There was a moment of disbelief when Radowslaw Cierzniak learned that he was to line-up for Dundee United against Hamilton Accies.

 

After all, three days earlier his blunders in the Tayside derby had contributed to his side's downfall against Dundee as their near neighbours wondered how and when their run of ten games without tasting victory would end.

But while Jackie McNamara may have been tempted to relegate his Polish goalkeeper to the substitutes' bench and offer his countryman, Michal Szromnik, an opportunity to show his worth, the United manager chose to stick-by his No. 1, soon to be out of contract and wondering where his future lies.

Chris Erskine may have hit the only goal of the game for the home side, lifting their gloom and still snapping at the heels of Inverness Caledonian Thistle for the Premiership's third spot, but it was Cierzniak's agility and acrobatics that did as much to secure the points as the midfielder's 70th minute strike.

"I'm very appreciative to the gaffer for giving me another chance," he said. "For a goal-keeper, it is very important to play again. It's not easy but I'm very happy to get the clean sheet, the first one this year I think.

"I wasn't worried [that I might not get the chance] but I was thinking maybe there was big pressure on the gaffer to change me. But he trusts me and I really appreciate that."

Cierzniak's three exceptional saves within a hectic minute midway through the second half, proved that McNamara made a wise decision as Hamilton, still without a win in 13 games, produced the better football as the Arabs struggled to breach the opposition's stoic defence.

The United manager's no-show at the post-match press conference was perhaps an indication that further questioning over the controversy surrounding the news that he and his management team had benefited financially from the transfers of his best players, was wearing thin.

It was left to his lieutenant, Simon Donnelly, to verbalise the analysis of the performance and how relieved they were that the slump had ended, while his goalkeeper turned his attention to potential job-seeking at the end of the season.

"I still don't know if I'll be offered a new contract," Cierzniak said. "There is still nothing concrete on the table.

"At the moment, I am waiting for something good. I know that game last Wednesday never helped me.

"But the one against Hamilton did. Of course, I would like to stay. It's never easy the end of the season. It's always hard for everyone. You have to have a special mentality.

"So we have to switch on and try and win as many games as we can over the next six weeks and then we'll see.

"If we finish fourth, I think we would be happy."

For Hamilton, aside from their poor run, there is much to be pleased about. Their young side is capable of producing some eye-catching football and had Cierzniak not been at his best, they would have hit three or four goals.

In the summer, they will add three or four new faces to their squad as Martin Canning, grateful for the excellent start they made to the season, hopes lady luck will star smiling on them again.

"We have a very young team," the player-manager, suspended for the Tannadice encounter, said. "I think the most senior member in our defence against Dundee United was Mikey Devlin, at 21.

"So, we need to add experience here and there because we lost players in January and didn't replace them.

"Our performance at Tannadice was great. We hit the woodwork three times and the ball rolled along the line on one occasion and Louis Longridge just couldn't reach it."

Accies may have missed out the top six finish they appeared to have had within their grasp at one point but, as Canning pointed out, they are "in a good place - the Premiership".

Whether United have, indeed, turned a corner, will perhaps be tested at Pittodrie next Saturday when Aberdeen will provide the opposition.