Kilmarnock, who have now gone four matches without a win under
caretaker boss Kenny Shiels.
United were without Morgaro Gomis, Sean Dillon and Mihael Kovacevic
who were all shown red cards in their heavy midweek defeat to Rangers.
Keith Watson, Barry Douglas and Prince Buaben came in to replace the
suspended trio, while Johnny Russell made way for Conway.
Kilmarnock made two changes from the team that conceded four at home
to Celtic with goalkeeper Cameron Bell replacing Anssi Jaakkola and
Garry Hay starting ahead of Silva who dropped to the bench.
United had won seven of their previous nine home matches in the SPL
and started the game brightly with Buaben flashing a shot over the bar
from distance and Scott Robertson curling an effort wide.
The hosts went desperately close when Goodwillie robbed Pascali of
possession before crashing a thunderous drive off the underside off the
crossbar.
Bell produced a fine stop to deny Danny Swanson before Pascali picked
up the first booking of the match for a foul on United skipper Garry
Kenneth.
United were thwarted by the woodwork for a second time from the
resulting set-piece with Douglas' free-kick bouncing back off the bar.
And the inevitable opener for United came after 25 minutes when a
Conway corner was headed home by the unmarked Severin.
The Terrors almost gifted Killie an equaliser when William Gros raced
onto Buaben's careless pass, but the Frenchman's shot was well stopped
by Dusan Pernis.
However, United scored a deserved second after 38 minutes with Conway
again providing the ammunition with an enticing delivery into the
penalty area which was bravely headed home at the near post by
Goodwillie.
Killie made a double switch at the break with Silva and James Dayton
introduced at the expense of skipper Craig Bryson and Ryan O'Leary.
However, it was United who extended their lead within two minutes of
the restart when Conway produced another teasing cross for Goodwillie,
who headed past the despairing Bell for his 16th league goal of the
season.
And the Kilmarnock goalkeeper was picking the ball out of his net
again after 49 minutes when Conway unleashed a magnificent strike from
25 yards that flew into the top corner.
The visitors pulled a goal back after 70 minutes thanks to substitute
Silva's equally stunning strike from distance. (Right).
Conway rifled another effort over the bar with his left foot as the
hosts searched for a fifth.
But it was Kilmarnock who scored a second with three minutes
remaining when Pascali rose to head home Silva's
in-swinging corner
87mins
