Dundee United manager Peter Houston has challenged his players to put together a run of victories.
The Tangerines are just inside the SPL’s top six with 27 points but are bunched together with Kilmarnock, Aberdeen, St Mirren and Inverness Caley Thistle, with only two points separating those five sides.
They could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Motherwell on Saturday and Houston is hoping to transform stalemates into successes as the season heads towards the split.
”Our results have not been as good as our performances recently,” he said. ”I think we have played quite well and I have told them that if they keep the performance level up then we will start winning games.
”There is nothing between most of the teams in this league and three positive results would make a massive difference.
”St Johnstone and Motherwell have had exceptional seasons so far they have done really well and Hearts should always be there with the budget they have. But it is really tight below that (from United down to ICT) and everyone is capable of beating each other.
”What we want to do is get a few results together and see where it takes us. We play a lot of the teams around us in the next month. We have played the Old Firm so that’s out of the road and now we’re back into our bread and butter.
”We don’t fear any team and are looking forward to the challenge.”
United don’t have a game this weekend because scheduled opponents Kilmarnock are playing in the League Cup semi-final against Ayr United. After that they have the trip to Ibrox to face Rangers in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.
So league business does not resume until February 11 when they travel to McDiarmid Park to play high-flying St Johnstone. After that they play St Mirren (h), Hearts (a) and Inverness (h) before hosting Rangers at Tannadice on March 17.
Meanwhile, Houston has been happy with the way new midfielder Richie Ryan has settled in at the club.
There is plenty of competition in the middle of the park for the Irishman but his manager has been pleased with him.
”Richie has been doing really well but I have been happy with Scott Robertson and John Rankin in the middle,” he said. ”So he has had to be patient but I am delighted with the way he has settled in.”