Kilmarnock lift survival hopes with win over Dundee United as Livingston go down

Kilmarnock took a huge step forward in their battle to avoid relegation after goals from Robbie Deas, Findlay Curtis and Joe Hugill gave them a dominant 3-0 win over Dundee United at BBSP Rugby Park.

Killie had gone three games without a win but they were on top from the off and took a first-half lead through a Deas volley.

Curtis then slotted home in front of watching Scotland boss Steve Clarke, before Hugill capitalised on some calamitous United defending to make it 3-0.

The result means Livingston are relegated back to the Championship, while Kilmarnock leapfrogged St Mirren to move out of the relegation play-off position.

Killie manager Neil McCann made one change to the side who lost to Aberdeen last time out, with Bruce Anderson in for the injured Jamie Brandon, while Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin made three alterations to the team who won the derby weekend, bringing in Sam Cleall-Harding, Panutche Camara and Dario Naamo.

It was the hosts who started on top and Anderson was close to putting them ahead in the sixth minute when he rose highest to meet a Greg Kiltie cross but his effort was tipped over the bar by United goalkeeper David Richards.

Dundee United’s early chances both fell to Zach Sapsford but his first close-range attempt was straight at Max Stryjek, though the Killie keeper did well to tip his second curling effort wide of the far post.

It had been an open start to the game and it was Richards who was called into action again in the 17th minute as he saved sharply as Kiltie steered Hugill’s scuffed shot towards goal.

Richards had made a couple of saves but he was caught in no man’s land moments later as the hosts took the lead, with Kiltie’s inswinging corner evading the United stopper, allowing the unmarked Deas to acrobatically stab in from inside the six-yard box.

Aaron Tshibola then had two efforts from long range as Killie looked to double their advantage but Richards tipped over the first shot and palmed away the second.

United had created little but Sapsford could have levelled in the 39th minute, though he blasted wastefully over after good work down the left wing by Neil Farrugia as the first half drew to a close.

Kilmarnock had been the better side in the first half and they came flying out of the traps in the second, doubling their advantage in the 51st minute with the simplest of goals.

Curtis had been used as a right-back in the first half but a change of system saw him more advanced and he showed great pace to run onto a simple long ball over the top before showing brilliant composure to coolly slot in off the far post to make it 2-0.

It was soon 3-0 just after the hour mark and it was a moment to forget for young Dundee United defender Cleall-Harding as he left his back pass short, allowing Hugill to nip in flick past Richards to seal the win for Killie.

United came close through Craig Sibbald and Vicko Sevelj, while Hugill dragged wide a chance for his second, as the match petered out with the home side seeing out the game comfortably to seal a precious three points.