Dundee United midfielder Danny Swanson has revealed he was happy to steal the show then leave the limelight to others at Tannadice on Saturday.
With the Tangerines struggling to find the key to unlock Hibs, enter the wee magician stage left to a great ovation from an expectant audience.
He didn’t disappoint, playing a trick on the Leith men and giving the home fans a treat on Hallowe’en weekend.
Swanson’s perfectly-lofted pass into the path of David Goodwillie with four minutes left was the highlight of the match and the ball was expertly tucked away by the striker.
Oh how Peter Houston’s men have missed the link-up play between those two great pals and what a boost this win will give them after three defeats on the bounce.
It has not been vintage United so far this season by any means, but they now find themselves back in the top six of the SPL.
Swanson had come on as a substitute for Prince Buaben on 72 minutes but, having grabbed the spotlight with his defence-splitting ball, he himself was replaced by Paul Dixon in the last minute of regulation time.
Much to the relief of everyone at the club, it wasn’t yet another injury linked to a back problem that caused him to cut short his first appearance since the end of August.
Rather, he did not have any energy left in his legs and wasn’t sure his staying on would be the best thing for a team trying to hang on for three points.”Just wanted to be involved”Swanson said, “I wasn’t really sure if I was going to get any time on the park and I wasn’t too confident about myself.
“I just wanted to be involved, to be on the bench, then the gaffer asked me how long I could play for and I said 10 or 15 minutes.
“It was a confidence thing because I didn’t feel 100% fit maybe about 60% and I felt after we got the goal I couldn’t really get near anybody.”
He added, “We were 1-0 up and I was happy to see the rest of the team close the game out.”
Swanson did concede, though, that he played a starring role with Goodwillie, who is on a run of seven goals in nine games.
He said, “I did believe I contributed and it was good to get on the ball.
“We have players who can give that (creativity) but our final ball has been really slack. It’s not like us.
“I am sure when we get boys fit again it will come good again. It is only a matter of time.””All about” GoodwillieHe added, “Goodie always wants to get in behind defences, I know that, so I just put the ball there for him.
“He thanked me for the pass but it was still all about him.
Swanson said, “It was a great finish and he is on fire just now.
“We wouldn’t be where we are in the league if it weren’t for him. He is a quality striker.”
Swanson believes that form should secure Goodwillie a place in the Scotland squad for the November 17 friendly against the Faroe Islands at Pittodrie.
He said, “I can’t think of anyone else who should be in front of him.
“I think he should get his shot and this could be the game for him.”
Meanwhile, Houston will give Swanson half an hour of a bounce game on Monday and build his fitness up from there.
The manager was just delighted to see his player strut his stuff again after so long on the sidelines. Houston said, “There is nothing wrong with Danny’s back it was just he had nothing left in his legs.
“When he went on as a sub he started running with the ball and it tired him quite quickly.”
He added, “I was just glad to see him in a tangerine jersey again.”Praise for PernisAlso playing a prominent part in United’s victory was goalkeeper Dusan Pernis, undoubtedly the club’s player of the season so far.
The likeable Slovakian international came to the Tangerines’ rescue on 65 minutes, diving to save Ian Rankin’s spotkick that had been awarded for Buaben’s foul on Danny Galbraith.
Houston said, “When you lose a penalty kick you feel you are going to have to chase things again but it shows the quality of our big goalkeeper he is fantastic.
“He is a calming influence on the team and nothing ruffles him so I felt really pleased for him.”
Both teams had other opportunities, with a Jon Daly header cleared off the line by Rankin in the first half being the pick of the bunch.
However, it was never a thriller and, with the honourable exception of Swanson’s sublime pass, there was little creativity or skill on show.
Houston said, “I thought our ball retention wasn’t great but one thing that emphasises the character of the team is that we have had three bad results but dug in.
“I asked them before the game for a clean sheet and we were determined to get that.”
The defeat was a second straight loss for new Hibs manager Colin Calderwood since succeeding John Hughes.
He argued that a draw would have been a fairer outcome than a United victory.
Calderwood said, “We haven’t got the point we deserved and losing at the end feels like salt in the wound.
“We are obviously disappointed but heartened by an improved showing.”