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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin admitted “relief” after clinching the Scottish Championship title and an immediate return to the Premiership with a goalless draw against a dominant Airdrieonians.
United were effectively champions with a six-point lead and superior goal difference to second-placed Raith Rovers with two games left, and this point gives Goodwin’s side an unassailable lead.
“Most people that have been in this position will talk about relief,” Goodwin told BBC Scotland.
“Huge pressure, huge level of expectation on us. We know we had the biggest budget and the resources to back that up. We built a good squad but you still have to go out there and get the job done. It hasn’t been easy.”
Hosts Airdrie were the more forceful team in the first half, with Lewis McGregor and Gabby McGill testing Jack Walton and Aaron Lyall’s shot being superbly touched on to the left-hand post by the goalkeeper.
The pressure continued into the second half with Walton denying Lewis McGregor, Lyall and Josh O’Connor.
Craig Sibbald, Glenn Middleton and substitute Louis Moult were all off target as United toiled and forward Tony Watt said post-match they did look “jaded”.
But their mission of promotion is complete after a hard-fought campaign and hitting form at the right time with four wins and two draws from their past six games.
They end their season at home to Partick Thistle next Friday, the match to be broadcast live on BBC Scotland, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
Airdrie visit Queen’s Park in Friday’s final league fixtures before meeting Thistle in the two-legged Premiership play-off quarter-final and Raith Rovers awaiting in the semi-final.
And Goodwin said: “The supporters deserve a great amount of credit. they’ve travelled the length and breadth of the country in great numbers. We expect near enough a sell-out next Friday at home to Partick when we get the trophy. I’m just delighted we could repay their support with the title success.”
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