Dundee United’s recovery continued as they made it four matches unbeaten under manager Robbie Neilson.
They will head north to play Ross County next weekend with a real spring in their step after securing a well-deserved 2-0 win over Queen of the South at Tannadice.
Pavol Safranko was the early goal hero, with the Slovakian striker nodding into the net with just three minutes on the clock.
They dominated for long spells thereafter and got a strange second goal on 80 minutes when Paul McMullan hassled Queens’ player Michael Doyle into passing the ball into his own net.
United had suffered a blow during the warm-up when central defender Frederic Frans got injured and had to be replaced by William Edjenguele.
That didn’t seem to bother them, though, as they took an early lead.
A fine goal it was too, with Fraser Aird picking the ball up midway into the Doonhamers’ half and sending a cross from the right into the box.
It was nodded home by Safranko from seven yards. The marking – or lack of it – from the visitors left a lot to be desired.
On six minutes, Aird tried his luck from 25 yards but his shot was comfortably saved by keeper Allan Martin.
The Tangerines were stroking the ball about well and they came close again on 16 minutes when Stewart Murdoch’s cross from the right was headed over by Safranko.
The Slovak just failed to connect with another ball a minute later when in a great position in front of goal as the hosts continued to dominate.
Home skipper Fraser Fyvie tried to finish the half off with a flourish when he lined up a strike from 25 yards but it flew straight into the arms of Martin.
United’s Billy King got the second period up and running with left-foot drive from 25 yards that wasn’t too far away.
Queens’ danger man Stephen Dobbie had his first attempt on the United goal on 50 minutes but his shot from inside the box went over the bar.
Murdoch, up for a corner, stabbed the loose ball wide of the post on 54 minutes before Nicky Clark replaced Aird for the home team.
Sam Stanton’s pass on 63 minutes appeared to have sent Safranko clear but the striker was flagged for offside.
The visitors had a great chance to level on 70 minutes when Lyndon Dykes was left with only keeper Benjamin Siegrist to beat but he hit his shot at the goalie and it deflected into the side-netting.
Safranko then directed his header wide of the post after being picked out by a nice cross from Paul McMullan.
The Dumfries men brought on former Dundee playmaker Gary Harkins on 73 minutes, while United’s scorer Safranko was replaced by Craig Curran.
The three points were wrapped up when Doyle, under pressure from McMullan, passed the ball back into his own net on 80 minutes.
McMullan fired just wide from the edge of the box with two minutes remaining but there was no further scoring.
All in all, the 5,171-strong crowd were treated to yet another fine performance from United and the Robbie Revival goes on.
