More signs Single Mikkelsen goal makes it back-to-back wins for the Tangerines

PLAYERRATINGS

IN the spring sunshine at Tannadice on Saturday a few more shoots of recovery were apparent as Dundee United made in two wins in four days with a narrow victory over Falkirk.

The three points earned by Thomas Mikkelsen’s early strike was the highlight of a 90 minutes that, if being generous, could be described as low key, but may just as accurately be labelled dull.

That didn’t really matter. What did was another three points as United at last close in on securing a play-off place and a result that meant back-to-back wins had been recorded for the first time since two days before Christmas.

And that statistic perhaps more than any other demonstrated the miserable run on which the Tangerines have been on in the three-and-a-half months since the turn of the year.

Because, while in the second tier, there is no question they should be winning more often than not. The fact that’s not been the case for such a large chunk of the season remains bitterly disappointing for fans — and rightly so.

There’s no use in crying over spilt milk — the analysis of what went wrong is best saved for when the campaign is finally over.

What is important right now is Csaba Laszlo’s team do seem to be heading in the right direction. Just like Tuesday’s one-goal success against St Mirren, the earning of the result on Saturday had more to do with commitment and approach than spectacular football.

Even so, United were worthy winners in the end and had they been able to maintain the momentum that gave them the early l ead, Willo Flood capitalising on a defensive error to set Mikkelsen up, a more emphatic win would have been recorded.

As it was, this developed into a performance of fits and starts. Throughout, in five or 10-minute bursts, they threatened to get that second goal, or even more. Equally, there were just as many lulls in their play and, on a couple of occasions in the second half, that might have let Falkirk back into the game, had they been more alert in front of goal.

The Bairns were not and one fine block from keeper Deniz apart, to deny Louis Longridge, the home team saw out the game reasonably comfortably.

In doing so they’ve put themselves in a position where a win in tomorrow’s rearranged game at Brechin could clinch that play-off spot.

With in-form Inverness Caley Thistle at Dumbarton at the same time, the chances are it will be Saturday and the trip to Queen of the South before United can provide that confirmation — if they keep winning.

A third win on the bounce tomorrow would equal the best victorious run of the season so far and a fourth in Dumfries could leave them with a chance of still clinching second spot by beating Livingston at Tannadice on the final day of the regular card.

Csaba Laszlo won’t be looking that far ahead and instead will urge his players to be thinking about nothing other than the Glebe Park trip.

You can’t blame him for that because over the past week and with that onegame-at-a-time policy, he seems to have found something that works.

He’s waited a long time for that, so it would seem silly to change now.