Not so long ago I was highlighting Dundee United's lengthy search for consistency.

They couldn't find it last season and the early signs suggested it could also be an issue for them this term.

Just getting back-to-back league wins has proved problematic over the past 18 months.

Well, whisper it, but it looks like Jim Goodwin's side - currently fourth in the table - may have finally solved the consistency conundrum.

They have lost just one of their past seven Premiership games, winning four.

United are the joint highest scorers outwith the Old Firm and Hearts in the league, having netted 14 times, and are in the top five for clean sheets (3).

So the evidence suggests the United ship is now sailing in the right direction.

That said, tonight's trip to play champions Celtic represents the ultimate test.

If Goodwin's men can emerge from that unscathed then the fans will head back up the road with lofty dreams about what may be possible this season.