TAM Courts hailed a vocal Dundee United support for the key role they played in his side’s surprise cinch Premiership win over Scottish champions Rangers at Tannadice yesterday.

A crowd of 4,600 were allowed into the Tayside stadium for the visit of their Glasgow rivals as Covid-19 social distancing rules were relaxed.

The United fans created an intimidating atmosphere and the visitors, who were on a 40 game unbeaten run in the top flight, slumped to their first league defeat since March, 2020. 

Courts, whose side picked up all three points thanks to a second-half Jamie Robson strike, felt the backing that his men received from kick-off to the final whistle was crucial.

“I thought we left something out on the park last week (United lost their opening Premiership match 2-0 to Aberdeen at Pittodrie),” he said.

“Our fans have an expectancy in terms of attitude and application and being the team that throws the first punch. We wanted to be that today, the fans responded and it was almost like a collaborative approach to the result.

“I thought today was a return to real football. We needed the fans, especially in the latter part of the game where the crowd gave the boys enormous backing because they recognised the work rate. For me, you could feel the energy from the stands and that had a huge impact on our performance.

“I don’t like inferiority complexes. Everyone gets respect and their record and champions’ status was never really in my mind. It was just about how we were going to unravel the gameplan. I had a weird suspicion all week we were going to get something. 

“As much as last week was a huge disappointment, today was only three points. It’s a huge three points and it feels quite monumental, but at the same time we have to understand why we put that level of performance in and make sure that’s a consistent thing moving forward.”

Match winner Robson has attracted interest from English clubs Lincoln City and Sunderland this summer and Courts joked that his goal will have increased the amount United can demand for the left back. “I’m expecting a bit of value to have been added,” he said. “He was absolutely colossal today.”

Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland, who has been targeted by Belgian club Beerschot, missed the match with a hip injury. “Whether or not he is still at the club next week remains to be seen,” said Courts. “But he will come straight back into contention for the Ayr United game.”