comment ian roache

He may not claim to be a mystic but United manager Ray McKinnon did predict the future. Back when the Tangerines were off-colour and not even able to beat Dumbarton at home, McKinnon saw a brighter time ahead when key players like Scott McDonald, James Keatings and Fraser Fyvie would finally be match fit and firing on all cylinders.

It will click, he insisted, although some doubters maybe thought that was said more in hope than expectation.

Not every United supporter is a McKinnon fan – you only need to dip into social media and/or message boards to discover that (the Tannadice boss himself gives all that stuff a miss). However, surely everyone who was at East End Park on Saturday has to admit that he was spot on.

It is a fact that Fyvie, only now fully match fit after missing pre-season training, ran the show from the middle of the park and scored a terrific double.

Neither is it fake news to suggest that McDonald is looking the smart and alert poacher we all knew he was, pouncing to fire home the Tangerines’ second goal.

Also, Keatings has made a big difference to the side, bringing balance to the play alongside McDonald in attack.

So the manager got it right and now all he needs is for his team to maintain the standard they set on Saturday and this can be the season all at the club desperately hope it will be.