Dundee United returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion with this 3-0 victory over Raith Rovers.
The Tangerines took the lead right at the end of normal time in the first half courtesy of Thomas Mikkelsen. They then made it two shortly after the break through Tony Andreu with Mikkelsen then adding his second of the evening.
The result was another big blow for Raith who have now gone 13 games without a win while United have closed the gap on Hibs – who could only draw at home earlier in the day against Ayr – to six points.
Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon made one change from the side that drew with Dunfermline last week with Simon Murray coming in for Willo Flood who was ill while there was a place on the bench for new signing Alex Nicholls.
Rovers manager Gary Locke made two changes from the team that was beaten by Dumbarton at Stark’s Park last Saturday with Iain Davidson and Declan McManus coming in for Ryan Hardie and Chris Johnston.
The first quarter of the game passed without incident with both sides struggling to establish any fluency in their play.
United finally fashioned a half chance in the 23rd minute when Blair Spittal played a great ball into Murray in space in the Raith box but Kyle Benedictus was on hand to snuff out the danger.
Rovers were forced to make a change in the 29th minute when keeper Kevin Cuthbert had to come off because of injury and he was replaced by Conor Brennan.
The half seemed certain to end goalless but the home side took the lead in the 45th minute.
United were awarded a free-kick on the right corner of the Raith penalty area with Scott Fraser striking a fierce effort that forced Brennan to make an acrobatic save but Paul Dixon was the first to react to cross the ball back in from the left with Mikkelsen on hand to score his first goal for the club with a front-post header.
Just three minutes after the restart, United doubled their advantage.
Dixon rampaged down the left before sending a cross into the Raith box with the ball breaking off a defender towards Andreu who took a touch before superbly volleying home past Brennan from 12 yards.
United tails were up and they made it three in the 53rd minute. Murray hit a deep cross in from the left with Mikkelsen sending a header back across goal from six yards and into the net.
Nicholls came on for Mikkelsen in the 77th minute and the on-loan Barnet player should have scored with his first touch in a United shirt when he was played in by Murray but his shot clipped the outside of Brennan’s right-hand post.
For full report, reaction and analysis, see Monday’s Courier.
