DUNDEE UNITED 1
Kai Fotheringham was the home hero with the only goal of the game as Dundee United beat Ayr United.
The result lifted the Terrors back up to the top of the Championship and extended their unbeaten league record.
United face title challengers Raith Rovers at Tannadice next Saturday and United boss Jim Goodwin is determined his players will stay focused on themselves.
He said: “I felt one goal was going to decide it and I’m delighted we were able to get it.
“Raith Rovers are having a fantastic season but our focus isn’t on Raith Rovers. I’ve said that to the players they’ve got to embrace this situation and not be anxious about it.
“But our focus needs to be on what we can control, and the players did that against Ayr.”
The hosts flew out of the traps and had a superb chance to take the lead in just the first minute when Chris Mochrie hit a fierce shot from the edge of the a yr box but the visitors’ keeper Charlie Albinson produced a vital save.
The Honest Men had a great opportunity of their own in the 13 th minute but fraser Bryden’s shot was cleared off the line by Kevin Holt.
The Terrors had another chance to open the scoring with Albinson presenting Ross Docherty with an early Christmas gift, passing the ball straight out to the home skipper whose shot looked certain to end up in the back of the net but the keeper made amends with an outstanding stop.
Middleton came close to scoring a minute after the restart but his goalbound shot smacked off Mochrie and flew over.
However, the hosts finally broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute when Albinson couldn’ t take a middleton corner at his near post with Fotheringham on hand to bundle home from close range for his 10 th goal of the season.
Ayr boss Lee Bullen was disappointed with the goal his side conceded but insisted he was proud of his players’ efforts.
The manager said: “It was a horrible goal to concede.
“To lose such a scrappy goal was really disappointing.
“But believe me, I am really proud of my players, they played a massive part in that game.”