Jim Goodwin puts Dundee Utd celebrations on hold as St Mirren top six threat still looms large

The Tangerines are just about there after a 1-0 win at Ross County but Goodwin is taking nothing for granted

Jim Goodwin insists the job is not yet done for his Dundee United side after they moved tantalisingly close to sealing top-six football.

The United boss was thrilled at how his battlers responded to a painful derby defeat by returning from the international break with a win in Dingwall.

Big defender Ross Graham pounced to net a headed close-range winner after 74 minutes, just moments after squandering a similar chance.

It would now take a remarkable switch in fortunes for seventh-placed St Mirren – six points behind – to leapfrog United on goal difference with just two games to play until the split.

But Goodwin insisted: “I’ve been in the game long enough to realise it’s not done. Until it’s mathematically done, we won’t be celebrating anything.

“St Mirren are in great form and they will fancy themselves in their next few games. The goal difference isn’t so huge that it can’t be cut down.

“We won’t get carried away. It was important to get back to basics and do that well, and now we’ll look forward to Hearts.”

The Tannadice boss was thrilled to repay the 800 travelling fans for what they saw in the 4-2 defeat to Dundee and stressed: “The criticism has been warranted.

“When you don’t win games of football and the performances aren’t there, it’s warranted.

“We’re in the public eye, and we’re out there to play and perform, and as a manager I’m there to make good tactical decisions.

“Over the last seven or eight weeks we haven’t done that, so it has been justified.

“To get 800 fans in Dingwall on a Sunday afternoon is incredible though, and to make that trip back down the road a little bit easier for them is very pleasing.”