Sean Dillon has shot down suggesstions that the spectre of the Scottish Cup final will haunt Dundee United when they face St Johnstone today.
The Premiership clash between the sides at Tannadice will be the first meeting of the Tangerines and Saints since the Perth men lifted the famous old trophy at Celtic Park on May 17.
It was a painful experience for every United player that day, with even a standout display at the heart of the defence by Dillon of no consolation to the affable Irishman.
However, Dillon dismisses any notion that the new league leaders will even be thinking about that final defeat when they host their Tayside rivals this afternoon.
“I wouldn’t say we want to win this game more because of the Scottish Cup final,” he said. “It would be nice to win the game but we want to win every game.
“What happened last season doesn’t make any difference. Of course, people will think that because we lost the final and because they beat us four times we would be more desperate to beat them.
“But as a player it doesn’t work like that. I look at every match on its own merits and am desperate to win every one I am involved in.
“We’re not looking back to what happened last season that’s gone now. It’s about keeping up the momentum.
“We have had a good start this season and want to keep that going.”
It may all be about looking forward for Dillon but he revealed there was no eascaping all things Saints in the aftermath of that 2-0 defeat.
He said: “On the Monday after the final I went down to Largs with Mark Wilson to do our coaching badges and one of the first people I bumped into was Steven MacLean (the scorer of St Johnstone’s second goal at Parkhead).
“He was sober by that time and he was brand new. I didn’t know him before that but he was great.
“I just congratulated him again and he was very humble about the whole thing. He was exactly the way I hope I would be if the roles were reversed.
“Also, we played a game against the Scotland under-21s while we were down there and Stevie May was up front for them.
“I couldn’t escape them, really. Even though I was devastated for myself, you had to say good luck to the St Johnstone lads.
“I know a few of their players, guys like Dave Mackay, and you feel happy for them because if it’s not you you like to see other people happy.
“It was tough because you dream about it being you going up there to get the trophy but you just have to congratulate them and get on with it.”
United have certainly done that and go into this afternoon’s match having reached the peak of the Premiership and clinched a derby double over Dundee by knocking the Dens men out of the League Cup in midweek.
Saints may have gotten the better of them last time around but this United side is made of strong stuff and they will be going all out for the victory that will keep them top.
Dillon said: “Everyone will have an opinion on why they got the better of us. It was the same with Aberdeen last season and it’s difficult to put your finger on it.
“But it’s fine lines at this level. All we know is that it will be a tough game because it always is against them.
“St Johnstone are a strong team, their manager has gone in there and done well so good luck to them. But we want to be the ones celebrating at the end of this season.”