By Graeme Dey

DANNY SWANSON fears it might be a case of close but no cigar, as far as Dundee United challenging for the SPL title this season is concerned.

Swanson is revelling in seeing United breathing down the necks of Rangers and Celtic at the top of the table.

However, he suspects splitting the big two might be as much as the Tangerines, realistically, can achieve and holding off the challenge of Hibs for third might be what they end up doing.

“I think it’s a bit far off the mark to say we will win the league,” said the Tannadice attacker yesterday.

“I can see the title race being closer than ever before but I’m concerned there might be games we should win but don’t and that will cost us.

“I think we can get closest to the Old Firm.

“Third place is a realistic ambition and, you never know, we might manage what Hearts did a few years ago and finish second.

“But winning the league would be a big ask.

“We’ve done really well to only be three points off top spot at this stage.

“It’s not just the fact we’ve had to do without a lot of players.

“It’s the kind of players—Fran Sandaza, Scott Robertson and Lee Wilkie were playing every week last season.

“So we’ve shown we’ve a good strength to the squad.”

Swanson added, “The problem is that Rangers and Celtic are still good.

“People are saying they are not as strong as they were and because they no longer have the money, that’s true.

“It’s also true that the other teams in the league are catching up on them but they remain strong.”

Swanson played a significant part in the weekend win over Celtic, picking out Darren Dods and Jon Daly with measured corners for the two goals.

However, he admitted he’d struggled to get into the game after replacing Craig Conway and had been given a rollicking by boss Craig Levein, just before turning provider, for not making enough of an impression on proceedings.

“I was struggling the first 10 minutes after getting on,” he said.

“I didn’t warm up properly and felt tired and the gaffer had a go at me for not getting on the ball.

“But thankfully big Doddsie and Dinty (Daly) got on the end of those corners and won it for us.

“It’s a real plus having these two to find inside the area.

“You just get the ball in there and chances are they’ll win it.

“They are both brilliant in the air and I’ll tell you big Dinty isn’t a guy you want to get in the way of if he’s aiming to head the ball.

“No one here goes near him in training because you know he’ll go right through you he’s that strong and determined. He just wants to win.”