Dundee United beat Ross County at Dingwall to take big step toward top six finish

Dundee United have defeated Ross County to take a massive step towards securing a top-half finish in their first season back in the Premiership.

The 1-0 win puts the Tannadice side six points clear of seventh-placed St Mirren, and five ahead of Hearts, with just two more games remaining before the split.

United gained promotion by winning the Championship last season and now look sure to mark their return to the top flight by finishing in the top six.

They now just need one more point from their next two games, against Hearts and St Johnstone, to guarantee a place beside Celtic, Rangers, Hibs and Aberdeen after the split.

Even if they lose both of their next two games, St Mirren would need to win both of theirs and make up a seven-goal swing to go ahead on goal-difference.

Ross Graham broke the deadlock with the only goal of the game late in the second half to secure all three points for Jim Goodwin’s men in the Highlands.

It was goalless at the break at Dingwall on Sunday, but the first-half wasn’t without its fair share of drama as the visitors had not one, not two, but three potential penalty VAR checks.

The first came when Sam Dalby took a tumble inside the area then Luca Stephenson had a collision with County keeper Jordan Amissah a couple of minutes later.

The third check was for a potential handball but the officials decided against awarding a spot kick.

County also had chances with Noah Chilvers having an ambitious strike blocked in the early stages and Alex Samuel forcing a save from Jack Walton.

The first real chance of the second half came with just over 20 minutes remaining when Graham headed a cross from Ryan Strain over the crossbar.

However, just five minutes later the same pair combined again and this time Graham made no mistake with the finish as he fired a bullet header past Amissah to make it 1-0.

United will feel they should have doubled the lead when a Louis Moult volley was blocked by Elijah Campbell and then Dalby was denied by the County keeper with just five minutes remaining.