Dundee United continued their recent revival with a
workman like victory at Rugby Park against a "no luck" Kilmarnock side.
This was Killie's 3 consecutive SPL loss! Roll-on the New Year!
Billy Dodds opened the scoring for United with a well-taken effort
from inside the box.
Killie stepped up a gear after the interval and United keeper Paul
Gallacher made one remarkable save from Colin Nish.
United had the better of the early exchanges and Killie centre back
Freddie Dindeleux had to make a block in the box on Dodds as the former
Scotland striker shaped to shoot.
Dindeleux fouled Jim McIntyre after 20 minutes and when Barry Robson
fired the free kick into the box from the right, the Killie defender
missed his attempted clearance, allowing the unmarked Dodds to fire a
low drive past Francois Dubourdeau.
The home side felt they should have had a penalty in the 29th minute
when a Colin Nish header hit David McCracken on the arm but referee
Kevin Toner ruled the contact had not been deliberate.
Robson had the only other chance of the half, but he fired over from
10 yards after Killie had failed to deal with a high ball into the box.
Killie went looking for an equaliser early in the second half and
Alan Archibald survived a handball shout, before Gordon Greer had a goal
chopped off for a foul.
Gary McDonald then saw a shot hit a team-mate before James Fowler's
fierce follow-up was deflected just wide.
There was controversy in the 57th minute when Peter Canero was booked
after referee Kevin Toner decided he had been trying to con him into
awarding a penalty as McCracken challenged.
Paul Gallacher pulled off a remarkable save to keep out Colin Nish's
header with 25 minutes
remaining.
Stevie Fulton was adjudged to have fouled Jason Scotland and former
"Killie Boy" Jim McIntyre made sure of the points with a penalty in the
82nd min. Both BBC Scotland's radio commentators thought Fulton had won
the ball, but it seems Killie can't buy a break at the moment especially
at Rugby Park.
,
Fulton , Murray (Fowler 45 mins), McDonald, Nish (Boyd 65 mins),
McSwegan
