Back to something approaching his best form since a chequered festive period, Gary Harkins has denied that things got over-heated when the team was struggling.

Victory over Motherwell a fortnight ago ended an eight match win-less streak for the Dark Blues during which Harkins irritated his manager Paul Hartley after being red carded for an incident when he had already been substituted at Hamilton.

Wednesday's win over Kilmarnock was consequently only the third match Harkins had started since and he is aware that the rumour-mill has been buzzing since he was replaced at half-time during the record 6-2 thrashing by neighbours United in the Ne'er Day derby.

"That's a load of rubbish and there was nothing said at all," he said, of suggestions that there had been a dressing room clash involving Hartley at the interval that day. I have heard the rumours but they are a load of rubbish.

"I got a text from (former Dundee goalie) Rab Douglas asking me about it and I just started laughing because there was nothing in it. I don't know where I get this reputation from that I start throwing jabs."

He acknowledged, however that it was a match that had threatened to derail the team.

"It was a tough one to take," he said. "A lot of the boys took that defeat hard and we knew that we had to have a look at ourselves and try to get back on track. We knew we couldn't accept that and that it wasn't good enough from us."

Unbeaten in four matches since that derby disaster they are now entitled to be viewing a top six finish rather than worrying about relegation, but Harkins knows that today's meeting with struggling St Mirren is a dangerous one after they drew with United in midweek.

"We got a good three points against Kilmarnock (on Wednesday) and were happy with that," he said. "The lads are playing confidently and scoring goals and we are all looking forward to the next game at St Mirren (but) they are going well and I know them a bit from my time there.

"They have some really, really good players like John McGinn and Kenny McLean so it will be a tough one. They didn't start the season great but they are showing a bit of form now.

"So it's a game that we will go into with a bit of caution as we know we will have to be at our best to beat them."