Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson insists there has been no magic wand waved by him during his team’s recovery.
Instead, the main factor behind the Tangerines’ turnaround has been good, old-fashioned graft.
The new gaffer’s record ahead of tomorrow night’s match against Championship leaders Ayr United at Tannadice reads five wins and a draw.
That form has moved United to 3-1 joint-second favourites for the title along with the Honest Men, with Ross County still seen as likely league winners at odds of 10-11 with most bookies.
They will go level on points with Ayr if they can beat them and it would continue the transformation of the club’s fortunes since Neilson took over from former boss Csaba Laszlo.
Rather than there being some secret ingredient that has turned a poorly-performing group of losers into a set of promotion-challenging winners, he puts it all down to effort.
Neilson said: “You have to keep working at it.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The Courier newsletter
“There are days when players come in and don’t feel 100%.
“One of the most important things for me is that when players come into training they have to want to be here and enjoy what they are doing.
“There are days when it’s bucketing down with rain or blowing a gale and it is up to us to change things to get the best out of the training session.
“We talk all the time– players, coaches and staff – about what’s the best outcome from any given week, gearing everything up to the next game.
“You have to work hard at getting and then maintaining momentum.
“It doesn’t just happen.”
Meanwhile, United fans will be housed in three stands for tomorrow’s big game.
Home supporters can sit in the Jerry Kerr Stand, as well as the Eddie Thompson and George Fox.
