Two In A Row For Baggio - But Killie Still Beat!

Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Dundee United
(SPL Match 13 - Rugby Park, 2nd November 2002, 3.00pm Kick Off)

An injury time Jim McIntyre goal gave Dundee United a 2-1 win at Rugby Park  - a win that took United off the foot of the Premier League table and gave caretaker-manager Paul Hegarty a glimmer hope of taking the job on a more permanent basis. McIntyre's strike also gave the Arabs their first win over Kilmarnock since 1997, significantly the same year that Jimmy Mac put Killie into the Scottish Cup final.

The visitors got off to a great start in the seventh minute when Scotland international Stevie Thompson fired United ahead with a well-taken goal. The striker capitalised on some hesitancy by big defender Chris Innes in our penalty area and, from 10 yards, slipped the ball past the despairing Gordon Marshall.

Killie battled back and, in the 20th minute, wee Stevie Murray latched onto an Hoody cross from the right and fired a volley on the turn from 12 yards which went into the side-netting. Moments later, Greg Shields had an effort from 30 yards which Arabs keeper Paul Gallacher did well to hold at his left hand post.

We continued to press and eventually got the equaliser our pressure deserved in the 24th minute. Baggio picked up a loose ball at the edge on the United box and drilled a low left-foot drive past Gallacher and into the corner of the net after which the whole team took great confidence and went on to dominate the rest of the half. United's attacks had all but dried up and it appeared their confidence had drained away as Kilmarnock dominated possession.

After the interval, the visitors tried to impose themselves on the game but it was us who once again took the initiative. But, as the rain lashed down and the driving wind intensified, the players struggled to get the ball down to make passes.

In the 51st minute, Peter Canero went on a run which ended up with him firing a shot in from the edge of the box but Gallacher saved comfortably. Moments later, Mahood had an effort from 20 yards but the midfielder was off balance and the ball went high over the bar.

At the other end, Thompson set up McIntyre at the edge of the Killie penalty area but the midfielder's shot was weak and Marshall scooped up easily. In the 65th minute, a tremendous Kris Boyd free-kick from 25 yards cannoned off Gallacher's left-hand post and back into play before eventually being cleared to safety.

There was tension in the closing stages as both teams took chances in their attempt to grab the winner. In the 80th minute, a Marshall fumble under pressure from substitute Allan Smart, on earlier for Jim Hamilton, nearly proved costly but the United player was slow to react and the danger was cleared.

But, in injury time, McIntyre popped up to slam home the winner through Marshall's legs from close range after Sean Dillon, who had up to that point had a great game, made a weak defensive header that landed at Jimmy Macs feet.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Canero, Dindeleux, Innes, Shields, Fulton, Mahood, Murray (Quitongo 86), Boyd, Di Giacomo (McSwegan 82), Dillon
Subs not used: Meldrum, Hay, Mitchell

Dundee United: Gallacher, McCraken, <McCunnie, <Wilson, Duff (Paterson 63), <Easton, Miller, Hamilton (Smart 54), <Lilley, <McIntyre, Thompson
Subs not used: Combe, Lauchlan, O'Donnell

Referee: D. Somers
Attendance: 5,417

(Photos from SNS & used with permission)