Dundee United 2 Hamilton Academical 2: Place at the summit comes as no surprise to Gordon

Mario Bilate has shown fleeting glimpses of what he is capable, now he wants to be afforded the chance to give Dundee United a longer look at what he can offer.
 

The Russian-born Dutch attacker, who signed from Sparta Rotterdam in the summer, came off the bench to score a magnificent winner against Motherwell last month but questions over his overall fitness levels have limited his playing time.
The 23-year-old was on the bench for the 3-0 win at St Mirren prior
to the international break, but is intent on establishing himself as the next foreign player to make a big impression at Tannadice following the contributions made by Nadir Ciftci and Radowslaw Cierzniak  in recent seasons - starting today against Hamilton Academical.
"I'm ready for it," said Bilate.
"I hope the gaffer will let me start the game. I think the only way to get my fitness to 100% is to start playing games. So I don't know what to expect, but I do hope to start. If that's the case, it's up to me to show my value for the team as best as I can.
I would want to show the gaffer that
I should be in the starting XI.
"I'm quite confident about my qualities. I think that's one of the most important things as a striker. It's different things that make you
a successful striker, like your team-mates. If you get the service and get into the flow of things, then the guys will start understanding you better. They get to know what they can expect from you and what you expect of them in return. That makes the job a lot easier."
Jackie McNamara's side can move to the top of the  table with a win
over Hamilton, provided league
leaders Inverness don't record a victory at Partick Thistle.
"I think that will be the absolute motivation, just to know that we would go top by beating Hamilton and results elsewhere went in our favour," said Bilate. "That would be great if we could beat Hamilton and end up going top of the league.
"You will always have Celtic but things are dependent upon our own performance. If we stay consistent and keep playing the games like we have done before, then anything is possible. I'm not indicating that we would become champions or anything like that. But I think we can surprise a lot of our opponents."
Bilate will come face to face with another striker who once made his name on Tayside in the shape of Jason Scotland.
It is a decade since Scotland first arrived on these shores to sign for Dundee United and was taken under the wing of two stalwarts. Now, in the twilight of his career, the striker is imparting his knowledge on the next generation of Premiership players.
"It's tough sometimes when you are trying to pass on advice," said Scotland. "When I was at Dundee United, I remember Billy Dodds and Charlie Miller saying things in my ears. They were the senior players.
I still remember what they said. They were a pain at that time. But when you get older, you realise the things they were telling you were right.
"Now is a difficult time because you are telling them [Hamilton's young players] new things and maybe telling them they are doing the wrong thing. As [captain] Martin Canning says, when they get older they will understand and appreciate it."
It has been a stunning start to the season for Hamilton, who head to Tayside second in the SPFL Premiership standings having taken 12 points from their first five top flight fixtures.
"As long as we are doing the business on the pitch, that's all that really matters. So far, we're winning games and are playing well so there are no complains."