Alan Cochrane @ Rugby Park

A fast, free-flowing first half came to an end with Kilmarnock undeservedly a goal behind to a Casalinuovo penalty, after Myrie-Williams went down easily to a Garry Hay challenge inside the box. The second period brought no more luck for Killie than the first, with a second goal coming for the visitors just when it looked like an equaliser might be possible, and meant all the points were going back to Dundee.

With only 5 minutes gone, Killie themselves were denied a good penalty claim, when Kevin Kyle appeared to be manhandled away from a terrific cross from the right by Jamie Hamill. In fact, Killie dominated much of the first 45 minutes, with Hamill having a shot well blocked by the keeper, Taouil shooting wide, and Killie's movement generally giving United plenty to think about.

Kilmarnock were giving it all they had, typified by Mehdi Taouil trying to use his "weight" against Myrie-Williams, a catch-weight contest if ever there was one. But mid-way through the half, as Killie's domination seemed to be bearing fruit, Myrie-Williams went over Hay's leg, the referee pointed to the spot, and Casalinuovo scored low to Brown's right.

That certainly unsettled Killie, and Brown had to twice pull off decent saves to keep the home side in the game. Kilmarnock gradually fought their way back into the game, with Fernandez in particular being effective with his back to goal, and Bryson working hard from mid-field. Taouil had a great chip to Wright who shot over, and Nicky Weaver in the United goal (who seems destined for greater things) had a point blank stop from Kyle to retain that one goal lead for United at the break.

If the second half started with both teams about equal, it was Dundee United who began to turn the screw. Although Fowler shot over from a Bryson cut-back, the United defence marshalled by Webster gradually took control, and a second goal to Casalinuovo from a pass by Myrie-Williams after Fowler had played the winger on, settled the game. Before the end, Weaver made another terrific stop, from Bryson this time, but Brown in the Kilmarnock goal also had good saves from Myrie-Williams and Goodwillie.

Jim Jefferies couldn't fault his players, saying that they had played better than in the victory over St Johnstone, in fact he thought that the first half especially was as well as we've played. But it's goals that count. They're practising shooting plenty at training, and the likes of Sammon is scoring for fun, but it's not happening at the moment on the big stage.

Kilmarnock: Brown, Hay (Flannigan), Fowler, Wright, Bryson, Taouil, Skelton, O'Leary, Kyle, Fernandez (Burchill), Hamill (Sammon)

Dundee United: Weaver, Webster, Conway, Myrie-Williams (Swanson), Buaben, Gomis, Kenneth, Kovacevic, Casalinuovo (Cadamarteri), Dixon, Goodwillie (Dillon)

Referee: Steve O'Reilly