Ryan Dow has praised Dundee United’s new boys for looking like they had been in the team for years.
Three of the Tangerines’ defence in their 3-0 hammering of Aberdeen on Sunday were just in the door but you wouldn’t have guessed that by their performances.
The central defensive duo of Jarek Fojut and Callum Morris mopped up everything the Dons’ attack could throw at them, regularly sending clearances flying back up the park to the delight of the big United travelling support.
At left-back, Conor Townsend had the vacancy left by the departure of Scotland international Andy Robertson to fill but he looked decent and, along with right-back Keith Watson, played his part in the club’s first success at Pittodrie in just under five years.
Fojut, Morris and Townsend were all making their competitive debuts for United in a fixture they were widely expected to lose to a sharper Aberdeen side.
As it turned out, the foundation laid at the back gave the Tannadice men a platform on which to build a convincing win that will have made Scottish football sit up and take notice.
Dow, who set United on their way with an opportunist goal before Gary Mackay-Steven and Chris Erskine got in on the act, said you wouldn’t have imagined that the trio were summer signings.
“I thought the whole defence was brilliant,” said Dow.
“Our two centre-halves won everything in the air. These guys are just coming in to the side but it looked as if they had been with us for ages.
“They were very solid at the back and that helped us when we went forward.”
While it would be daft to read too much into the first game of the Scottish Premiership, it would also be stupid to play down what was a terrific display from United.
The players and manager Jackie McNamara deserve enormous credit for almost taking the substantial summer departures of Robertson and Ryan Gauld in their stride.
Reassured by the strength of the rearguard, it was at times like the United of autumn last year as Dow, Mackay-Steven, Stuart Armstrong and Nadir Ciftci sprung forward at every opportunity.
Dow said: “Gauldy and Andy were fantastic for us but I think everyone in the squad came together and played well last season.
“Our squad is still strong. You are always going to miss good players but the gaffer has brought in quality that will add to the team.
“They are still a big loss but I thought Conor came in and did really well at left-back, while me, Gaz and Stu combined in the area where Gauldy would have played and coped fine.”
He continued: “Everything went well and we took our chances.”
One of those chances was, of course, the one expertly executed with precision by Dow, who pounced when Dons defender Ashton Taylor played a short passback to keeper Jamie Langfield.
He said: “Nads was pressing the big centre-half and I thought to myself: ‘He is going to try to put it back to Langfield’.
“I read it and luckily for me Langfield came out and I was able to put it past.”