Casalinuovo tucked away a first half penalty at Rugby Park

Damian Casalinuovo scored twice as Dundee United punished a profligate Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The Argentine striker stroked Dundee United ahead from the penalty spot on 21 minutes after Garry Hay upended the tricky Jennison Myrie-Williams.

Casalinuovo then finished off a swift counter-attack with a tap-in early in the second half.

The home side spurned several good chances and found visiting goalkeeper Nicky Weaver in excellent form.

The former Manchester City custodian made a string of saves to deny Jamie Hamill, Kevin Kyle and Gavin Skelton, while United's well-drilled offside trap continually frustrated the home side.

Killie made a bright start and Weaver produced a good block from Hamill's angled drive in the 10th minute then foiled Kyle's volley from a similar position after the Tannadice side's offside trap had let them down.

Out of the blue, United took the lead after Hay, back in the side after missing the defeat by Celtic last week, tripped Myrie-Williams inside the penalty box.

Casalinuovo got the ball beyond keeper Mark Brown from the spot, despite his less-than-perfect execution.

United midfielder Morgaro Gomis then drew a fine save from Brown with a 25-yard drive, the Killie keeper diving to his left to turn the ball round the post.

Weaver dealt well with a Skelton volley that had power but was aimed too close to the keeper, who then made a brilliant point-blank save from Kyle's 12-yard volley two minutes from the interval.

Some hesitancy in the Killie box in the 52nd minute gave Casalinuovo the chance to double his tally but Brown turned the angled drive from 10 yards past the post and the home side survived the corner.

Home midfielder Craig Bryson did well to burrow his way into the penalty area but James Fowler drove the cut-back over the bar from 16 yards.

Casalinuovo sealed the points for the visitors when he grabbed his second on 57 minutes.

David Goodwillie's first-time pass sent Myrie-Williams racing into the Kilmarnock penalty area and, when he drew Brown and slipped the ball across the six-yard box, the big striker had the easiest of tasks in knocking the ball into the empty net.

Brown then had to make another fine save from Myrie-Williams as Killie left gaps at the back in pursuit of a lifeline.

Brown blocked Goodwillie's drive and Weaver parried Bryson's close-range effort before Kyle finally beat the offside trap but shot high and wide from 12 yards with only the keeper to beat.

Kilmarnock pressed for the goal that would have ensured an exciting finale but Conor Sammon's wild volley from eight yards summed up a frustrating day for the home side.

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies:
"It was a great game. Both teams were prepared to go at each other. That's as good as we've played at home this year. We played some great football.

"The difference with the two teams was they got their opportunities and took them and we had one or two more chances than they had and we just didn't put the ball in the net.

"I said to them at half time, 'Give me another 45 minutes like that and if there is any justice in the game you'll get something out of it.'

"It was just the goals that were lacking today. It was nothing to do with lack of effort or the way we were set out."

Dundee United manager Craig Levein:
"Both teams tried to pass the ball, there was plenty of chances at both ends and both keepers had fantastic games as well.

"I can't keep Nicky Weaver beyond December. He signed for us, when he could have got five times the money from other people, to put himself in the shop window. He's a fantastic keeper. I've worked with Antti Niemi and Craig Gordon and I put him in that sort of category.

"I saw the first signs last week against Rangers that we were starting to get players clicking and hitting form. I think you need 6-8 eight players every week to be in form and we are getting there.

"The boys are playing that well that I feel they deserve to start the game.

"I haven't seen (Kevin) Kyle for a while in the flesh and he looks as if he's in form. It would be good to see him in a Scotland jersey."

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