Dundee United 3 Kilmarnock 2: Rankin seals victory in five-goal thriller

Dundee United sneaked a narrow win in a game that could have gone either way at Tannadice.

The home team started as they left off against St Mirren last weekend and deservedly took the lead when Gary Mackay-Steven cashed in on a slack Jackson Irvine back pass on 10 minutes.

The sides went into the break level though after Alexei Eremenko lashed the ball home from over 20 yards out. It was a sweet strike but the classy playmaker could well have been offside.

Killie were the stronger side after the re-start and deservedly took the lead when a Kris Boyd lob was helped over the line by Rory McKenzie on 63 minutes.

United’s resolve was tested and they hit back just two minutes later when Curtis Good nodded a Mackay-Steven corner in at the near post.

It was a 50-50 call at this point as to who would go on to win the game, and John Rankin made sure it was United when he lashed the ball high past Craig Samson from an acute angle in 71 minutes.Review how the match panned out in our new Match Centre. And reada full report and reaction from Jackie McNamara and Mackay-Steven in Monday’s Courier.