Jim Goodwin expects more from Dundee United after European progression

Jim Goodwin admits improvement is required after Dundee United’s 1-0 win over UNA Strassen took them through to the Conference League third qualifier with a 2-0 aggregate victory.

The Taysiders were unconvincing in Luxembourg but a header in the 64th minute from their Moldova international Iurie Iovu proved decisive and set up a third round qualifier against Rapid Vienna, following the Austrian side’s victory over Decic.

Tannadice boss Goodwin was not fooled by what was an historic result, the first away from home in Europe since 1997.

He told BBC Scotland: “I didn’t realise it had been nearly 30 years since we won away from home in Europe.

“It’s a great result for this new group of players. Any game away from home in Europe is extremely difficult, there are no easy ties.

“On paper people would have looked at the game and thought it should be straightforward but Strassen were technically very good.

“They’re no mugs so we’re delighted with the result and clean sheet but we know we have to improve. We were really untidy on the ball, maybe that was a case of nerves.

“Over the two ties I don’t think anybody could argue we deserved to go through.

“Neither performance was perfect, we’ve got a lot to learn and we need to do it quickly.

“There are definitely things we need to brush up on. We were very untidy on the ball.

“When we did play and pass the ball quickly we got into dangerous areas but [Yevhenii] Kucherenko, over the two legs, has had very little to do.”