| Club: | Dundee United |
| Season: | 1971–72 |
| Manager: | Jerry Kerr (to December) Jim McLean (from December) |
| Chairman: | J. Johnston-Grant |
| League: | Scottish First Division |
| League Result: | 9th W12 D7 L15 F55 A70 P31 |
| Cup1: | Scottish Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | 3rd Round |
| Cup2 Result: | Group stage |
| Cup3 Result: | 1st Round |
| Prevseason: | 1970–71 |
| Nextseason: | 1972–73 |
The 1971–72 season was the 63rd year of football played by Dundee United, and covers the period from 1 July 1971 to 30 June 1972. United finished in ninth place in the First Division.
Dundee United played a total of 43 competitive matches during the 1971–72 season.[1]
| Win | |
| Draw | |
| Loss |
All results are written with Dundee United's score first.Own goals in italics
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 September 1971 | St Johnstone | H | 3–3 | 7,540 | Gordon, A. Reid, Rolland | |
| 11 September 1971 | Dundee | A | 4–6 | 13,818 | Rolland (2), Gordon, D. Smith (penalty) | |
| 18 September 1971 | Hibernian | H | 1–4 | 6,674 | K. Cameron | |
| 25 September 1971 | Kilmarnock | A | 0–2 | 3,012 | ||
| 2 October 1971 | Airdrieonians | H | 5–0 | 4,855 | Copland (3), Devlin, Rolland | |
| 9 October 1971 | Greenock Morton | A | 2–1 | 4,331 | Rolland, Copland | |
| 16 October 1971 | Rangers | H | 1–5 | 16,000 | Copland | |
| 23 October 1971 | Clyde | A | 3–0 | 1,277 | Copland, White, Henry | |
| 30 October 1971 | Falkirk | H | 3–5 | 4,373 | Gray, Gordon, Copland | |
| 6 November 1971 | Partick Thistle | A | 1–3 | 8,925 | I. Reid | |
| 13 November 1971 | Celtic | H | 1–5 | 18,187 | Gordon | |
| 20 November 1971 | East Fife | A | 1–0 | 3,558 | Traynor | |
| 27 November 1971 | Motherwell | H | 2–0 | 3,832 | ||
| 4 December 1971 | Heart of Midlothian | A | 2–3 | 9,391 | Gordon, Traynor | |
| 11 December 1971 | Ayr United | H | 2–2 | 3,554 | K. Cameron, Traynor | |
| 18 December 1971 | Aberdeen | A | 0–3 | 14,570 | ||
| 25 December 1971 | Dunfermline Athletic | H | 3–2 | 3,998 | Gordon, J. Cameron, K. Cameron | |
| 1 January 1972 | St Johnstone | A | 0–2 | 7,923 | ||
| 3 January 1972 | Dundee | H | 1–1 | 16,954 | K. Cameron | |
| 8 January 1972 | Hibernian | A | 0–3 | 8,364 | ||
| 15 January 1972 | Kilmarnock | H | 1–2 | 3,255 | Traynor | |
| 29 January 1972 | Greenock Morton | H | 2–1 | 3,726 | Mitchell, Copland | |
| 12 February 1972 | Rangers | A | 0–1 | 25,267 | ||
| 19 February 1972 | Clyde | H | 3–3 | 4,183 | Knox, Fleming, K. Cameron | |
| 4 March 1972 | Falkirk | A | 1–1 | 3,949 | Knox | |
| 11 March 1972 | Partick Thistle | H | 1–0 | 4,540 | White | |
| 25 March 1972 | East Fife | H | 2–2 | 4,267 | Mitchell (2) | |
| 29 March 1972 | Airdrieonians | A | 1–1 | 3,247 | Knox | |
| 1 April 1972 | Motherwell | A | 1–0 | 3,324 | Knox | |
| 8 April 1972 | Heart of Midlothian | H | 3–2 | 4,550 | Cameron, White, Kopel | |
| 15 April 1972 | Ayr United | A | 2–4 | 4,203 | White, Mitchell | |
| 22 April 1972 | Aberdeen | H | 2–0 | 5,133 | Mitchell, D. Smith | |
| 25 April 1972 | Celtic | A | 0–3 | 11,036 | ||
| 29 April 1972 | Dunfermline Athletic | A | 1–0 | 7,274 | K. Cameron |
| Date | Rd | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 August 1971 | G4 | Kilmarnock | H | 1–0 | 6,613 | A. Reid | |
| 18 August 1971 | G4 | Hibernian | A | 0–2 | 12,701 | ||
| 21 August 1971 | G4 | Motherwell | H | 2–2 | 5,799 | K. Cameron, Traynor | |
| 25 August 1971 | G4 | Hibernian | H | 1–4 | 7,783 | Gordon | |
| 28 August 1971 | G4 | Kilmarnock | A | 2–4 | 3,053 | K. Cameron, Gordon | |
| 1 September 1971 | G4 | Motherwell | A | 3–1 | 2,760 | Rolland (2), A. Reid |
| Date | Rd | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 September 1971 | R1 1 | Derby County | A | 2–6 | 20,059 | Gordon, Rolland | |
| 29 September 1971 | R1 2 | Derby County | H | 3–2 | 6,000 | Copland, Devlin |