Paul Dixon believes Dundee United are a tougher proposition now than they were on the day they fell to the foot of the Premiership table.
The date was October 3, the venue was Firhill and the opponents were Partick Thistle, who are today’s visitors to Tannadice.
Dave Bowman was in charge of the side in the wake of Jackie McNamara’s sacking and the caretaker coach launched a verbal volley at the players following their 3-0 defeat.
That result saw the Jags leapfrom United to send them bottom and Bowman labelled the players as “too soft.”
Dixon himself sat that one out because of injury but saw enough to be confident that the Tangerines have more steel now under new boss Mixu Paatelainen.
He said: “Yes, I would say we have more about us now than was evident on that showing.
“But we still need to find more.
“We showed toughness to get ahead in the game against Hamilton but we needed extra mental toughness in order to hold on to that lead.
“We should have gone on and increased our advantage but didn’t do so.
“You can see in the performances, though, that there has been a big improvement.
“Although we have lost at home to St Johnstone and Hamilton we have been creating numerous chances.
“We would be sitting here very worried if we weren’t creating opportunities but we are.
“So the positive thing is that we have opened up the opposition during games and now we have to score when we get the opportunity to do so.
“We then got a point against Killie but it was better than nothing.
“It was a positive step forward.
“Hopefully, we can carry on producing the performances we have been doing over the last three or four weeks and actually take the next step, which would be getting three points.”
As well as being more ruthless in attack, Dixon is looking for United to defend better as a team.
“It is not just about the guys who are classed as defenders we need to defend from the front,” he added.
“We have to defend as a team in order to stop sides going through us.
“The manager has shown us video footage of our games and at times our shape is very solid.
“We just have to realise as a team that we can do it.
“For if we can keep the door shut at the back then the boys who are getting the chances will start taking them.”
Dixon has been used as a wing-back on the left rather than in his usual left-back role but he is comfortable there.
“I am playing a slightly different position at wing-back but I am enjoying it.
“It is not totally alien to me because I have played there before.
“I am getting forward to help the attack but at the same time doing what I am paid to do and that is a defender.”
Beating Thistle would send out a serious message to the clubs aboive them in the league that United are still full of fight.
Dixon is certainly still confident that they can get out of trouble.
“First and foremost we need to look at ourselves and make sure we pick up the points we need,” he said.
“If the results in other games go our way then great.
“Thistle have done really well and it will not be an easy game by any means but we are looking forward to it.
“Moving towards Christmas it is always an important time of the season because matches come thick and fast.
“We need to get closer to the pack first then get out of the situation we are in.
“We have been playing better so hopefully we can be positive going forward, get some wins, get on a run and build momentum.”