November may have been a hard month, but it doesn't disguise the fact we haven't won any of our last five league games and slipped to eighth in the league. On the plus side, we did manage to match last November's tally of a point and score an extra goal despite playing two games less.
December is easier, although not as easy as last season when there was a realistic chance of us winning all four games. This time around we have five games and we have to be looking to win those against Falkirk, St. Johnstone and Hamilton. Dundee United away and Aberdeen at home will be slightly harder and I'd be happy if we were to get a point from one or both of those fixtures.
Last year we were able to pick up the four festive wins thanks to the fine form of Andy Dorman. This time we'll have to do it without him. After it emerged he'll be leaving the club, he has now been ruled out for the next four to six weeks with an injury. To say this is a major blow will be an understatement, and it'll be interesting to see who replaces him. Stephen O'Donnell is probably the best of the rest of the midfielders at making forward runs, with Allan Johnston and Garry Brady both more likely to be seen playing passes than taking shots. Steven Robb is another option and would give us some width, but he's still short of match fitness. Personally, I'd like to see O'Donnell be given a decent run in the side, but I think Brady will get the nod.
The last few weeks have seen Craig Dargo return to the squad and hopefully his short substitute appearances mean he's now ready for a start. Michael Higdon did score last week against Celtic but his attitude is questionable at times and I don't think him and Billy Mehmet is the way to go against a United defence that has a couple of big, strong players in it. Dargo's pace could cause them far more problems. Things will probably stay the same at the back, with Chris Innes and Lee Mair lining up against their former side and John Potter staying on the bench. Mo Camara is fit but will probably be riding pine too as he needs match practice - for all the good it will do!
Despite what Gus MacPherson says, Dundee United are realistic challengers for the league. The Old Firm are there for the taking this season and a strong run by someone like United could have them panicking. They may only have drawn at Motherwell last week, but they did so with nine men - a fantastic achievement. Craig Levein has got them playing brilliantly and may soon be faced with a tough choice - does he try to lead them to SPL glory or does he take the Scotland job. Of course, that's assuming the SFA offer it to him - Gordon Smith and co may have a better candidate in mind. Or someone who doesn't criticise them as much as Levein.
Last week's events at Motherwell mean United won't have Danny Swanson or Prince Bauben available, which is good for us. Also handy is Levein being named manager of the month and defender Andy Webster landing the player gong - this can often lead to immediate down turns in form as these awards are said to be jinxed. Despite that, they still have more than enough to see us off and we'll need to be at our best to take anything from this particular match. Jon Daly is fit and scoring again and the fantastically named Jennison Myrie-Williams is a tricky player. Webster, Darren Dods and Paul Dixon help form part of their formidable defence, and if we do manage to break down the defensive line, we'll still have Nicky Weaver to get past - a man who is playing out of his skin at present. In short, every Saints player will need to put in 110 per cent if we are to win this one- and hopefully if we're a goal up going into the last 10 minutes we won't implode like we did on our last trip to Tannadice.