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Dundee United’s dodgiest moments have come on the road this season.
But Ian Harkes reckons the Championshipchasing Tangerines have put their away-day wobbles behind them.
In October, back-to-back defeats at Alloa and Queen of the South – the first narrow and dismal, the second comprehensive and spectacular – prompted some United to fans to lunge for the panic button.
The squad, however, remained calm, and set about putting right what had gone wrong.
Two months – and one winning streak – later, things look much brighter for the Championship pace-setting Tangerines.
Midfield ace Harkes believes Tuesday night’s trip to face Morton at Cappielow is the ideal opportunity to bolster their everimproving record away from Tannadice.
“When you look back at it, we know where we went wrong in the away games,” said 24-year-old Harkes.
“We know how to approach these games now. We know the right mindset and how to take care of the mistakes that cost us before.
“I think we’ve got it in us to be alright on the road now.
“Obviously, going away from home, some of the grounds are very different from Tannadice, and we need to acclimate quickly to those.
“But while games are always tough in this league – especially when Tannadice is such a fortress – I think the boys are ready to face any kind of away game now.”
Whatever sort of test Morton provide, United will meet it as comfortable Championship leaders.
For Harkes, who is close to marking one year at Tannadice since arriving from MLS cracks DC United, it’s an unfamiliar, yet exciting scenario.
“I’ve never been in this position in my career,” admitted the son of former United States skipper, John Harkes.
“It feels good to be up there. But we know it’s also a very delicate situation.
“You have to take each game as it comes, and not look too much at the table until the job’s done.
“The manager has been in this movie before with Hearts, and I think he does a very good job of keeping us down to earth.
“Even after the 6-2 derby win, he was telling us to forget about the game and move forward.
“It helps when things are put in the past like that. The only game that matters is the next one.”