IF it was good enough for one of Scotland’s greatest ever goalscorers, it was good enough for Lawrence Shankland.

The recently down-on-his-luck Dundee United striker drew upon the words of Rangers’ all-time top finisher Ally McCoist for solace and self-belief as he fluffed two, and then took one crucial chance against Ross County.

Just how big a goal it will prove to be for United remains to be seen. In the here and now, though, it seemed absolutely massive given pre-match statistics.

With a trademark deft touch and crisp finish, Shankland’s 63rd minute goal turned the match in Dingwall and helped the Tangerines break a run of eight games without victory since before Christmas.

After a last three defeats with nine goals leaked, it could also change the course of their season.

It lifted them eight points above Ross County, the team now embedded in the relegation play-off position, with each club having 10 Premiership fixtures remaining.

It was only the usually prolific Shankland’s fifth this season and, in the first half, he had given the impression of grappling with demons given his flouncy, volatile body language. A half-time heart to heart with manager Mickey Mellon seemed to do the trick.

“The first chance I got gifted with the boy missing the ball. My team-mates and I would have been expecting me to take that chance,” Shankland admitted.

“For the next one, I was on the stretch but I could still have nicked it by him or chipped it over him.

“Thankfully, we defended well and got in at half-time 0-0 and we managed to get there in the end.

“Ally McCoist used to say if you score one in three it is a good record, so I will take that.”

Like Shankland at half-time, United have looked like a team in need of a reminder of what they’re good at.

The 25-year-old Scotland Euros squad hopeful feels the victory in the Highlands, sealed by a Ryan Edwards header from a corner with 14 minutes left, may provide that.

“I felt we were pretty comfortable. We dealt with everything they threw at us and we managed to get the second from a set-play,” Shankland said.

“It was a long run without a win and there were a lot of draws in there around the defeats, which made it seem worse.

“To come here and get the three points after a disappointing result against Motherwell, we are delighted.

“Everybody played their part.”

It is amazing how one win can shift horizons and Shankland, rather than peering downwards at relegation places, was eyeing the top six on Saturday evening.

United sit just one point adrift of sixth-place St Mirren, but with three extra games played.

“We just need to kick on and keep believing,” the striker said. “This result will give us a bit of confidence and, hopefully, we can take it into our next game and fire on again.”

For Ross County, recently re-energised under John Hughes, this remains a perilous time.

They began the match with the Hughes imprint, attempting to move the ball quickly from back, but bad traits and habits of old would resurface.

They lost the Shankland goal with poor cover on the counter-attack from their own corner and the killer second, straight from a corner, came with a powerful sense of deja vu.

Tony Andreu, one of five Hughes’ signings in January, impressed in flashes throughout the match, but the Frenchman of many clubs faded like his team in the latter stages.

By then, County were resorting to hopeful punts up the park.

“We started the second half well on the front foot and then we conceded this cheap goal which, I think, was the turning point of the game,” the 32 year-old former St Mirren and Hamilton wide man said.

“After that we kind of lost our way. There is a feeling of disappointment in the dressing room because we felt we could get back-to-back wins.

“They were ruthless and more streetwise, and that’s why they won.

“In the first 15 minutes we played well, from the back, and it worked. Then in the second half, we kept playing long when we should have tried to stick with our philosophy.

“We now just have to get back to it and try to win our next game. There is no question in our minds we can win our next two games at home.”

Those next two matches, worryingly for County, come against Hibs and Celtic in Dingwall.