There are a dozen reasons not to dive in and criticise Dundee United despite a dip in form as deep as the sea off the Ayrshire coast.
After a relegation season when United could not buy a victory for love or money, this time around they are getting them without even deserving them.
It may be venturing into Orwellian newspeak but to play this badly and get three points is very good news indeed.
Oh and it’s worth reminding everyone that they are now on a 12-game unbeaten run stretching back to September 20 that includes 10 wins.
Manager Ray McKinnon struck exactly the right tone as he reflected on the 1-0 success against Ayr United at Somerset Park that kept them level with Hibs at the top of the Championship.
The goal hero was Tope Obadeyi, whose excellent individual effort came after just six minutes and ensured a long, anxious wait until the final whistle.
While not hiding the fact that he was annoyed by what was a uncharacteristically disjointed display, McKinnon also praised his players for getting through what was a heck of a test.
The Tannadice gaffer said: “Where do I start with that?
“Well, it’s the same three points as we got against Hibs the other week but in completely contrasting circumstances.
“I said to the guys that it’s probably the worst we have been in terms of keeping the ball and passing it.
“Fair play to Ayr United because they gave us a really tough game.
“We weren’t at our best but we got the three points and that was what the main focus was on.
“We had to defend about 20 corners – something ridiculous like that (it was 14) – and they did it because they wanted to win the game so I’m proud of them.
“That’s the first dip in three months in terms of performance.
“We also got a clean sheet and I thought Mark Durnan and William Edjenguele were outstanding at the back and they had to be because they were put under pressure.
“So the message from me is that it’s a fantastic three points for a team that wasn’t at its best.”
The Tangerines made only one change to the line-up that started the 1-0 success over the Hibees at Tannadice eight days earlier.
It was to prove a hugely significant one for Into the team came Obadeyi, while Nick van der Velden dropped to the bench. Simon Murray was ruled out by a knee injury.
Durnan had United’s first chance on two minutes, with the defender firing a Scott Fraser corner past the post.
Willo Flood was the visitors’ hero when he blocked a netbound Gary Harkins volley at one end before United almost immediately took the lead at the other.
Six minutes were on the clock when Obadeyi ran half the park on the counter-attack before rounding Ayr goalie Greg Fleming then rolling the ball into the empty net.
There followed a period of intense pressure from the Honest Men against an often sloppy Tannadice team.
Former Dundee favourite Harkins saw a shot deflected for a corner on 13 minutes for the hosts, while Paul Cairney fired wide then Ross Docherty stabbed the ball past the post.
United had faded as an attacking force and should have been pegged back on 37 minutes when Jamie Adams somehow fired over the bar from a yard out. He was challenged by Lewis Toshney as he shot and the United man did a great job to get in the way but it was still an amazing miss.
The visitors, backed by a noisy 700-plus support, could thank themselves extremely lucky to be ahead at the break.
They tried to give themselves more of a cushion on 51 minutes when Tony Andreu drove wide from 20 yards.
The Tangerines brought on Cammy Smith for scorer Obadeyi and Van der Velden for Fraser as they looked for a spark up front.
Ayr were doing most of the pressing but United’s Blair Spittal managed to have a shot saved on 71 minutes then Andreu slid a ball past the far post.
The hosts threw everything at them but somehow the Tannadice men held on and will be delighted with a clean sheet and yet another precious victory, albeit it might have been prettier.
Ayr manager Ian McCall, the former United boss, correctly though his team deserved more out of the match.
McCall said: “Their goal came from us nearly scoring and we got isolated one to one. Nicky Devlin, who was outstanding, went to ground.
“But after that we had chance after chance.
“I think we had about 18 corners to their two (it was actually 14) and something like 60% possession.
“We were the better team throughout.”
