Graham says it’s must-win for United

Ross County strike Brian Graham reckons his side’s game against Dundee United at Tannadice tonight is a must-win game for the Tangerines.

Victory for the Staggies would put them 14 points clear at the top of the Championship with eight games to go, leaving an almost insurmountable task for the Arabs in their quest for promotion.

County have made great strides in trying to make an immediate return to the top flight, following relegation at the end of last season. United, by contrast, have been trying to get out of the second tier since dropping down in 2016.

The last time the two sides met at Tannadice County ran out 5-1 winners in Csaba Laszlo’s last game in charge of United. A much-changed United team – helped by a hefty January recruitment drive – will take to the field tonight.

Graham said: “We’ve opened up the gap and they’ll probably see it as a must-win game.

“I think they’ve brought in a full new team in during January so obviously Robbie Neilson wasn’t happy with something and he’s changed it.

“We can’t really focus too much on what has been going on down in Dundee. We have to keep the togetherness here and keep working away to get results. That’s the plan.

“We’ve done our homework on them and we know what’s expected of us. We know how they’ve been playing recently. We know what we’re up against.

“It is a huge opportunity – a chance to go 14 points clear with eight games to go. That’s the way we’re looking at it.”

For a long spell of the season Ayr United had set the pace but a run of three straight defeats has dropped them to third.

County’s run of six straight wins has given them a sizeable, if unexpected, cushion.

Graham added: “We didn’t really expect to create that kind of gap but, with the run we’re on, we’ve been picking up results while sometimes not playing particularly well.

“The day at Partick Thistle, I feel, was crucial – 2-0 down at half-time and we came back to win 4-2. Other teams drew or lost. I think it’s a two-horse race now.”

Brian Graham: Looking for County to go 14 points clear.