Jim Goodwin knows how it feels to hit the highs of third place and then sink like a stone - it was exactly what happened to him during his stint as Aberdeen manager.

But after overtaking the Dons into the coveted 'best of the rest' spot, the Irishman has been left wishing the season could come to an end now after his latest success in Tayside.

Sam Dalby's late winner sparked mass celebrations at Dens Park as United picked up an impressive victory over their city rivals, just days after downing the Dons with an injury-time Kevin Holt strike.

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Some four hours after full-time, Goodwin's men strutted back down the road to Tannadice with the bragging rights in their grasp, and the knowledge they'd overtaken Jimmy Thelin's struggling Aberdeen.

Defeat to Ross County leaves the Dons winless in 10 and now beaten in four consecutive outings, with the 13-point lead cut by United within just two months, writes the Daily Record.

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And Goodwin admitted he wouldn’t have believed anyone who would have told him his side would be third 10 weeks ago.

He said: "It’s just a brilliant way to win again, similar to the Aberdeen game, we speak about last minute winners. The supporters love it. And we as players and staff certainly enjoy the moment as well.

"I wish the season was over tonight now, to be honest with you! That would be a remarkable season for a newly promoted team. But we're not talking about European places, we're not talking about top-six.

"I know it's really boring and probably not what you guys want to hear, but it's still about getting the points required to make sure that we're a Premiership team next season.

"We're sitting third on the table just now, above Aberdeen on goal difference. If you'd have told me that 10 weeks ago, I wouldn't have believed you, given how far out in front they were.

"But we've been very, very consistent. I think Aberdeen is probably a team that we look at, and I remind the players of, that you can't get carried away, you can't get complacent, because that shows, if you do lose a couple of games and confidence goes, then you can go on the kind of run that Aberdeen are on.

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"Enjoy the moment, but we won't get carried away. We won't allow ourselves to think all of a sudden. we've become this brilliant team.

"We're getting results because of the hard work and the resilience that the players are showing. We've created a great culture within the group and that'll carry us a long way."

Dalby’s late winner was the 14th Premiership goal Dundee United have scored after the 75th minute this season, with Holt's winner over Aberdeen another example of the late hammerblow goals against sides that have been downed late on against the Terrors.

And Goodwin said: "There's no better feeling, really. We're over the moon with the results that we've had during this festive period.

"It's been a really testing and challenging time for us as a squad. We've had injuries, obviously, to contend with, with the likes of Moult and Sibbald still out."