And he feels it was the display that afternoon that paved the way for a sequence of seven wins and two draws since.

“We played very well that day and all the boys were gutted that we did not get a draw at the least. It was just one of these days when we were denied by great saves and clearances off the line,” he said.

“We were still able to take a lot of confidence from the performance because we controlled the game for long spells and we went on to beat Aberdeen the next week.

“Now our confidence is high and we are looking to keep our run going because we have been playing well.”

That said, Dods concedes the club where he started his senior career could be a threat to the unbeaten run and knows he and his fellow-defenders are likely to be tested tonight.

“They have a good mix with the strength and height of Steven Fletcher and Colin Nish, and the ability of Derek Riordan, now he’s back.

“Mixu Paatelainen likes to go with three up front and they are a good attacking side, so you always expect a hard game from them.”

Injury may deny the Hibees the services of one of that trio — Fletcher — and as much as he is an admirer of the young Scotland star, Dods will not mind if he’s not up against him.

“He got both their goals down there last time and he can be a handful, so if he does not make it we’ll be happy, but whoever plays will be dangerous.”

United have no fresh injury worries and the odds are on boss Craig Levein going with the 11 who started against Aberdeen and Rangers.

After Hibs’ weekend defeat by Inverness Caley Thistle, he is expecting a reaction.

“That was a home game and usually when a side loses like that they do look to bounce back right away. Whatever their last result, they have good players and it will be difficult.

“If we can play the way we did down there, I will be happy because it was a good display and the boys were not just disappointed to lose, they thought they should have won and I couldn’t disagree with them.”

MacKenzie got 70 minutes and Lauchlan the full game, but the chances are they will be given at least one more midweek run-out before being considered for first-team starts.

And that’s not just because they are ring rusty after long injury lay-offs.

“It was a very good exercise on a good surface last night and MacKenzie and Lauchlan did well, although they both looked like they hadn’t played for a while.

“MacKenzie felt a bit stiff, so we took him off and, right now, I would say I’m not really thinking about them in terms of starting places for Saturday.

“In fairness to the ones in the first team, a big part of that has to do with their form. The centre-halves were excellent at Dunfermline last week and I have told all the players that, if they are doing well, they will pick the team for me.”

That’s good news for 16-year-old Benedictus, in particular. An emergency stop-gap against Airdrie at the start of the month, he performed well, then improved at East End Park and is now in the squad on merit.

Jocky is looking to arrange another closed-door game for next week and wants them to become a regular feature.

“Last night was not just good for the ones coming back from injury, it helped the ones who have not been starting games and, if I can, I will arrange a game most weeks.”

Since then, however, he has invested some £200,000 at Dens Park and he remains in discussions with the club over his exact involvement.

It is understood while nothing definite has been decided, there is a strong chance that will see him take responsibility for day-to-day running of the club, with the obvious exception of team matters.

That would see him take over chief executive Dave MacKinnon’s duties, though, even if Bennett does not move in, he will be leaving by the end of the month at the latest.

Today, MacKinnon would not comment on reports he was quitting, but he has been working on an exit strategy for several months now.

Regardless of the Bennett situation, he will go in a move that could see his duties divided between other senior staff.