Dundee United’s Jon Daly admits the Tangerines will have no excuses if they toss away the chance of European football again.
The last two seasons have seen United manoeuvre themselves into a position where a return to the continental stage was very much on the cards only to miss out because of an end-of-term slump.
Following Monday night’s win over St Johnstone, however, they are eight points clear in third place and only five behind second top Celtic with six games left and Daly accepts it would be a disaster if they blew it this time.
“Beating Saints was a massive three points for us,” said Perth match winner Daly.
“With Hibs and Motherwell losing at the weekend we knew we could pull away from them and we have.
“We didn’t play well but we got the points and third spot is now definitely in our own hands.
“If we threw it away now we would only have ourselves to blame.”
He continued, “It’s not just hanging on to third place though that’s on our minds.
“You can’t help but look ahead now.
“Maybe if Hibs had got a draw with Celtic then we would only have been three points behind. You think about things like that.
“But we just have to concentrate on our own game and make sure we keep picking up points.In contention”At the start of the season we were looking at third spot and nobody really mentioned second.
“The fact we are still in contention for that at this stage in the season is credit to the boys and the manager.
“And now everyone is desperate to make sure we finish the season on a high.
“We missed out on Europe on the last day of the last two seasons by losing to Celtic and Rangers.
“We are all hungry to make sure it doesn’t happen again and we get European football at Tannadice.”
Before resuming the pursuit of that ambition of course, United have the opportunity to book a place in the Scottish Cup final courtesy of Sunday’s semi with Raith Rovers.
And Daly warns their attitude will have to be spot on for that one as well if they are to avoid a slip up against the First Division outfit.
“It is a massive game for us against Raith,” he said.
“And we are not going to take them lightly because we know they have knocked out some big teams already and they will go into the game with nothing to lose.Favourites”The fact we are going in as favourites brings added pressure.
“We have to make sure we go about the job the right way.”
Daly admits it is fingers crossed over skipper Andy Webster for the weekend after he limped out of the match at McDiarmid Park with fresh calf trouble.
“With Garry Kenneth suspended, (Mihael Kovacevic is also struggling) being without Andy Webster would be a big loss,” he said.
“We have guys who can fill in and do a job but with a bit of luck Andy will make it.”
Meanwhile, Daly hailed the form of keeper Dusan Pernis whose spot-kick save from Liam Craig kept United on level terms at McDiarmid Park and left the way clear for him to claim the three points.
“When Dusan came in he had big shoes to fill,” he said.
“Everybody knows how well Nicky Weaver did in the six months he was here.
“But while Dusan didn’t talk much English when he arrived he has done his talking on the pitch.
“He has been very good for us and made a great penalty save from Liam Craig.
“That was a pivotal moment for us.”
United have sold approaching 8000 tickets for Sunday’s semi-final.
Raith Rovers have shifted 6500 and have secured a fresh allocation of family section briefs from the SFA.