SAM STANTON hopes Dundee United can put their Paisley no-show behind them as they look to get back on track against Brechin this afternoon.

Csaba Laszlo’s side fell five points adrift at the top of the Championship standings as they went down 2-0 to title rivals St Mirren on Friday night.

Paul McMullan’s early penalty miss proved costly for the visitors as Lewis Morgan netted twice after the break to clinch all three points for the Buddies.

While Jack Ross takes his side to Cappielow to face Morton in their first match of the New Year, United host a City side that are still without a win in the Championship this season.

There is still some way to go in the promotion race this term, and United still have a match in hand over the Buddies. But Stanton knows they must up their game at Tannadice as they bid to banish the memories of a low-key end to 2017.

He said: “We are very disappointed obviously. It was a big game and we could have gone above them if we won.

“A point would have been better for us than them. We have lost the game so it is disappointing.

“I thought we were the far better team in the first half and we had three or four chances, not just the penalty.

“When you don’t score, that is your own fault. Second half, we weren’t good enough and didn’t get going. We didn’t play well enough.

“Of course it can change quickly. I said the other week that any team can beat any team in this league because it is that competitive. We have seen that already this season.

“We are definitely still in it and we have got the game in hand and need to play them again this season as well. There is plenty of time.

“I can’t put my finger on why it was such a flat display. It wasn’t through a lack of effort, it was just one of those things. It wasn’t a lack of game plan, it was just very disappointing.”