Dundee Utd 4-1 Kilmarnock

McIntyre heads United into the lead

A devastating first half display from United ended Killie's impressive record at Tannadice.

Kilmarnock travelled to Dundee aiming to protect a seven-year unbeaten record.

However, ex-Kilmarnock striker Jim McIntyre came back to haunt his former employers with a hat-trick inside the first half hour.

Charlie Miller was also on the score sheet as United wrapped up the points in the first 34 minutes.

It was all United from the moment the first whistle sounded and it came as no surprise when they opened the scoring after only 10 minutes.

Barry Robson sent a free-kick into the box from just inside the Killie half and caught the visitors' defence flat-footed.

This allowed ex-Killie man Jim McIntyre to nick in and nod the ball into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

The visitors appeared to be in disarray and fell further behind in the 12 minutes later when their terrible defending allowed Charlie Miller space inside the penalty area.

He dropped behind the Killie defence in anticipation of a flick on from McLaren and was in the perfect position to send a right-foot volley past Meldrum.

Killie's defending was at fault once again, in the 26th minute, when Lilley was needlessly dispossessed by Robson 30 yards from goal.

He bolted through the middle before rolling the ball to McIntyre on the edge of the box and he simply looked up and sent a shot over the goalkeeper's head.

Jim Jefferies feels the pressure

Killie boss took immediate action in the form of a double substitution, withdrawing Barry McLaughlin and Garry Hay for Gordon Greer and Craig Dargo.

Ian McCall's men continued to pin the visitors back into their own half and five minutes they were again rewarded as McIntyre completed his hat-trick.

Charlie Miller rolled the ball into him on the angle and McIntyre blasted an unstoppable shot past Meldrum at his near post.

Killie had obviously been on the end of some harsh words from Jim Jefferies at half-time and came out showing much more aggression.

However, Kris Boyd overstepped the mark with a flailing elbow on former team-mate Chris Innes and was warned by the referee.

Killie pulled a consolation goal back in the 61st minute through Danny Invincibile.

The striker was on hand to gather Boyd's knockdown and send an effort beyond Paul Gallacher with the outside of his right boot from 10 yards.

Ian McCall made two changes as the game wore on.

Craig Easton and Jason Scotland came on in place of Robson and hat-trick hero McIntyre.

Scotland showed some nice touches and did well to drive into the area with five minutes remaining, but his final through ball to Dodds lacked quality and the chance went begging.

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Dundee United: Gallacher, Wilson, Innes, McCracken, Archibald, McLaren, Kerr, McInnes, Robson, Miller, McIntyre.

Subs: Jarvie, Dodds, Duff, Easton, Scotland.

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, Lilley, McLaughlin, Dindeleux, Hay, Fowler, Locke, Skora, McDonald, Boyd, Invincibile.

Subs: Smith, Greer, McSwegan, Dargo, Nish.

Referee: C Murray