He believes, though, the reaction to that result augurs well for the future.

“In the dressing-room after the game, there was total silence. It was like a defeat and, finally, the manager spoke and pointed out it shows the progress that’s been made at United if we could be so disappointed with a draw away to the Old Firm,” he said.

“He’s right and, as we should have shown that night, we know that on our day we are good enough to beat Rangers or Celtic. It won’t be easy tomorrow, because they have very good players and they’re coming into this on the back of scoring seven against Hamilton, so they have to be confident.

“I think we can be confident as well, though, because in the 3-3 draw down there we played a lot of good football. One of our goals was from a mistake when I took a long throw-in and Scott Robertson scored, but, for the other two, we opened them up with good football.”

Dixon did well getting forward that night, but had to do his fair share of defending and knows the same will apply this time out.

“Kris Boyd got another hat-trick last week and we’ll need to watch him. That goes for a few of their players, because they can be strong going forward.”

Tomorrow’s 12.30 kick-off will come too soon for Spaniard Francisco Sandaza, who is just back in training after a foot knock, but skipper Lee Wilkie is fit after shaking off a minor problem.

Wilkie will be idle earlier next month when United travel to face Jim McInally’s East Stirling in the Scottish Cup — he is suspended.

That’s led to Jocky expressing the view this is a case where normal protocol should be abandoned and, instead of an inspection in the morning, a referee should be called in to check the pitch this evening.

If that’s the case and the game is postponed, he has already taken steps to try to make sure his players — without a game for a fortnight now — see some action.

“I’ve spoken to Michael O’Neill up at Brechin and they are in the same boat as us, so, if both our games go off, we will try to find a pitch to have a closed-door game on,” he said.

“That would be easier to do if we get a decision about Clyde today, but I don’t know if that will be possible.”

Whether it is later today or tomorrow, until a pitch inspection confirms what seems to be the inevitable, Dundee will continue to prepare to head west.

“It’s getting difficult for the players to stay focused because they’ve prepared for one game then been disappointed, prepared for it again only for it to go off again and now they are getting ready for another match that is in doubt,” added Jocky.

“On top of that, from my point of view it’s been a bad week because we have not done any fitness sessions, so, one way or another, I really want a game tomorrow.”

Wherever the Dark Blues are on duty, missing again because of international duty will be Mikael Antoine-Curier. He is due back from Guadeloupe on Monday.

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes paid tribute to Kevin when he said, “He’s possibly been our most consistent performer this season. Kevin’s a solid, dominant central defender with controlled aggression.

“He’s a big influence and he’s shown what he’s capable of.”

Due to injuries, Kevin has played alongside three different central defenders this season, Steven Anderson, Kevin James and Stuart McCaffrey, with McCaffrey likely to line up alongside him tomorrow.

James is still struggling with a back problem and, apart from keeper Euan McLean who has been out for some time with a wrist injury, he’s Saints’ only injury doubt.

After draws against Dundee, Clyde and QOS, Derek “wants to get back to winning ways tomorrow” and he can’t wait for the game against the club he began his playing career with.

“Draws have been our downfall in the past and we don’t want that scenario repeated. I had a great time at Morton, but all friendships will be put aside for 90 minutes tomorrow,” Derek concluded.

Meanwhile, Inverness CT are still keen on Saints striker Steven Milne and may make an improved bid.

DUNFERMLINE make the trip to Dumfries to face QOS and manager Jim McIntyre knows what to expect as he saw Queens draw against St Johnstone at Perth last Saturday.

It was back in 1986 that QOS last beat Dunfermline in the league and the Pars are hoping that continues. Scott Wilson is still suspended and the Pars are on the hunt for a back-up keeper after Callum Reidford was hurt in midweek.

At the end of January, the SFA’s disciplinary committee handed down a ban and, when Fotheringham took his case to the association’s appeals tribunal, they also ruled against him.

Unwilling to let the matter rest, he took the matter to the Court of Session, but, today, a ruling by Lord Pentland has described the action of the SFA as sound and found that none of the challenges to their ruling were well founded.

That leaves a big stain on Fotheringham’s character and him facing a long spell on the sidelines.