Kilmarnock 0
Dundee Utd 5
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

United went into this match with Kilmarnock on the back of a positive display against Celtic at Tannadice in their last league match, although still trailed the Glasgow club by five points. The only change from that team was Iain Phillip in for Derek Stark, as United faced a Rugby Park side who were on a downer having been knocked out of the cup earlier in the week after three matches against Partick Thistle, and were rooted at the bottom of the Premier Division. Richard Gough made the trip through to Ayrshire, rushing through from Dundee after attending his own wedding that morning!

It took on only ten minutes for United to get ahead in this away fixture. The goal was simple but effective. Eamonn Bannon made his way down the left and his cross was met at the fat post by John Holt, whose firm header gave the keeper no chance. Bannon himself brought out a save in Wilson five minutes later, and then in the 18th minute United scored a second. Having waited nearly a year for his goal, John Holt only had to wait seven minutes for his next one! Paul Sturrock sent Bannon away again and his ball in was finished off by the midfielder for his second of the match. The Killie keeper was in almost constant action, saving a header from Kirkwood, then saved at the feet of Kirkwood, before blocking a Sturrock snap shot. Billy Muir then shot wide for Kilmarnock.

Ten minutes into the second half, John Holt completed an unexpected yet memorable hat-trick, finishing off yet another Bannon cross. It was Eamonn Bannon himself that scored United's fourth, thrashing home two minutes later. Twelve minutes from time, Sturrock collected a long throw out from McAlpine and laid the ball onto to Davie Dodds, who ran alone with great confidence to finish past Wilson. A stylish attacking display was backed up by a commanding defensive performance by Paul Hegarty. With Aberdeen having hammered Motherwell in midweek, the Pittodrie side jumped to the top of the league table with an impressive win over Celtic at Parkhead. But this now meant United were a point closer to the summit, with a game in hand to play over their Northern rivals - but Celtic also still had that game advantage, just one point from the top.