Dundee Utd 3-0 Kilmarnock

United picked up a much-needed three points at Tannadice

Dundee United hauled themselves off the foot of the SPL table with a valuable victory at Tanandice.

The home side went ahead after 17 minutes when Grant Brebner's shot from distance clipped the heel of team-mate Jim McIntyre and flew past Alan Combe.

Five minutes later, United extended their lead when Barry Robson's corner flew straight in.

And McIntyre rose highest in a crowded penalty area to head in a Mark Wilson free-kick early in the second half.

The visitors started well and in the 14th minute the impressive Stevie Naismith set up Allan Johnston only to see the ex-Rangers man blast his shot wildly over the bar.

The home side were showing little in attack but they took the lead with a fortuitous goal.

Brebner hit a powerful snap-shot from 25 yards which was going wide until it struck the heel of striker McIntyre and deflected past the helpless Combe.

In the 22nd minute the home side doubled their lead when Robson's in-swinging corner from the right evaded a crowd of players and sneaked into the far post.

Kille should have pulled a goal back following an incredible goalmouth scramble which at one point saw Naismith's close range header knocked off the line by Robson.

In the 35th minute Combe had to react smartly to prevent Robson knocking another corner from the right hand side into the net, this time at the near post.

The home side secured the three points with a goal within a minute of the second half starting.

Wilson swung in a free-kick from wide on the left and McIntyre rose high in a packed penalty area to glance his header from eight yards past Combe and into the corner.

On the hour mark, as United broke quickly, McIntyre and Jason Scotland worked a one-two at the edge of the Killie box before McIntyre's volley from 20 yards had Combe scrambling to gather at the second attempt.

Careless Killie defender Simon Ford was the caught in possession which allowed United to break and when McInnes eventually set up Robson 12 yards from goal, Killie keeper Combe blocked well with his legs.

As the visitors pushed forward, United were always looking likely to add more goals with Scotland going close with a drive from 20 yards which went inches wide of the post.

Then Derek McInnes floated a 25-yard free-kick just past Killie's right hand post before the United skipper skimmed the bar with a tremendous drive from a Collin Samuel cut-back.

In the last minute Scotland should have made it four when he was one-on-one with Combe but the United striker blasted his shot straight at the Killie keeper.

---

Dundee Utd: Bullock, Wilson, Innes, Ritchie, Archibald, Kerr, McInnes, Brebner (Cameron 86), Robson, McIntyre (Dodds 89), Scotland (Samuel 76). Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, McCracken, Grady, Kenneth.

Goals: Brebner 17, Robson 22, McIntyre 46.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Greer, Lilley, Ford, Dindeleux, Johnston (Murray 52), McDonald, Invincibile (Dargo 62), Leven, Boyd (Wales 88), Naismith. Subs Not Used: Smith, Fowler, Hay, Wolski.

Booked: McDonald, Lilley.

Att: 5,097

Ref: W Young