Dundee Utd V St Johnstone - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.Tangerines learn how to win uglyDundee United midfielder Paul Paton is refusing to rule out a Tannadice title challenge after the Arabs finally figured out a way to win ugly.Jackie McNamara's team were the undoubted style kings of the Scottish Premiership last year.But Paton admits the Tangerines would stumble if they did not get every step of their free-flowing game in sync.Now having beaten city rivals Dundee twice in four days - firstly with Sunday's 4-1 Dens Park romp on league duty, followed by Wednesday's last-gasp 1-0 League Cup victory at Tannadice - Paton believes United have finally found the key to consistent success.He said: "On Sunday we were really good and right on itOn Wednesday, we were not as good."We relied on a great penalty save from Rado Cierzniak as well as a sending off for Dundee to give us the kick up the back side."But we have won two derbies in four days and that is all the matters."That is the biggest difference I have noticed in my time here
Last season we got a lot of plaudits when we were doing well but when we weren't at it, we dropped points."Now we have found a way to win ugly."When I first arrived here, everything had to be spot - free-flowing football - to get a win
Now there are times when we are not as good but the wins are still coming."Paton credits the summer additions made by McNamara with the Terrors' turn-around, saying: "There were times last year where we were not playing well and a goal never looked like coming."But we have got players now who are a threat from set-pieces
Jaroslaw Fojut showed what he can do with the winner against Dundee on Wednesday."Callum Morris is another who can threaten from corners and free-kicks, so we have a new weapon there."We have a wee bit more muscle, a bit more steel, about us now."United face another derby this Saturday as they host Tayside rivals St Johnstone.But they will strut into the match knowing they are joint league leaders with Inverness and sit five points ahead of Celtic - albeit having played a game more.Asked if his side were realistic challengers to the reigning champions, Paton refused to count any possibilities out."It's realistic to think we can win every game we go into," he said
"Where that takes us I don't know because Celtic are massive favourites."To get anywhere near them would be a big achievement
We will just take every game as they come and see where we end up."Gary Mackay-Steven is a doubt for United after sustaining a slight calf strain against Dundee on Wednesday
McNamara is also waiting for news on knocks to a few other members of his Tannadice squad.St Johnstone wide player Michael O'Halloran is aiming to keep their excellent recent record against United going despite their striker shortage.Saints have won their last four games against their Tayside rivals, the last meeting of course coming in the William Hill Scottish Cup final.Scottish Premiership leaders United have won only one of the last nine meetings between the teams, after previously going 13 years without losing a league game to the Perth side.Both sides edged League Cup wins in midweek, St Johnstone at Kilmarnock and United in another derby against Dundee.O'Halloran told Saints TV ahead of the Tannadice clash: "The previous two games were disappointing but we got things right (at Kilmarnock) and we will look to take that into Saturday."Dundee United are flying at the moment but we have got a good record against them so we want to keep that up going into the game and we're looking forward to it."Saints will be without on-loan United striker Brian Graham, who has scored three goals in four matches - the only goals Saints have scored.Adam Morgan is likely to come in with O'Halloran also given responsibility to get among the goals.Saints boss Tommy Wright saw a deal for a striker fall through this week and O'Halloran will need to temporarily shelve his burgeoning partnership with Graham."Brian's a great finisher," he said
"You can see it in training, he can put the ball in the net."Brian will go an win the headers and I can play off him."
Source : PA
Source: PA