By Jim Davie

JUST A few short weeks ago Dundee United were sitting at the foot of the SPL with a seemingly long road ahead of them to get to where most pundits expected them to be this season—third place and a UEFA Cup spot.

That journey got under way at Pittodrie with a win against Aberdeen, continued with a home win over Hearts, and a top half of the table spot was achieved with Saturday’s win over Inverness Caley Thistle.

Still some way to go then, but there is no doubt United are heading in the right direction.

It’s been a long and difficult road too for Jon Daly, the luckless Irish striker who has suffered more than his fair share of serious injuries since signing for the Tangerines in January last year.

He now seems to have established himself as one of manager Craig Levein’s first-choice front men and on Saturday picked up his second successive man-of-the- match award, but, more importantly, notched the goal that set United on course for victory.

“It hasn’t been a great start for me (at United) but now I’m starting to get a run of games I seem to be repaying the manager,” said Daly, who has now scored five times in all competitions this season.

“I thought I was playing quite well then I got the cruciate injury, came back from that and then two games later broke my ankle in two places.

“Mentally it’s tough but you just have to stay strong and focused and you know you’re going to get back eventually.

“I knew I could play in this league so it was just a case of working hard in the gym, keep training hard and eventually I’d get my chance.

“Every striker wants to score goals and now that I’m getting a run in the team I’m getting into positions and putting the ball in the back of the net.”

Daly started this campaign on the bench as the manager went with summer loan signings Roy O’Donovan and Warren Feeney, but he has now formed an encouraging partnership with Francisco Sandaza.

“When the manager brought all those strikers in in the summer I knew I’d have to wait for my chance,” said Daly.

“The lads who were in weren’t getting the rub of the green so the manager’s changed it about a bit and put myself in and it seems to be working.

“At the moment it’s me and Sandaza but we both know that if we don’t do the business there’s the likes of Roy and Warren, who didn’t even make the bench today, so there’s good quality players there to take your position if you’re not doing the business.”

Daly won’t have much to worry about if he keeps banging in the goals.

The one that opened the scoring in 39 minutes was a beauty, the striker getting his head to a cross from countryman Sean Dillon.

Daly had been thwarted on the quarter-hour mark by a fine save from Inverness keeper Mark Fraser but there was no denying him this time.

Caley Thistle had their chances too but a succession of dangerous crosses into the United box failed to find any takers.

The goal seemed to deflate the visitors and United took control for the bulk of the second period.

Paul Dixon, who had another excellent game, surged downfield before cutting in and feeding Willo Flood, whose fierce drive was well saved by Fraser.

From a Craig Conway cross Daly was inches away from grabbing his and United’s second. However, on 65 minutes it eventually came.

Dixon broke down the left and his cross was met by Darren Dods. The centre-half’s header floated to the back post where Lee Wilkie was on hand to head into the net.

But credit to the Highlanders who fought back from that point and, with just a couple of minutes left, Lukasz Zaluska had to pull off a great save to deny Don Cowie.

However, from the resultant corner Inverness got back into the game when Barry Wilson’s delivery was deflected into his own net by Wilkie.

Time ran out for Craig Brewster’s men though and United racked up their third successive league victory.

Tangerines boss Levein was disappointed at not keeping another clean sheet, but otherwise couldn’t fault his men.

“It was a bit frantic in the last 10 minutes but we deserved to win,” he said.

“I’m chuffed to bits. I can relax for a couple of days and can look forward to going to Ibrox next.

“Credit to Inverness. They closed us down quickly, denied us space and won the ball off us more than any other side this season.”

Caley boss Brewster took defeat at his old stomping ground well, saying, “On the whole I thought it was an excellent game.

“I was disappointed particularly with the second goal because we allowed Dixon to cross it and they have big, aggressive players who attack it if it gets into the box.”