Utd starting to build up a head of steam

WE’RE only two league games into the season but already it seems Dundee United are building up a fair bit of momentum.

And their fixture list being as favourable as it is over the next few weeks, United’s title charge could see them quickest out of the blocks.

Defeat in the Betfred Cup to Dundee is the only blot in the copybook so far for Ray McKinnon’s men.

Take that game out of the derby context and being beaten away at a higher-division team isn’t any kind of embarrassment.

The two derbies apart, United’s form has been perfect — five wins and counting.

What seems more impressive, particularly in their two league wins against Inverness and, on Saturday, at home to QOS, is the Tangerines being put under pressure but coming out the other side with the points.

Last season, the team faltered at times and let leads slip.

This time around they look mentally stronger with the knowledge the ability across the team has stepped up a notch.

For evidence of that you just have to look at the scorer of Saturday’s winning goal, Scott Fraser.

A player of his undoubted ability has found himself out of the team and having to work hard to get back in.

His goal surely gives the Tangerines a massive boost in confidence.

Down to 10 men and with Queens pushing for a goal themselves, the ability to grab victory when you’d be happy to take a point is huge.

A big mention, though, has to go to on-loan keeper Harry Lewis.

The man from Southampton has showed himself a proper shot-stopper in his short time at Tannadice and, for me, won the points on Saturday.

He made a good save from Chris Kane in the second half but the late one, with the score at 2-1, to deny left-back Jordan Marshall with a finger-tip stop really was excellent.

All-round, Lewis needs some work — he could do with being stronger when coming for crosses — but he’s at United to learn and it looks like the Tangerines will get some benefit from the deal, too, if he continues to keep the ball out.

For my side Queens, I can’t be too unhappy. We played OK, could easily have won it but I still think we’ll fall short of the play-offs.

Scott McDonald (right) was on the mark as Dundee United beat Queen of the South 2-1 at Tannadice.