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.”