Maybe, just maybe.
Dundee United have moved a tantalising two points behind Championship leaders Ross County and you wonder if the nerves will start jangling in Dingwall.
Keep winning like they are – this 1-0 victory over Dunfermline was the Tangerines’ third in a week after beating County and Alloa – then the title may not be out of their grasp after all.
The winning goal at East End Park was a beauty, with Peter Pawlett running the length of the home half before slotting the ball past keeper Ryan Scully on 24 minutes.
United should have added to their lead as they dominated play for long spells but they will be happy to have held on for this result that was secured in front of over 1,300 travelling fans.
The Tangerines made four changes to the team that kicked off against the Wasps at Tannadice on Saturday.
Out of the line-up went Paul Watson, Sam Stanton, Nicky Clark and Cammy Smith. In their place came Charlie Seaman, Ian Harkes, Pawlett and Pavol Safranko.
The home side were unchanged from their last game, the 1-0 win at Alloa on March 9.
On three minutes, the Pars won a freekick out on their right. The setpiece was fired across goal by Ryan Blair but there were no takers.
United had a freekick of their own four minutes later but Pawlett’s effort was collected comfortably by home goalie Ryan Scully.
On 13 minutes, Tangerines keeper Benjamin Siegrist had to dive to his right as Louis Longridge’s shot flew in from the edge of the box. The Swiss player gathered at the second attempt.
This rescheduled game took a while to get going but it burst into life on 24 minutes with a wonderful goal from Pawlett to give the visitors the lead.
The former Aberdeen man burst forward from almost the halfway line after taking a return ball from Safranko, eluded a couple of defensive challenges, raced into the box then poked the ball between Scully and the near post.
Just four minutes later, United went close to a second when Safranko tried an acrobatic kick just yards from goal following Pawlwett’s corner but it was blocked on the line by Dunfermline captain Lee Ashcroft.
Scully then rode to the rescue three times in quick succession. Firstly, he pushed Pawlett’s strike away for a corner then stopped a netbound header from Calum Butcher. His work wasn’t done, though, as he got up off the floor to save again from Safranko.
The visitors were on the up since the goal and they had another go at the hosts on 40 minutes, with Paul McMullan darting into the box on the right side and sending over a dangerous cross-shot that had the home defence worried.
Pars defender Danny Devine picked up the match’s first booking on 44 minutes then United almost finished the half with a flourish but Safrakno’s bullet header flew just wide.
The only regret for the visitors following a fine first 45 minutes was that they weren’t two or three up.
After the restart, a mistake by United’s Seaman let in Louis Longridge who ran forward before sending over a cross that was just too far in front of Bruce Anderson.
The Tangerines were soon back on the attack on 50 minutes, though, and Scully had to dive low to turn Safranko’s strike past for a corner.
The Pars had won five games in a row but they weren’t their usual selves and they were on the back foot again when Safranko sent in another dangerous header that went wide.
There were claims for a penalty from the visitors’ McMullan on 63 minutes when he blasted the ball off Ashcroft but it would have been harsh on the hosts.
United, who were getting excellent performances from Robson, Pawlett and Safranko to name but a few, were bombing forward looking for a second.
Their Slovakian striker, who played against Wales for his country on Sunday, deserved a goal but he clipped the bar with a header on 68 minutes.
The Tannadice men then made a substitution, bringing on Stanton for Pawlett, while Dunfermline also switched Karl Higginbotham with Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
Louis Longridge of the Pars got a yellow card then Robson was booked for a bad foul on El Bakhtaoui as things got rather heated.
McMullan was then jeered off by the home fans as he was subbed, only for Clark, another former Par, to replace him. Dunfermline also made a change, with Blair going off and Matthew Todd coming on.
There were five minutes of stoppage-time but the Tangerines could finally start celebrating at the full-time whistle. This win will have been noticed in the Highlands.
Attendance: 6,096.
Dunfermline: Scully, J. Longridge, Ashcroft, Higginbotham (El Bakhtaoui 69), Beadling, L. Longridge (Hippolyte 84), Anderson, Devine, Thomson, Craigan, Blair (Todd 79). Subs not used: Gill, Williamson, Durnan, Vincent.
Dundee United: Siegrist, Booth, McMullan (Clark 79), Safranko, Robson, Butcher, Bouhenna, Reynolds, Harkes, Seaman (Watson 87), Pawlett (Stanton 69) Subs not used: Laidlaw, Fyvie, Gomis, Nesbitt.
Referee: Euan Anderson.
