Dundee United have a happy knack of scoring late goals – that’s now 16 in the last 15 minutes of league games – and none have been sweeter than one up the road.
It is a trait that visibly gives Jim Goodwin’s players confidence.
After a tightly-contested game, it was the visitors who seized the initiative in the closing stages.
Both Kevin Holt and Ryan Strain went close before Sam Dalby found the back of the net, with the packed away end behind the goal roaring their team on.
The build-up to the winner was magnificent too. Emmanuel Adegboyega’s strength to keep the ball initially, Will Ferry’s floated pass out to Holt, and Holt’s pick-out.
There is a real connection between this group of players and the fanbase, as shown by the joyous celebrations at full-time.
They have shown their league position is no fluke, and moving above Aberdeen means thoughts will inevitably turn to what United may have achieved come May, and whether it will result in trips to the continent.
The focus will rightly be on Dalby’s goal, but the equaliser showed United’s versatility. Long throws are a real weapon – Holt’s winner against Aberdeen last time out came from one – and Vicko Sevelj ghosted in at the back post here.
Attentions now turn to Hearts, who visit Tannadice on Sunday.