DUFC 2 GMFC 1

Better. That's the one word that I used when coming away from Tannadice on Saturday after a difficult but ultimately (imo) deserved victory over a resilient Greenock Morton team.

Not that there aren't still problems to solve with this United team. All three full backs used were terrible and our midfield partnership of Fvyie and especially Briels failed to take control of the game, but there were certainly positives to take from the game, not least the fact that we were actually entertained on Saturday for the first time in a while.

I was pleased to see him play two up front. I think that's essential for our league. I'm not a traditionalist, I have views on football that are more modern and don't generally like a rigid formation. But in this league I think a traditional 442 works best, particularly when you don't have outstanding full backs who can get up and down the park and put in excellent deliveries. Indeed, I thought our two wide men on Saturday played well and were constant threats, while the front two both got on the scoresheet and played quite well, McDonald especially. I also thought the two CBs played well, Durnan the better of the two.

Some of the football was decent at times and I thought our first goal was a very good goal, some good link up play down the left culminating in Keatings sweeping the ball home from inside the box. Our second goal, the winner, came from terrific play by McDonald in the first instance, taking the ball down the right, battling for it and eventually carrying us up the park and winning the corner, the Aussie knocking in from close distance after Durnan headed against the post.

In between that though we did concede and it raised questions over our goalkeeper, who I have generally been impressed with since signing. He seemed very reluctant to come out for balls on Saturday, be it cross-balls or through balls, which is quite unlike him. Their goal came from a hanging cross to the back post that I really felt he should have come for and he didn't, the ball getting headed back into the middle and then thumped home from close range.

Morton did have moments in the match and did keep themselves in the game, but it wasn't to be for them and I did feel we deserved the three points.

Looking ahead though, we could have done without what looks like being our most difficult game of the season next weekend. I don't think we're there yet confidence-wise and going to East End Park against a rampant Dunfermline is going to be a huge challenge for us. The Pars can't stop scoring and I fear they'll turn us over if I'm honest. I'd bite your hand off for a draw right now.

Elsewhere, Peter Houston has lost his job after yet another Falkirk defeat and it's no real surprise. It's been a terrible start for the Bairns. I really didn't see this kind of start for them and I think everyone expected them to be the main title rivals. I also wonder how long John Robertson will remain in charge of ICT for after yet another terrible defeat for them too.

So the table then is Dunfermline top on 16, St Mirren a point behind and United a further point behind, with Livingston on 12 points making up the play-off spots. At the bottom, Brechin are bottom on 2 points, with Falkirk in the relegation play-off spot on 3, one point behind ICT. Dumbarton have leapt away to 9 points.

Mon the Terrors