The win over the Pars left them just three points adrift of sixth place and Billy is keen to see home successes like that repeated on road trips.

“To be fair, we’ve had too many draws, but, at home, we have lost only to Celtic and Hearts. I’d like to see more wins away from home, because we are one win away from the top six now and, if we can continue to improve, we can get there,” he said.

“I know we lost at Livingston the other week, but I honestly think that was just a blip and we’ve been making progress. We’ve got ourselves on to the coat tails of the teams above us and we’ve got the chance to get right in among them.

“That gives us a huge incentive to go down there, win and improve our away form, because we know it could have been better.

“Don’t get me wrong, it will be a hard game, because Kilmarnock are a good team and it won’t be easy down there. But the boys should go there believing they are good enough to win, because they are. If we do, it can be a massive result because of where it puts us and it will show we can be up there.”

Without labouring on the subject, he does admit the pressure has been on the management team in recent weeks and he has nothing but praise for the way the players have reacted to that on the park.

“One thing that would have disappointed me was that if I felt the boys had not been behind us, but that has never been he case and I know they’ve given us all they’ve got,” he added.

“They have been different class and that is all you can ask for. Even at Livingston, the result might have been bad, but the way they approached the game was right and they dominated a match away from home.

“That’s why I said to them afterwards it was a blip, and I think the result against Dunfermline and, hopefully, the ones to come, will show that.”

With recent injury doubts Grant Brebner and Peter Canero suffering no major reaction to starting in midweek, United have no serious injury worries and manager Gordon Chisholm will have a strong squad to choose from.

Dropping out of the home line-up will be SPL top scorer Kris Boyd, who spent yesterday finalising his £500,00 move to Rangers and will be watching their game at Dunfermline on Monday.

While stressing it was still a difficult game, Billy admitted the timing of that deal — he can’t play until January, so will miss United’s trip to Ibrox — was welcome news.

“If you take goals out of any team it has to have an effect and he is a boy who has scored a few against us. What’s important, though, is for us to remember we still have a job to do.”

“That was our worst performance of the season and, quite rightly, we took a lot of criticism for it, so, obviously, it is something that will be in our minds when they come here on Monday,” said Billy.

“This is a chance to make up for what happened that day and show what we are really capable of. I believe the boys have enough about them to do that — the fact the win over St Mirren in our last game is still fresh in the memory should be a help.”

If Iain Anderson recovers from a bug, the home side will have the option of fielding the same team that beat the league leaders 4-0 that day and Billy has been keeping his fingers crossed that the illness does not spread.

“The manager has been sick as well, so we are hoping it does not hit anyone else. We are already using five or six of the Under-19 team in the first-team squad regularly, so, in terms of numbers, there is not a lot to fall back on.”

Striker Andy Ferguson is another doubt after picking up a knock in training, but he is expected to make the bench.

Confirmed as an absentee for the rest of the season is young full-back Stephen McNally, who is to have an operation to repair a stress fracture in his back.

Potentially a career-threatening injury, his manager believes it is something the 21-year-old can overcome if he is up to the challenge.

“It is unfortunate that he needs this operation, but at least now the picture is clear and Stephen knows what he has to do,” said Alan.

“It will be one of these things that will involve a change of lifestyle, because it is something he is going to have to live with on a daily basis for the rest of his career.

“The rehab will be tough and, even once he has done that, it is the kind of thing that will involve a special warm-up before he trains.

“That will require discipline and dedication, but, if he does it, he can become a very good player. Already, even when he’s been hampered by this, he has shown he is a decent footballer.”

The other long-term injury victim at the club, Lee Wilkie, has gone under the knife again, though it has nothing to do with the knee reconstruction he had in America earlier this year.

As well as building up towards full fitness again, the Scotland man has taken the chance to have a nose problem fixed.

“I’ve broken my nose a couple of times in games and it was giving me trouble with my breathing. It was nothing major, but it seemed like a good idea to get it fixed while I was out anyway,” he said.

“It has maybe knocked me back about a week, but my knee is coming on fine and I’ll be training again in a few days.”

Although Kevin Fotheringham and Kieran McAnespie are making progress as they return from long-term injury, they aren’t ready yet for first-team action, and Scott Paterson and Peter MacDonald are also still on the long-term injured list.

“We’re hit by injuries again, but must make sure we’re ready for this game,” said Saints’ player-boss Owen Coyle. “We have some big matches coming up and this is one of them.

“The players who turn out for us on Boxing Day will give everything and they’ll be well prepared.

“They’ll be in for training on Christmas Day. That’s one of the sacrifices they have to make as we face Ross County the next day.”

Brechin face Clyde at home with their injury list still fairly lengthy.

Paul Daas, Steven Ferguson and Steven Hamilton are all still out, though Gary Bollan returns to the squad having served his suspension.

Though still feeling wretched after the 6-0 mauling by Airdire last week, City manager Ian Campbell still reckons the margin between victory and defeat is a narrow one.

He said, “We're not far away. It’s not easy, but it’s up to me to fill the gaps and bring in the players we need.

“The Airdrie result was horrendous and I’m still deeply scarred by it.

“We should have been in front in the first half and we had three good chances in the second.

“We could have had five goals ourselves. But defensively we were dire, though we are stretched to the wire.

“At the end of the day, though, we have to stand up and take it on the chin because, embarrassed or not, there’s no one else to blame but ourselves.”