Dundee Utd 3-2 Dunfermline

United were 3-0 up after half an hour

Dundee United romped into a two-goal lead in the first half and held on to defeat Dunfermline at Tannadice.

Goals from Charlie Miller, Chris Innes and Jason Scotland punished woeful Dunfermline defending before the visitors hit back through Lee Bullen.

Dunfermline closed the gap again through Stevie Crawford 26 seconds into the second half.

Substitute Craig Easton almost got a fourth for Dundee Utd but his long-range effort was tipped over the bar.

The impressive Miller, who is out of contract next month, was on the scoresheet within three minutes.

He was perfectly positioned to bundle the ball into the net from six yards out after Andrius Skerla failed to clear Samuel's cut-back.

After 15 minutes Scotland bolted free of the defence and laid an open goal at Samuel's mercy. but the ex-Falkirk man hit the ball off a defender and wide of the post from point-blank range.

Craig Easton waves goodbye to the Tannadice fans

Eight minutes later Innes was a yard out to nod the ball into the net after Barry Robson's wicked corner kick zipped past a host of players with the merest hint of a flick on from Scotland.

United added a third on the half hour after some slapstick defending from the visitors.

Andy Tod was short with a back pass, allowing Scotland to pressurise Derek Stillie, who panicked and rushed his kick, but only found team-mate Aaron Labonte's heel - the ball then flew behind them all, allowing Scotland to collect it and tap into an unguarded net.

Dunfermline, to their credit, soon got the goal they needed to keep the game alive as a contest.

Bullen headed home Gary Dempsey's cross from 10 yards and straight from the second half whistle Crawford was perfectly placed to head Derek Young's cross from the right into the bottom corner.

United regained their composure after the shock of losing such an early goal and played down the time to earn three deserved points.

Midfielder Easton, who has served the club loyally for nine years, made his final appearance in front of the home fans before departing in the summer.

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Dundee Utd: Gallacher, Wilson, Innes, McCracken, Archibald, Kerr, McInnes, Miller, Robson, Samuel, Scotland. Subs: Bullock, Dodds, Duff, Easton, Conway.

Dunfermline: Stillie, Skerla, Tod, Bullen, Nicholson, Mason, Dempsey, Labonte, Darren Young, Crawford, Hunt. Subs: Scott Thomson, Shields, Kilgannon, Grondin, Kay.

Referee: M McCurry (Scotland)