Not just due capabilities

means they are always on hand to help out when the defence is under pressure.

Because, despite that lack of recent goals, United remain basically an attacking team. In no game this season have they been set up to soak up pressure and try to sneak victory on the counter attack.

The manager’s policy is to get his team forward and look for goals. That in itself adds to the praise of the defence because at times, with the rest of the side pressing forward, the back four and goalkeeper are left to their own devices.

But what should not be lost in the current ocean of impressive defensive stats is Ray McKinnon’s boldness of selection and when it comes to tactics has played a big part in the number of points earned to date.

No better example came at Raith when, rather than attempt to hold out for a draw after seeing the team reduced to 10 men for most of the second half, he sent on striker Simon Murray and played him alongside Tony Andreu up front.

That means rather than play out the rest of the proceedings pinned back in their own penalty area, the defence spent most of their time watching play from the halfway line.

So while the defensive record is something of which United are rightly proud of, do not make the mistake of thinking it is the sole reason for their success so far, or that this is a dull team.

Rovers — striker Simon Murray was added to the fray with less than half an hour remaining to bolster the attack.