Dundee United may be the SPL’s comeback kings, but striker Jon Daly would much prefer them to lead from the front.
He has also netted twice in the League Cup and once in the Europa League to make the round dozen, but the United captain doesn’t concern himself too much with statistics.
Instead, he would rather highlight the help he has been getting from his teammates.
Daly said: ”I am happy with the amount of goals I am getting but you have to give credit to the rest of the guys as well because without them setting up the chances you can’t score.
”For example, the delivery from Dicker (Paul Dixon) is brilliant and, as an attacking full-back, he is up there with anyone in the SPL. When he gets the ball we know to get into the box because he will find you with that left foot of his.”
He added: ”Also, the young boys are doing really well, they have fantastic quality and I really enjoy playing with them. Gary Mackay-Steven has settled in well and he is really making an impact, while Stuart Armstrong is a guy with a really bright future.”
Daly added: ”I have 12 goals for the season, which is good, and hopefully I can keep it going. I don’t really look at the scoring charts, though I just concentrate on my own game and try to nick a few whenever I can.”
United manager Peter Houston should have midfielder Willo Flood available after illness, but striker Lauri Dalla Valle is a doubt after picking up a virus.
Houston didn’t need a reminder that the Buddies will be tough opponents, but he got one anyway when they saw off Rangers on Saturday.
“St Mirren got a great result at the weekend because beating the Old Firm at any time is a great achievement,” said Houston. “I have watched the game back and St Mirren were excellent.
“They have a lot of dangerous players, so we know how tough it’s going to be. They have threats all over the pitch and the fact it’s away from home means we’re going to have to be at our very best.”
St Mirren manager Danny Lennon has no fresh injury concerns. His players came through the weekend action unscathed, meaning the Buddies boss has the option of naming the same side that defeated Rangers.
The Tangerines go into tonight’s game against St Mirren in Paisley on a good run of form, but they have had to dig deep for their last three results.
Firstly they stormed back from two goals down to win at Inverness, then they grabbed a dramatic late leveller after dominating at Kilmarnock and finally they rallied after conceding to Hibs on Saturday before netting three times in a sparkling second-half display.
All three performances showed great character, but Daly would prefer it if United took the lead against the Buddies and then built from there.
He said: ”That is three games in a row we have had to come from behind lately so it would be nice to take the lead and go at it from the front. It makes such a big difference.”
He added: ”We have been playing well but for some reason have been losing the first goal. Against Inverness, against Kilmarnock and then again against Hibs all the same story.
”It is good to be able to come back but you don’t want to have to resort to doing it too often.”
United’s good recent form is just as well, given they will be facing a side who have just produced one of the shock results of the season.
”St Mirren have just beaten Rangers so they will be full of confidence,” said Daly. ”I think they are a good side. They added a lot of experience in the summer so I fancied them to be pushing for the top six.”
He added: ”With the players they have it is no surprise to see them do well in the league this season. They have always been tough opponents for us and the way they used to play didn’t suit us.
”But this time I hope the fact it will be a more open match could help us, because both teams like to play football. We are confident in our ability and always think we can create chances against anyone.”
Daly, of course, bagged two goals against Hibs at the weekend to take him into joint third spot in the SPL scoring charts with nine, just behind Rangers’ Nikica Jelavic and Gary Hooper of Celtic.
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