Dundee United 4 Kilmarnock 2

David Goodwillie scored twice to help Dundee United comfortably sweep aside the challenge of Kilmarnock at Tannadice. Scott Severin and Craig Conway were also on target as the hosts raced into a four-goal lead straight after the interval before David Silva and Manuel Pascali later replied.

But it was Scott Robertson driving an early attempt across goal as the suspension-laden Tangerines pressed during the opening stages. Goodwillie then surged forward and crashed an effort against the underside of the crossbar from a sharp angle.

The home side continued to attack and Danny Swanson soon had a shot charged down before Barry Douglas swept a free-kick against the top of the bar. Killie hadn't offered a great deal in reply until Alexei Eremenko had a fierce 25-yard drive parried onto the crossbar by Dusan Pernis, while Tim Clancy headed wide of the far post from Gerry Hay's cross.

It came as little surprise therefore when the deadlock was broken as the unchallenged Severin headed in Conway's 25th minute corner. William Gross then tried to respond but his shot was far too weak to trouble Pernis.

Seven minutes before the break and the hosts increased their lead with Goodwillie heading home another inviting cross from Conway. And the pair combined again early in the second-half after Eremenko lost possession and Conway delivered for the diving Goodwillie to head his second.

Moments later it was 4-0 when Conway drove a 20-yard finish into the far corner after an enterprising break before Jamie Hamill then drilled over at the opposite end.

But substitute Silva pulled one back for the visitors from a great strike with twenty minutes remaining before Eremenko forced a decent save from Pernis. Pascali then nodded a Silva corner into the far corner with three minutes left but the contest was already long since over.

Dundee United: Pernis, Douglas, Kenneth, Watson, Severin, Conway (Daly 90), S. Robertson, D. Robertson (Armstrong 86), Swanson (Russell 73), Buaben, Goodwillie

subs (unused): Banks, van der Meulen, Allan, Shala

Goals: Severin (25), Goodwillie (38, 47), Conway (49)

Kilmarnock: Bell, Clancy, Hay, Fowler, O'Leary (Dayton 46), Bryson (Silva 46), Hamill, Kelly, Pascali, Eremenko, Gross (Agard 74)

subs (unused): Letheren, Berntsson, Fisher, Aubameyang

Goals: Silva (70), Pascali (87)

Ref: Winter

Att: 5,225

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco