jD66pr0T

— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) April 18, 2023

“I'm a person that comes in day in, day out to work hard and be the best version of myself. I’m happy with my performances in recent weeks and I’m just glad to be there when the team need me.”
 
“It’s nice to have that confidence and be back on my game.
 
“However, it’s only one match. We have another six cup finals now and I need to continue helping the team as much as I can”.

GOODWIN’S GUIDANCE

Birighitti has been between the sticks for the majority of the 2022/23 campaign, featuring 26 times for the Terrors in all competitions.
 
Despite pressure for a place from Jack Newman and the now-on-loan Carljohan Eriksson, Birighitti has cemented himself as our first-choice ‘keeper, instilled with belief from our new Gaffer.
 
“I moved across the world to ply my trade but obviously my start to life in Scotland was extremely difficult.”
 
“I’m strong enough to know how to deal with those kinds of situations but I always want to help the team as much as possible.
 
“I'm not going to shy away from the fact that when a new coach comes in and backs you from the start it’s a nice feeling.
 
“It's up to me now to repay the faith he’s put in me - I’m enjoying my football more than ever".

Birraz also touched on the full squad reaping the rewards of Goodwin's appointment. 
 
“I feel the whole team has benefitted from him coming in. You can see in the games we’ve played that we’re capable of going the distance. He’s put a real sense of belief in the playing group that we can go out each weekend and do a job.
 
“He’s put full confidence in the starting eleven and subs bench – that’s one of the main reasons why we’re in this good run of form”.

WHAT'S NEXT

Shoring up the backline is on Goodwin's agenda, with the Terrors having conceded nine goals in the six games since he took charge, a third of which coming in a 3-1 defeat at home to Aberdeen. 

However, it's a stat that's welcome reading for United fans after conceding 49 in our opening 26 cinch Premiership matches (an average of over 1.8 goals per game). 

Birighitti revealed the demands on our defensive unit, with clean sheets now the target as we approach the run-in.

“After the weekend, the manager said the next objective has to be more clean sheets".
 
“It’s something us goalkeepers and the back four pride ourselves on but there hasn’t been enough of them this season.
 
“It’s easy to say but if we're winning games and taking three points then for me that is the team’s main objective. We’re all about the collective here and not about the individual.”

“The Gaffer has come in and got us working extremely hard - using this as one of our main goals. Training has been tough but you can see out there that all the boys are enjoying it”.

 
“He’s simplified the message for us with a big focus on rectifying our defensive shape to be more solid as a collective unit.
 
“I think now we are there or thereabouts, we’ve been able to focus on our offensive play and putting more pressure on our opponents.
 
“Of course, we want to pick up points and be solid, but I think over the next couple of weeks we will be a different outfit – trying to keep the ball and dominate teams in all passages of play”.

TICKETS

You can back the Terrors from Tannadice tomorrow with a limited number of tickets still on sale up until kick-off.