With no Celtic to play, Goodwin is focused on the three-way battle with Hibs and Aberdeen to finish best of the rest in the Premiership
Jim Goodwin knows Dundee United have got the big one against Celtic out of the way and can go into their remaining European push with optimism.
United opened up the split with a visit from champions-in-waiting Celtic but Aberdeen’s win over Hibs means there are still only three points between third place and United in fifth.
United have another big fixture at the weekend, where they know if they can win at Easter Road they can pull level with David Gray’s side.
Goodwin acknowledged: “I think Aberdeen and Hibs are where they should be when you look at the budgets and the finances, their output in terms of that.
“I think we are delighted to be in the mix at this stage of the season with four games to go and three points off third.
“It’s a great place for us to be, but there’s still plenty to play for. It’s going to be a difficult task, we know that.
“We’ve got the really difficult one out of the way now against Celtic. We can be really optimistic going into the next four games.”
Hibs’ long unbeaten run came to an end at Pittodrie. Goodwin knows their opponents will be looking to bounce back. The good thing for United is that they have already go a result when they drew a Easter Road earlier in the season.
“It’s going to be a difficult game,” Goodwin predicted. It always is at Easter Road, but it should be an exciting one.
“There’s still so much to play for for the teams battling it out there for that European place.
“Obviously the defeat last week was a disappointment for us, but we’re still three points behind third place.”
Hibs handed David Gray a new contract last weekend and Goodwin believes it is just reward of the way he has turned the club’s fortunes around, making them from bottom to third.
He claimed: “For David Gray to have been able to turn that ship around the way that he has done, given where they were in November, they were near bottom of the table, if not rock bottom at one point.
“Then to go on that unbelievable run from the turn of the year up to now, to put them in the position that they’re in is fantastic and great for a young manager.
“I’ve said in previous interviews that the board at Hibs do deserve a lot of credit because I think it would have been very easy at that time to remove him from his position.
“But I think the fact that he’s such a cult hero at the club as well has certainly probably bought him a bit more time than what it would have with maybe some other people.
“David’s proven that he’s a good manager, more than capable of managing at this level.
“I’m really, really pleased for him in particular.
“I know a couple of other members of staff there as well that were very nervous coming to turn of the year, but it’s great for them all that they’ve managed to do what they’ve done.
“I see they signed new contracts as well last week, which I’m pretty sure they’ll all be very pleased with.”
United have doubts ahead of the capital visit.
“We’ve got a few carrying some knocks,” the United boss confirmed. “Deccy Gallagher will join back in with the group tomorrow. “He’s got a little bit of an issue, but nothing major. “Ross Graham will miss out.
“Lewis Fiorini is back in amongst it as well, so apart from that I think we should be alright.”
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