Copyright dailyrecord
Kilmarnock picked up their first league win under Stuart Kettlewell, and climbed into the top half of the Premiership table in the process, thanks to a deserved 2-0 win away at Dundee United. After a slow start, the visitors very much looked the part at Tannadice with Bruce Anderson's fine opener on 26 minutes turning the game in their favour. The striker swept home after being teed up by David Watson. United weren't without their chances but Killie controlled much of the game after getting their noses in front and bagged themselves a second goal early in the second half. Skipper Robbie Deas met a Dom Thompson delivery at the back post with a fierce header that Yevhenii Kucherenko did well to claw away - but not before the ball had already crossed the line. The hosts squandered chances to get back into the contest - including a late penalty - while Killie were guilty of not adding to their lead but they saw the game out for a vital three points. Boss Stuart Kettlewell, who made it six consecutive wins against his counterpart Jim Goodwin, elected to make just the one change to the starting line-up from the League Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to St Mirren last week. Bruce Anderson was given the nod up front to partner Marcus Dackers, with top scorer Djenairo Daniels dropping to the bench. A slack clearance from Killie keeper Stryjek on 13 minutes almost led to the away side's undoing with Luca Stephenson sending Ivan Dolcek through, but a vital block from Lewis Mayo prevented any damage. Kettlewell insisted there would be no hangover at Tannadice after his side suffered late heartbreak in consecutive games last week - but there seemed to be little confidence on the ball from the visitors, aside from David Watson, during an uninspired opening 25 minutes. That all changed, though, with Anderson's composed finish beyond Kucherenko. The striker bagged his second goal in as many games after neat play in and around the box led to Watson teeing up the former Aberdeen man. He took a touch to compose himself before finding the bottom corner. That certainly signalled a change in momentum, although it was United who had the next chance - and they looked certain to level things up on 35 minutes when Ivan Dolcek's delivery to the back post was headed narrowly wide from close range by Vicko Sevelj. At the other end, Anderson tried to get the better of Kucherenko a second time with a fizzing half-volley from 20 yards that the keeper saved down to his right. Killie started brightly after the interval with Watson taking a neat touch to buy himself some space only to fire straight at the keeper, while Iurie Iovu prevented Anderson from tapping home a terrific Dackers ball across the face of goal. They made sure their dominance counted moments later when Dom Thompson's curling cross was met with a powerful header from Deas. Despite Kucherenko's best efforts as he clawed the ball away, Deas' effort was ruled to have cross the line and given Killie a crucial second goal. United threatened to get back into the game but were met by a sturdy Killie defence and an impressive Stryjek behind them. Zac Sapsford'd looping header bounced off the woodwork before the keeper was called into action to deny United from close range in a congested six-yard box. Substitute Nikolaj Moller was next to have a go but his header was straight at the Polish stopper. Killie had chances to put the game to bed, too, with Dackers firing wide and Brad Lyons stinging the palms of Kucherenko from distance when both were presented with acres of space by a dithering United defence. The keeper denied Lyons once more in the closing stages with a fine fingertip save to turn a curling strike over the bar. United were handed a glorious chance to mount a late comeback when Stryjek charged from goal and clattered into Stephenson. He turned from zero to hero, though, as he dived down to his right to turn Sapsford's effort out for a corner and seal the victory.
