Dundee United face their toughest test so far in the build up to the new league season when they head for Inverness Caley Thistle in the League Cup today.
And midfielder Stewart Murdoch believes the clash with Premiership opposition is coming at the perfect time for Ray McKinnon’s new-look Tangerines.
After drawing at Arbroath a week ago, United hit top form as they hammered home six goals against Cowdenbeath on Tuesday.
That’s left them on a high and topping their qualifying group, though they have played one game more than today’s opponents.
At home, Premiership ICT will be favourites to take the points from this one. Even so, recent Highland resident Murdoch feels this the perfect fixture right now.
“I think it’s a good time to be playing them,” he said.
“We’ve had good performances so far but the games have almost been regarded as pre-season run-outs.
“Now, though, we’re playing against a team from the top division and that should be a good test for us.
“It’s probably come at the right time because we’ve played a couple of teams from lower divisions when we were expected to do well. This should be tougher and that’s probably what we need right now.
“That’s no disrespect to Arbroath or Cowdenbeath but Inverness are a Premiership team so this is a step up for us in terms of opposition.”
Despite that, the former Ross County man believes it’s going to be important for United to show the same positive intent as they have in their two ties so far.
“On Tuesday night, we’ve shown the attacking flair we have and the goal threat the players we have in front of myself and Willo Flood.
“It’s going to be harder to get forward against Inverness but we don’t want to go there and just sit in, because we’ve shown the way we attack teams is a strength.
“We won’t go up there and rely on just one or two chances and hope to take one. We need to look to create as many chances as we can.”
That said, in his position just in front of the back four, Murdoch’s first priority will be to make sure United are defensively sound.
It’s a job his manager feels he’s done very well so far and, while the likes of midweek hat-trick hero Simon Murray grabbed the headlines, so long as the gaffer is happy, his anchorman is, too.
“I said when I signed I might not be on the highlights show every week but as long as I do my job and it’s the one the manager wants me to do I’ll be happy.
“There are going to be a lot of tough games when the Championship kicks off. There will be a few one-goal wins and games where we might have to score late on to get the points, so clean sheets will be vital. It’s important we are strong defensively.”
Having just moved to Tannadice from Caley’s Highland rivals Ross County, the 26-year-old expects to be on the receiving end of a bit of flak from home fans. It’s something he will be able to handle.
“The rivalry between the two teams up there isn’t too bitter and I think the games are among the friendlier derbies you’ll find, so I don’t see my being ex-County as too big a problem.
“I enjoyed my year in the area and my wife is still up there, so I’ll get a day or two at home.
“That’ll be nice but the game’s the important thing and we want to come away with a result.”
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