Jim Goodwin believes Dundee United have given Aberdeen and Hibernian plenty to think about ahead of their games on Sunday.
The Terrors made it three Premiership wins in a row with a narrow 1-0 victory over St Johnstone at Tannadice with defender Emmanuel Adegboyega scoring the only goal of the game.
The win lifted United up to fourth in the table, above the Dons and level on points with Hibs.
And Goodwin admitted the result was absolutely vital at a key stage of the season.
He said: “It would be nice one day to be 3-0 up and to relax and enjoy the game. We’ve had to grind out three 1-0 victories against really difficult opposition.
“There was a lot riding on the game for both teams and we knew Saints would be a really tough team to play.
“We worked on a high aggressive press all week. I’d like us to do a little bit more on the ball and have a bit more control but at this stage of the season it’s all about results.
“We’re fighting hard to maintain the pace against Hibs and Aberdeen for the European places and it’s nice to get the result to put pressure on those two teams for tomorrow.
“There’s a great confidence within the group right now but today could have been a bit more comfortable than what it was.
“I think it’s our seventh or eighth 1-0 victory. We’d like to be a bit more entertaining but there are two sides to the game.”
St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari admitted he was disappointed with the result but not the performance from his players.
However, with five league games to go until the end of the regular season he believes “crazy” things can still happen.
Valakari said: “We played well. We put on a performance.
“We knew it would be very tight. We thought it would be a game of few chances.
“The first half was very evenly matched. Yes, we can be disappointed and we are disappointed with how we lost the goal.
“Not about defending the set piece, because those things can happen, but how we concede the corner.
“But performance, the fight is there, everything is there.
“Now, five games to go. Would we like to be closer to our opponents? Yes, but we could not get there.
“Now it’s five games. Let’s see where we go.
“When you play against your rivals it makes each three points more valuable because either you get them or your direct opponent.
“Every moment counts. And that’s why I believe there are lots of crazy things still to happen.”
