Dundee United 2, St Johnstone 0: Tangerines take Tayside honours

Dundee United are clear leaders in the Premiership thanks to their deserved win over St Johnstone at Tannadice.

This rerun of last May’s Scottish Cup final produced another 2-0 scoreline but this time it was United who were victorious by a couple of goals.

Chris Erskine sent them on their way on 23 minutes after being played in by Nadir Ciftci.

The former Partick Thistle man drilled his low shot beyond visitors’ keeper Alan Mannus.

Ciftci was also involved in the second one on 72 minutes, playing the ball wide to Keith Watson, who cut it back from the right to Paul Paton.

The Northern Irish international’s left-foot shot clipped the inside of the post and then spun into the back of the net to put the game beyond the Perth men.

The result leaves United two points ahead of second-placed Hamilton Accies, who thumped Motherwell 4-0 at Fir Park, and three clear of third-placed Inverness Caley Thistle, who lost 3-2 at Aberdeen.

Next up for Jackie McNamara’s men is Friday night’s trip to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock and if they can win that one then they will go into the weekend a fabulous five points clear at the top of the table.