Latest news with #CraigSibbald
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'It's down to us to finish season on a high'
Craig Sibbald insists Dundee United are ready to cast aside their "wee blip" and finish on a high with European have followed a hat-trick of wins with three successive post-split defeats to come under pressure from St Mirren for a European Goodwin's side might need a result at Ibrox tonight to keep European qualification in their own hands before the final Sibbald said: "The boys are all confident. We've had a wee blip recently, but every game's tough in the top six and we've been doing really well up until that."All in all, I think we've had a really good season and we can be proud of where we are now - not many teams who have been promoted from the Championship have made into the top six straight away."Unfortunately, we've not had a good start to the top-six games, but who's to say we can't finish on a high and get maximum points out of the next two games?"We just need to remain confident and keep believing that we can get something. It's down to us now and we want to finish the season on a high."We were disappointed with the result (on Saturday), but it's in our hands and we're sitting in a good position in the table."So we just need to learn from our mistakes and try and cut them out them at Ibrox on Wednesday to make sure we can try and get three points."
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Craig Sibbald eyes Dundee United dream double over Rangers and Aberdeen to book Euro party
United are fifth in the table but St Miren are chasing hard in the hunt for a shot at European football next term Craig Sibbald wants Dundee United to finish on a high by wrapping up a European place in style starting with a dream double. United sit fifth in the table and remain favourites to qualify for Europe, although chasing St Mirren have ramped up the pressure in recent weeks. Jim Goodwin's side head to Rangers on Wednesday evening and then entertain Aberdeen on Saturday and the midfielder believes his side should be going for glory with two wins. Sibbald stated: 'The boys are all confident. We've had a wee blip recently but every game is tough in the top six and we've been doing really well up until that. 'We just need to learn from the mistakes and try and put them behind us and learn from that and just try and get the three points against Rangers. It's just about finishing on a high. 'Obviously, we've not had a good start to the top six games but who's to say we can't finish on a high and get maximum points from the next two games? 'Yes, it's a close-knit team anyway so we're all right together until the final game. 'Hopefully, we can just put on good performances and learn from the mistakes that have happened in the last couple of games and finish on a high. 'We are disappointed with the result but like you said it's in our hands and we're sitting well on the table. 'We just need to learn from our mistakes and try and implement those things going into the next game, to try to do better and get the three points.' The Tannadice side has been in the top half most of the season and now the newly-promoted team has to finish the job it has started, so spectacularly. The midfielder, who played in the last European game against AZ Alkmaar, acknowledged: 'There was a kind of pride within ourselves to get a result out of the next two games. 'It's kind of down to ourselves and we want to finish the season on a high. 'Slightly, yes, but all in all I think we've had a really good season and we can be proud of where we are now. 'A team promoted from the Championship, it's not happened a lot to be sitting in the top six. 'So we're proud of that and we just need to go into the next two games confident and believe that we can get something.' Rangers finally got their first Ibrox win under caretaker Barry Ferguson as they dismantled Aberdeen at the weekend. The good thing for United is they got a draw there earlier in the season and Sibbald knows Goodwin will have them well-drilled again. 'They're (Rangers) obviously doing well at the moment,' the 29-year-old acknowledged. 'They got a good result on Sunday and they'll be confident going into the game against us. 'So we'll need to be prepared for that and I'm sure the gaffer will have a game plan ready for us to try and get the three points for us. 'To be honest, we won't be thinking about them, we're thinking about ourselves and we just need to focus on our game plan. 'The gaffer will have a game plan for us and hopefully that can stand us in good stead for the three points.' United's squad has been patched up and is running on fumes but Sibbald is probably one of the players who is probably peaking at the right time. He has come back from injury and is raring to go in this final week of what, personally, has been a frustrating campaign. 'It's been an up and down season for myself but I've kind of got myself back in the team and I'm feeling fit and that again,' the former Livingston player added. 'It's been good to get back out there and just kind of want to keep playing as the season's coming to an end. 'The boys have done well and we're just happy we're sitting in the top six. 'I'm feeling good and I'm feeling fit so I'm a bit fresher than the rest of the boys might be. 'So I'm just raring to go and hopefully I can help out in the next two games.' United are without Ross Graham and others with minor issues will be assessed ahead of the game.
STV News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Sibbald says Dundee United ‘need to remain confident' in race for Europe
Dundee United midfielder Craig Sibbald insists confidence remains high despite a losing run putting European qualification under threat. United sealed a top-six place in the William Hill Premiership with the help of a hat-trick of wins immediately before the split. But they have since lost three in a row and Saturday's home defeat by St Mirren allowed the sixth-placed Buddies to move two points behind with two games left. St Mirren have taken ten points from 12 games to pile on the pressure and United might need a result at Ibrox on Wednesday to keep European qualification in their own hands before the final day. Sibbald said: 'The boys are all confident. We've had a wee blip recently, but every game's tough in the top six and we've been doing really well up until that. 'All in all, I think we've had a really good season and we can be proud of where we are now – not many teams who have been promoted from the Championship have made into the top six straight away. 'Unfortunately, we've not had a good start to the top-six games, but who's to say we can't finish on a high and get maximum points out of the next two games? 'We just need to remain confident and keep believing that we can get something. It's down to us now and we want to finish the season on a high. 'We were disappointed with the result (on Saturday), but it's in our hands and we're sitting in a good position in the table. 'So we just need to learn from our mistakes and try and cut them out them at Ibrox on Wednesday to make sure we can try and get three points.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Courier
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Craig Sibbald's 100: Dundee United ace names Tannadice high
As Craig Sibbald prepares to become Dundee United's latest centurion, holding the Championship trophy aloft last season remains the pinnacle of his time at Tannadice. However, the combative midfielder is adamant qualifying for European football would comfortably top that feat. Sibbald, 29, joined United in the summer of 2022 and, despite being one of the more unheralded captures of that window, he has been the most successful by a considerable distance. Along with Aziz Behich and Steven Fletcher, he was one of very few players to emerge from the catastrophic descent to relegation in 2023 with any credit. The idea of him looking elsewhere to remain in the top-flight would not have been outlandish. 'After relegation there were some conversations with managers, but I wanted to stay here and help the club back up,' Sibbald recalled. 'I wanted to make sure that the club only spent a year down there and bounced straight back. 'In a lot of ways, relegation allowed the club to reset and rebuild. It's worked out for the better and we're thriving now.' Sibbald was subsequently named United's player of the year as the Tangerines won immediate promotion. Despite a serious ankle injury sidelining him for four months this term, he remains a pivotal performer for the Terrors – and is likely to join the 100 Club when Celtic visit this afternoon. 'It's been up and down since I came here, but I have loved it,' reflected Sibbald. 'The fans have taken to me, and I've enjoyed it all. 'Being relegated was the low point and the highest was winning the league last season. Last season was enjoyable, while coming back from injury this season with the team challenging for Europe has been great. 'If we can get into European football this season it would be the highlight. To do something like that over the whole season – showing that consistency against top teams in the Premiership – would definitely make it the best.' In truth, United are almost over the line. With Aberdeen and Celtic crossing swords in the Scottish Cup final, fifth place in the Premiership will be enough to secure continental football – and United have a nine-point and ten-goal cushion over sixth-placed St Mirren. Nevertheless, boss Jim Goodwin warned this week that the Tangerines would be foolish to count out the Buddies. And there is also potential European group stage football – and the £5 million windfall that brings – for the team that finishes third, providing Celtic beat the Dons in the Hampden showpiece. So, while the spotlight may be on the Hoops' bid to officially win the title today, United have it ALL to play for. 'I haven't played against a team trying to win a league in a game before, but I don't think Celtic will change at all,' continued Sibbald. 'They'll do their usual. They won't drop their standards and will go for the throat, trying to win it as soon as possible. 'But we don't want them winning the league at Tannadice. We'll have a gameplan which we'll stick to, and we believe we can get something from the game. If we work hard and do our defensive duties well, we'll be in with a shout. 'We are trying to get up the table and know what's at stake, so we have plenty to play for this weekend. We have been working on a gameplan with the manager and, while Celtic have threats all over the pitch, we'll try to be ready for that.'
BBC News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sibbald set for Dundee United century
Midfielder Craig Sibbald, 29, is set to reach a century of Dundee United appearances against Celtic. (Courier - subscription required), externalRead Saturday's Scottish gossip
