Jackie McNamara refused to look back on last season’s Scottish Cup Final after his side’s 2-0 win yesterday over St Johnstone.
The Perth club claimed the trophy at Celtic Park in May but rather than dwell on that defeat McNamara has shaped his side into the pacesetters in this season’s title race.
Despite losing Ryan Gauld and Andy Roberston the former Celtic defender has met the challenge of the new season head on working within his budget and building a side that looks capable of competing for honours.
“We’re still top of the league which is the main thing and it’s a good three points,” he said after yesterday’s Tannadice success. “The performance could be better but we won in the end.
“The cup final is history so it doesn’t change that. They won it and had it had been another cup final we were playing in, then there could possibly have been an element of revenge but my focus was on winning the three points regardless of the opposition. The most important thing is that we’re still top of the table.
“It’s been a hard week with three games – three derbies if you like – in six days so all credit to the players. I thought it was a scrappy game. But I thought the bits of quality within it came from ourselves and we got two goals from that.
“It’s a battle. You have to earn the right to play against St Johnstone. I don’t think they caused us any problems.
On Friday United can increase their lead at the top of the table when they face Kilmarnock at Rugny Park.
