Peter Houston delighted at Dundee Utd's first home win

Daly (centre) scored immediately after coming on as a substitute

Peter Houston was especially delighted with Dundee United's 3-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle as it ended their wait for three home points.

"What happens the longer you go without winning a match at home, is it becomes something you guys can talk about," the United manager told BBC Scotland.

"It is good to dispel any thoughts that it is a jinx to play at home.

"We were unlucky not to beat St Mirren and to lose to Dunfermline, so I am just happy to get off the mark."

Jon Daly returned from injury to put United 3-1 ahead with his first touch of the ball after coming on as a second-half substitute.

"One or two people called me a 'lucky bandit' or words stronger than that, but I don't care because I knew exactly what would happen," said Houston.

"A cross into the box and Daly would put it into the net and that is the strength of Jon Daly.

"I just felt that at that particular time, young Ryan Dow, who had a fantastic debut in his first start, was starting to cramp up a wee bit and the presence of Jon Daly is always a threat in the opposition box and it is just luck that we get a goal from it."

Houston picked out his midfield for special praise in a game in which on-loan Fulham forward Lauri Dalla Valle opened the scoring and Nick Ross equalised before Danny Swanson put United back ahead.

"We need experience because we are a young side and I thought again Flood, Robertson and Rankin showed some great mettle, getting up and down the park and using the ball well," he said.

"It was a difficult game. Inverness are a good side and a lot of people don't give them the credit they are due.

"In the first half, they had a few shots peppering our goal.

"Even at 3-1, you are always on edge, but I thought we had more chances and I was pleased to see young Dalla Valle getting off the mark because he needed a goal."