Speaking to Dundee fans in the build-up to Saturday’s derby, there were more than a few who feared the New Year was destined to begin in disappointing fashion.
That feeling seemed to be based on the fact their favourites had shipped five goals at Ross County last week, they would be without the suspended talisman Greg Stewart and that struggling United were, well, simply due a win.
Those fears looked to have been realised when Paul Hartley’s side suffered a huge double whammy with just 15 minutes on the clock after James McPake suffered his serious knee injury and then Blair Spittal fired in the resultant free-kick.
However, Dundee bounced back strongly to take all three points with their fans gleefully accepting the bragging rights.
The victory was also essential in terms of the wider picture in the Premiership.
While it now looks as if it will take a minor miracle for United not to go down automatically, there are more than a few sides anxiously looking over their shoulders at Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off place.
You could throw the proverbial blanket over Inverness in sixth place and Killie languishing in second bottom.
Dundee’s win over United means Hartley’s men are now five points ahead of the Ayrshire outfit with a game in hand and they will no doubt be hoping the derby victory can be the springboard to consistent success over the rest of the season.