COMMENT A team seemingly made of far sterner stuff now

Making hard and fast judgments when what is almost a whole new team has played just two games is the sort of dangerous business that tends to end with a lot of egg splattered all over your face.

However, there were signs on Saturday that this new-look United side are indeed made of the right stuff.

Certainly, it is all night and day compared to the sort of spineless display I witnessed from the previous incarnation of the Tangerines just a few short weeks ago when they threw away a lead to lose at the home of parttime Alloa.

This current crop of players showed true grit and character against St Mirren especially after suffering the double whammy of Calum Butcher’s sending off followed by the Buddies’ fortuitous goal.

St Mirren then threw the kitchen sink at United – in the recent past, it is unlikely United would have withstood that late onslaught.

However, now with the likes of Mark Reynolds, Mark Connolly, Charlie Seaman and the impressive Ian Harkes in their team, they possess a harder edge and resilience.

United can now look forward to tonight’s quarter-final draw before all attention turns to a tricky Championship game on the road against Queen of the South next Saturday.

Finally, though, a look back to Saturday’s game with St Mirren would not be complete without a special mention for the great backing the Tangerines received from their 1,500-strong travelling support, who made the game feel like a home tie for Neilson’s team.