Strachan's team were good in very department against Manchester City yesterday, but it will be improvements up front that Gordon will be especially pleased with. "We've been struggling for goals, everybody knows that but we've improved a great deal in the last 20 yards of the field lately," said Strachan.
"Ormerod scored a hat-trick against Tranmere and a hat-trick in a reserve game the week before that. He would probably have got another one today but for his injury.
"I don't know how long he'll be out yet but we would miss him the way he's playing. He's shown a great mental attitude and strength and he's made me pick him.
"It's the best we've played all season. Everyone did their job well. James Beattie didn't score but he set the level for us and we stayed up there."
Ex-saint Kevin Keegan must be getting a little worried that his sides attacking ethics aren't making much of an impact in the Premiership. "A bad day at the office sums it up well but I didn't expect a performance like. It happens but seemingly not at Manchester United or, certainly, Arsenal," said King Kev.
"But it showed we are still a side trying to find out where we are and what we are about. It is simply not good enough for the club and the supporters but obviously the buck stops with me.
"To be honest, though, I haven't got the answer to why it was so bad. I'll have to think about it and go over it all.
"The fact is we've taken just two points from the last 15 and I've got to get into the players about it. This was very, very disappointing, just as bad as when we lost to West Bromwich Albion
4-3 last season.
"We didn't let in four goals today but that was simply down to Peter Schmeichel. It hurts me to come back to one of my old clubs where I played in a fantastic side with people like Mick Channon and Alan Ball and a few other old-timers who really cared.
"These players today know what I think of them, but I won't wash dirty linen in public. This display was certainly not what I envisaged at the start of the season.
"We had lesser quality last season but still turned it around after a bad performance and now these players have got to show they can do it as well."