Dundee Utd 1-2 St Johnstone: Wright aiming for top three

St Johnstone have won six straight away games in all competitions

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright believes his side can challenge for a place in the top three of the Premiership.

Goals from Chris Kane and Murray Davidson saw Saints come from behind to win 2-1 at Dundee United.

It strengthened the Perth side's hold on fourth place, and Wright thinks they can aim even higher.

"It's not unrealistic for us to split Hearts and Aberdeen if we continue in this form," Wright told BBC Scotland.

The victory at Tannadice was Saints' sixth straight away victory in all competitions, but Wright is adamant he will not get carried away.

"We will keep our feet on the ground. It was a great result today. In terms of performance from them [Dundee United] it's as good as I've seen them this season.

"We had to be really on our mettle today, and proved in the second-half what a good side we are. I thought we controlled most of the second-half."

Despite the defeat this was an improved performance from bottom-side United, who had adopted a new 3-4-2-1 formation.

Mixu Paatelainen felt his side should have beaten St Johnstone

But manager Mixu Paatelainen was disappointed, believing his side should have won the game.

"I was happy with the way we played today," the Finn said.

"The passing game was crisp, it was accurate, we had good movement, and the boys put in a good show there.

"We should never, never have lost that match. I felt we should have won it. But sometimes football is cruel.

"All credit to St Johnstone. They are a powerful team. They play for set-pieces, and they play for those long balls that they're good at."

Ryan McGowan was booked for diving after an incident involving St Johnstone defender Steven Anderson and Paatelainen thought United should have been awarded a penalty.

"I just watched it on the video there, he never dived. But the referee saw a dive there, so be it. If you see things that don't happen, they make decisions accordingly."