Dundee United's season has been a story of two halves, and their last two games tell it perfectly. A thrilling but ultimately disappointing 4-2 defeat away to Rangers was followed by a nervy 3-2 victory over bottom-side Livingston. This Jekyll and Hyde form highlights the core issue facing manager Jim Goodwin: an exciting attack paired with a leaky defense.

The numbers don't lie. United are among the league's more potent offenses, sitting sixth with 45 goals scored. However, their defensive record tells a different tale. Having conceded 54 times, only two clubs have been more generous, and with just five clean sheets all season, their backline has consistently undermined their attacking efforts.

This imbalance has left the Terrors stuck in Premiership purgatory. While they sit a comfortable 12 points clear of the relegation playoff spot in seventh, they are also a distant seven points from the top six. For a squad that finished an impressive fourth last season, being "best of the rest" in the bottom half is a frustrating outcome.

As the campaign winds down, Goodwin's focus must shift to 2024/25. The big conundrum? How to build a team that maintains its attacking flair while finally shoring up a defense that has too often cost them points. Solving that puzzle will be the key to turning promising performances into a consistent push up the table.