Dundee United goal hero Paul Paton insists being top of the Premiership is no big deal.
Saturday’s 2-0 win over St Johnstone moved United into a two-point lead over second-placed Hamilton Accies.
While delighted to be looking down on the rest of the league, Paton revealed it isn’t a hot topic in the dressing room.
“We are not thinking too much about being top of the league,” said the Northern Ireland international, who grabbed United’s second goal in the second half after Chris Erskine had edged them ahead in the first.
“It is pleasing to be there but nobody is really mentioning it. It is too early in the season for that.
“It is brilliant to keep winning games but we know Celtic have the strongest squad in the league.
“I would expect us to be closer to them this season but I don’t want to build us up for a fall.
“Celtic have the squad and the money to spend in January to strengthen if need be but we are just happy to be doing well at the moment.
“The more you win the more confident you are. The future is bright here.
“The most pleasing thing probably is that we know we have a few gears to go up yet because we can play better.”
Indeed, once again United secured a terrific result without reaching the high standard of which they think they are capable.
That should send a shiver up the spine of their rivals because this wasn’t a lucky win by any means.
They deserved the three points and looked like getting them from the moment Erskine fired them into the lead on 23 minutes.
“I think it was a deserved win but I do think we can play better,” added Paton.
“I would include myself in that because I was slack at times and some of the boys’ play was slack at times.
“Every time we play St Johnstone it seems to be a scrappy game.
“We have added a wee bit of steel to our team so it is good to come through games like this one when it comes down to a fight for the points.
“At the start of the season we brought in Callum Morris and Jarek Fojut at the back to add steel and it has worked for us.
“Also, Nadir Ciftci and Mario Bilate give us a real physical presence up top so we have some really big lads in the side now and we can fight our corner.
“When you are not playing well but still winning that is really pleasing.”
Paton’s goal was extremely well taken but, while he would like to hit the target more often, he will continue to obey manager Jackie McNamara’s orders to leave the forays forward to others.
“I don’t get many goals, especially with my left foot, so it was good to be in the right place at the right time,” he said.
“I think my best for a season is three at Partick Thistle and I would like to beat that in an ideal world.
“However, the gaffer wants me to sit there and doesn’t want me to charge on.
“There are plenty of other guys to do that so he prefers me to stay behind to help the defence in case of a counter-attack.”