If Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon could have chosen his ideal birthday present he probably have picked a win.
The Tannadice boss turned a youthful 47 on Saturday and he was able to celebrate a 1-0 victory over Inverness Caley Thistle that kicked off the Championship campaign as well as his own special occasion.
A tricky away fixture was won by Paul McMullan’s penalty goal on 13 minutes but that only told part of the story.
Depleted by injuries and suspensions, the Tangerines sent out a message to all their prospective promotion rivals that they will be as dogged in defence as they will be adventurous in attack this season.
The hosts enjoyed a lot of possession, particularly in the second half, so it was reassuring to see the visitors dig in at the back and encouraging to watch goalkeeper Harry Lewis confidently climb out of his goal to claim almost every cross that came his way.
The good news, with Wednesday’s derby rerun again Dundee at Dens in the last 16 of the Betfred Cup in mind, is that there appears to be a lot more to come from McKinnon’s team.
New midfielder Fraser Fyvie was not even stripped for the ICT game but is in contention to face the Dark Blues.
The same goes for striker Scott McDonald, who was suspended on Saturday but is poised to take the forward role so ably filled by McMullan over the last couple of games.
James Keatings should also be involved, having come off the bench against Caley for the final quarter of the game.
Patrick N’Koyi continued his return from injury in a 20s game, while Willo Flood came off the bench against ICT, Stewart Murdoch was an unused sub and Mark Durnan has now served his one-game ban.
So it was only right that McKinnon wore as smile as wide as the Kessock Bridge after what was a terrific win in the Highlands.
He said: “I am very happy.
“I don’t think we were at our best but I thought we were excellent in terms of counter-attacking and created a lot of chances.
“To come away from home and get three points when we still have a lot of players to come back into the team, I am delighted.
“It is a great start to the season.
“That is two games we have played without a recognised striker but how good has he (McMullan) been?
“He is clever and defenders hate playing against him because is so quick-footed – lightning sharp.”
McMullan got the game under way for United, who were backed by a 1,200-strong travelling support.
It was a while before the game got going and the first chance fell to ICT on seven minutes, with George Oakley’s shot well saved by Lewis.
Just a minute later, United almost grabbed the lead after Billy King played in Scott Fraser and his well-struck shot produced a brilliant stop from home keeper Mark Ridgers.
The Tangerines were storming forward now and they grabbed the lead from the penalty spot on 13 minutes.
A wee bit of pinball inside the Inverness area finally saw McMullan chip the ball forward and he was tripped by a combination of Brad McKay and Joe Chalmers as he tried reach it.
Referee Craig Thomson wasted no time in making up his mind and up stepped McMullan to make it 1-0 to the visitors, sending Ridgers the wrong way.
Irate ICT boss John Robertson was sent to the stand by Thomson before play resumed.
On 18 minutes, it would have been 2-0 to the Tangerines had Iain Vigurs not made a last-gasp tackle on Sam Stanton as the United man prepared to shoot from just 10 yards.
ICT were getting forward, too, but the best efforts were coming from United and Scobbie sent a volley straight at Ridgers on 28 minutes.
Five minutes later, Ricky Calder, who was getting plenty of possession on the Inverness left, fired a strike over United’s bar.
With 40 minutes on the clock, the home team came even closer to a leveller when McKay headed a Vigurs freekick just past the post.
There was controversy just two minutes before the break when Inverness captain Ross Draper fell down inside the box and claimed for a penalty. The appeal was ignored by ref Thomson, who booked both Draper and United skipper Tam Scobbie after the pair squared up.
Oakley then fired into the side-netting as the hosts finished the first half strongly.
Inverness were camped in United half early in the second period and Liam Polworth shot just wide on 51 minutes.
The visitors needed to break out and they did so just seconds later when good work by McMullan again created the opening for Stanton, who just couldn’t hit the target with his shot.
A Polworth rocket flew over the Tangerines’ bar before Keatings made his appearance as a sub for Scott Allardice.
United then squandered a golden chance to make it 2-0 on 71 minutes.
McMullan won possession and played the ball forward to Keatings, who was beaten in the race by keeper Ridgers. The goalie, though, only played it out to Stanton and, with the goal gaping, the midfielder fired the ball over.
United then saw the game out despite some serious ICT pressure, with a highlight of the closing stages the confident handling of United goalie Lewis.
Now it is on to Dens Park and another derby and the players will certainly stroll up the road with a spring in their step as they aim to reach the Betfred Cup quarter-finals.
