Terrors enter Euro zone

Dundee United moved into fourth place in the table with a comfortable 3-0 victory against Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Tannadice.

Former Caley midfielder John Rankin drove them in front early on before Scott Robertson headed another seven minutes into the second-half. Johnny Russell then added a superb solo goal with twelve minutes remaining.

Goalscorer Robertson earlier headed over at the far post and Shane Sutherland proved wayward in reply before the hosts went ahead on the quarter-hour. Rankin chested down a weak clearance from goalkeeper Ryan Esson and advanced before lashing a superb 23-yard finish into the top corner.

Tangerines keeper Dusan Pernis soon denied Billy McKay with his legs and Gregory Tade was in turn wide from distance, while Willo Flood and Rankin were similarly off-target at the opposite end before Jon Daly glanced behind from Paul Dixon's cross.

Daly then set-up Russell to have an angled effort only kept out by the fingertips of Esson before the hosts doubled their lead when Flood's 52nd minute free-kick was superbly met by the leap of Daly and his header back across was guided into the corner by the stooping Robertson.

Nick Ross tried in vain to get on the end of a free-kick as the visitors attempted a response, while Roman Golobart appeared to use an arm in order to block a Russell header. Daly also hooked over after a handling error from Esson.

Caley were much in need of inspiration and Sutherland, Golobart and McKay were each wide of the mark before Pernis saved from both Greg Tansey and substitute Claude Gkakpa.

However, Russell was still to apply the crowning glory towards another win as he latched onto Daly's pass inside the area and squeezed effortlessly between a couple of opponents before prodding a neat left-footed finish past Esson and into the corner.

Dundee United: Pernis, Neilson, Dillon, Gunning, Dixon, Flood, Robertson, Rankin, Mackay-Steven (Armstrong 77), Daly (Lacny 80), Russell (Ryan 80)

subs (unused): Banks, Kenneth, Douglas, Dow

Goals: Rankin (15), Robertson (52), Russell (78)

Inverness CT: Esson, Tokely, Golobart, Gillet, Meekings, Tansey, Ross (Gnakpa 66), Foran, Tade, Sutherland, McKay (Tudur-Jones 76)

subs (unused): Tuffey, Proctor, Shinnie, Williams, Winnall

Ref: Muir

Att: 5,994

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