Simon Murray wants another Dundee United party

Simon Murray hopes the Irn Bru Cup win will revive Dundee United's promotion bid. PictureL: SNS.

Murray played a starring role for Ray McKinnon’s men in Saturday’s 2-1 Irn Bru Cup final win over St Mirren at Fir Park as his inch-perfect cross set up supersub Thomas Mikkelsen for his 75th minute headed winner.

The 25-year-old Dundonian savoured a family party following their victory which the Tangerines hopes can kick-start their promotion push ahead of tonight’s visit of Ayr United to Tannadice.

Murray admits he found a little time to relax while they soaked up the feeling of being cup winners, but all eyes are on trying to spark a promotion party come the end of the season in their quest to seal a Championship play-off place at least.

Murray said: “It was a nice day. So they got the barbecue on and I had some food. But we were training on Sunday so that was it for me.

“Ayr’s another big game and we want to build on winning the cup by getting back to winning in the league between now and the end of the season so we can get promotion.

“We’ve been going through a tough run in the league for however long, but this can give us the big lift we need.

“It gets our confidence back and we know we can push on from here. It’s something I can look back on in the years to come and be proud of.

“As long as we can get Dundee United back into the top division, I’ll be delighted.”

Murray moved to United three years ago from Arbroath and the local lad says he will treasure Saturday’s triumph in Lanarkshire.

Murray said: “People go through their whole career and have not won a thing.

“I’ve only been in the senior game for three years and I’ve played in the Premiership and won a cup.

“It’s a great feeling for me.”

Murray’s classy cross was perfect for Danish hitman Mikkelsen, who supplied the all-important finishing touch and the red-haired striker was more than happy with his vital contribution.

He said; “The gaffer moved me out wide on the left for the second half to drive forward.

“I did, but Charlie Telfer and Tony Andreu must have got the ball out to me four or five times in the space of about ten minutes and I didn’t get it into the middle the way I wanted.

“I just thought in my head, keep going, keep going.

“When Tony put the ball out to me again my touch took it behind me a bit, but all I was thinking was I had to get the cross in because if I did I knew Thomas would be on the end of it.

“I just whipped it in with pace and he did the rest.

“It would have been a dream come true if I had scored the winner myself but putting the cross in for it was just as good.

“I’ll definitely settle for that.”

Meanwhile, manager McKinnon, pictured, is urging his side to use Saturday’s win as a catalyst for a return to form in the Championship having lost their last three league outings to leave them sitting fourth in the table.

McKinnon said; “This has given everyone a big boost.

“It’s a great feeling.

“We wanted to win the cup all along and have done so.

“Now we have to focus on the league campaign again starting with Ayr  United.

“It will be a tough match but hopefully we can get back to winning ways.

“The lads are all determined to get a positive result and we just want to get back to passing the ball like we did earlier in the season.”

United have no fresh injury worries with trio Scott Fraser, Sean Dillon, and Blair Spittal all still out.