David Goodwillie’s precision finish to open the scoring in the cup final was played out in his mind before he even kicked the ball.
The striker confirmed his brilliantly-executed opener was entirely meant and went exactly to plan.
“I pictured it before it actually happened,” said Goodwillie.
“I had been thinking ‘I am not playing too well here and maybe I will get taken off.’
“When the ball came to me, though, I knew the only place I could score was at the back post because they had everywhere else covered.
“I just thought that I had to try to get a shot away and thankfully it went in.
“It was quite emotional when I scored because I thought we would go on and do it after getting the lead.”
Goodwillie dedicated his spectacular strike to his late grandmother Mary Toker, unveiling the message “For you Na Na” on a T-shirt beneath his strip. “My gran passed away a few years ago and never really got to see me play so hopefully she was watching,” he added.
Unsurprisingly, given his glory goal and general form this season, Goodwillie is one of the players being tipped to move on from Tannadice in the summer.
But he seems content, saying, “At the start of the season I didn’t expect anything like this. I just wanted some SPL games under my belt.
“At that time there were a few good strikers ahead of me and I had to fight for my place.
“Now I have a cup medal and we have Europe to look forward to, so that’s great.
“I am just concentrating on Dundee United.”
Goodwillie’s Hampden heroics reinforced boss Peter Houston’s opinion of his potential.
“I think Goodie is a fantastic footballer,” he said.
“He could be anything. He’s a strong boy, with good pace and a decent finisher.
“And there’s much, much more to come from him.
“I was a bit annoyed at him first-half for giving the ball up too often. But you forget sometimes that he’s still a young boy.”