Dundee United can take a giant step towards a top-six finish tonight but they are certainly not taking a win over Inverness Caley Thistle at Tannadice for granted.
Midfielder Scott Robertson is well aware that victory over the Highlanders will not only maintain the momentum gained last month but also put clear blue water between the Tangerines, who would jump into fourth, and seventh-placed Aberdeen.
However, he was also part of the United side that suffered one of their most miserable defeats in recent times when they lost 4-0 to ICT at home in August 2010 so knows it is easy to have your best-laid plans ruined.
”We can’t take anything for granted,” said Robertson. ”After all the good work we have put in over recent weeks, it would be so negative if we were to lose this match.
”There is no point beating the teams around us like Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone if we don’t go and beat Inverness. However, it will be a difficult game and we will have to play well.”
Recalling that past hammering from Inverness, Robertson said: ”It was a little bit shameful that day and I remember it well. It was in between the two European games with AEK Athens and it was a bit of a freak result.
”One of their goals was a penalty and two were strikes from 35 yards that dipped over our keeper and gave him no chance.
”It just seemed like one of those days when nothing went right for us, although we didn’t play well. They deserved to win.”
Asked if this campaign has gone better than expected considering the personnel changes at United, Robertson said: ”I think people only have that frame of mind because we didn’t start the season all that great.
”We were two points off the bottom of the league at one point. People were calling for the manager’s head and that was a bit of an over-reaction.
”We always felt we were a top-six team and provided we get the right results between now and the end of the season we will hopefully make it. I don’t know what it is but we always seem to come good at this stage of the season.”
Robertson was on the scoresheet when United thrashed Killie 4-0 in their last game at Tannadice. His long-term future may be uncertain but he is satisfied with the way he is playing just now.
”I am quite happy with my own form,” he said. ”I have been notching a goal or two and been contributing in other ways as well.
”I have always enjoyed scoring and would like to do more between now and the end of the season. Maybe in the past it has been a combination of good goalkeeping and bad finishing which has stopped me from scoring more, but I am looking to get a few between now and the end of the season.”
Looking further ahead than that, Robertson said: ”I have no idea what will happen. We will just have to wait and see. I still have three months left here and we are still in cup with a huge quarter-final game with Celtic to look forward to.
”It would be great to get back to Hampden like we did in 2010. It would be an amazing way to see my time out here if that were the case.
”It is a possibility I will be moving on but nothing is guaranteed. The club have offered me a contract but it is up in the air. I will wait until May and, if it is the best option for me to move on, that is what I will maybe do.”
United have full-back Paul Dixon available again after suspension, while Inverness have no fresh injury worries.
The Tannadice club will be hoping for a bumper home crowd after arranging a ‘bring a friend for a fiver’ deal for season ticket holders. More details here.