‘United’s grind and belief will have fans dreaming of Europe’

A big chunk of the early-season chat in Scottish football has surrounded Aberdeen, and whether they can split the Old Firm this season.

There hasn’t been as much about whether Dundee United have the potential to achieve that feat too.

However, if they keep going the way they have been going this term, then surely their name will have to be added into that debate.

Yes, it is still a long shot – but they are very much on Rangers’ coattails in third place, just three points behind the Ibrox side with 14 of their league fixtures ticked off.

Jim Goodwin’s side have a number of qualities – key among them is having the ability to grind out results both at home and away.

That is a quality that can take a side a long way. Another is belief, and they clearly have plenty of that too.

The Tangerines have already proved to the wider football public – and to themselves – that they are more than a match for anyone in the Premiership – barring Celtic, who they have yet to play.

Another quality they possess is that of keeping their feet firmly on the ground – whenever you speak to Goodwin, or any of the players, they are adhering to the ‘one game at a time’ mantra, maintaining that the league table doesn’t matter at this stage of the campaign.

While that may be the message from the dressing room, who would blame the United fans if they are already starting to dream of Europe next season.