Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson has warned his players they will face a considerable challenge at Cappielow.
All appears to rosy for the Tangerines as they head into their away clash with Greenock Morton tomorrow.
The Championship leaders have opened up a nine-point gap on second-placed Ayr United at the top of the table.
They have won their last five successive matches, scoring 11 times and not losing a single goal along the way.
They also hammered a very poor Morton side 6-0 when the teams met at Tannadice just a couple of months ago.
However, they will have to negotiate the fixture without injured striker Lawrence Shankland.
Also, United only took one point out of a possible six from their two away meetings with Ton last season.
In particular, Neilson warned that David Hopkin’s men have been decent on their own pitch despite sitting third bottom of the league and being held by Brora Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup last weekend.
The only time they have lost at Cappielow this term was the 3-2 defeat to Ayr on October 29.
Neilson, who has been linked with Raith Rovers youngster Kieron Bowie, said: “If you look at Morton, they have struggled away from home but they have picked up the majority of their points at home.
“They will make it difficult because they will be direct.
“They use long throws, set-plays and a keeper who can bang it 80 yards – it’s a tough place to go.
“We went there last season and we only picked up a point but if you look at the stats most teams struggle down there.
“It is a tight pitch at Cappielow and they know how to use it.
“It will be difficult but we have to go and do it.
“If we are going to win this league we have to win at those venues.”
Neilson, meanwhile, will park his club’s glamour cup-tie against Hibs and concentrate on the league for now.
The Tangerines got arguably the tie of the William Hill Scottish Cup fourth round when they were paired with the Easter Road side, with the match to be played at Tannadice on the weekend of January 18-19.
It is a fixture that is likely to attract the attention of the TV broadcasters.
Neilson is relishing the prospect but only once all the league business is taken care of.
“It’s a great one for us, especially with the tie being at home.
“It’s a tough game for us, no doubt.
“With Jack Ross going in there, that has changed the dynamic of the Hibs team.
“But we look at this and see it as a great opportunity to see where we are in comparison in terms to the top flight.
“It is maybe the tie of the round.
“People will be looking at it and seeing we are doing pretty well in the Championship, and hopefully by that point we will still be doing well.
“It’s exciting for the players.
“I would expect a full house or at least a big crowd and probably for it to be on TV so it will be a great day for us.”
