Will Ferry scores for Dundee United against KilmarnockImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Will Ferry scored the pick of Dundee United's first-half goals

At a glance

  • Dundee United cruise to first Scottish Premiership victory of the season in unwell manager Goodwin's absence

  • Agyei, Sapsford (penalty), Ferry & Randall on target for visitors

  • Kilmarnock pointless after three league games

ByKheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park

A sensational first-half performance helped Dundee United to a resounding Scottish Premiership victory in manager Jim Goodwin's absence against pointless Kilmarnock.

A stunning strike from the edge of the area from full-back Will Ferry had United cruising to a three-goal lead at the break, following a contested Zac Sapsford penalty and a nice header from Emmanuel Agyei to open the scoring.

Kilmarnock's inability to keep goals out at one end was compounded by further frustration in front of goal as visiting goalkeeper Jack Walton made fine first-half stops to keep out a Joe Hugill shot and Mark O'Hara header.

When substitute Jesse Randall smashed in a wonderful Ferry cross late on it was no more than the visitors deserved as they won at Rugby Park in the Premiership for the first time in a a decade and secured a first league victory of the season in style.

Home boss Neil McCann gave defenders Cathal McCarthy and Jonathan Meir their debuts, but the German only last a half while McCarthy's central defensive partner Robbie Deas went off injured shortly after Agyei headed in Mehde Merghem's cross to put United ahead.

McCarthy was penalised for the visitors' penalty by referee Nick Walsh for what appeared to be a tug on a United jersey, with Sapsford claiming his fourth goal in nine games before Ferry's wonder strike rounded off a terrific first 45 for the Tangerines.

The second half struggled to match the quality or drama of the first, with Hugill missing a big chance for the home side just after the break before team-mate Michael Schonning-Larsen drew another fine save from the excellent Walton.

Max Stryjek pulled off a couple of good saves to keep the score down but was powerless to keep out Randall's effort for the visitors' fourth.

Kilmarnock analysis: McCann's side can't stop conceding

Three Premiership matches played, 13 goals conceded. That tells its own story for Kilmarnock, who found themselves three down at the break and facing an absolute mountain to climb for the second league game running.

They rallied after the interval but in truth things could not really have got much worse. Two half-time substitutions helped steady the ship but the damage had already been done.

It's too early in the season to be pushing the panic button but manager Neil McCann will know patience is a quality in short supply in modern football.

He needs to put some points on the board and quickly. Boos at both half-time and full-time will leave the manager in little doubt about how much work lies ahead.

Dundee Utd analysis: Visitors sparkle in the sun

United, overseen by assistant Lee Sharp after Goodwin's hospitalisation, were very good value for their first three points of the season.

They had created and spurned a barrowload of chances in their previous league games and felt unlucky only to have a single point on the board after two fixtures.

Everything they tried seemed to go in against Kilmarnock. They also had a goalkeeper in top form. But for Walton's fine early saves, this could have been a different story.

To score four and keep a team out at the other end is a scenario their hosts can only dream about currently. United will feel this result and performance was coming and it may just kickstart their season.

They had a dynamic front three of Merghem, Sapsford and Daniel Bennie which ran the Killie rearguard ragged.

And in full-back Ferry, they have a player who seems to go from strength to strength. They will do well to keep hold of him in the final week of the transfer window.

What they said

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: "I'm angry. I'm apologetic to the fans. We started the game fine then we concede a really poor goal from a set piece. Then the second one, just a bit maybe inexperience. The third one's a cracker. We started the second period well and lost a fourth goal.

"It's not a brilliant day at Rugby Park, to say the least. That's a sore one to take. Too many goals conceded. We have lost poor goals again. It does stunt us a wee bit in terms of how we want to play and need to adjust."

Dundee United assistant manager Lee Sharp: "Really pleasing. Probably one of the most pleasing things was the fact that we got a clean sheet. Defensively, we were excellent.

"To a man, we were excellent all over the park. Will [Ferry] was excellent. I don't know what he's doing cutting in on to his right foot and shooting from there. It's some hit. It's some goal. And his delivery for the fourth one's exceptional.

"[Manager Jim Goodwin] was delighted, he was delighted. He was over the moon for the team as well."

Player of the match

Number: 11 W. Ferry
Average rating 8.89
Number: 1 M. Stryjek
Average Rating: 4.81
Number: 37 C. Burke
Average Rating: 4.05
Number: 14 G. Stanger
Average Rating: 3.95
Number: 2 J. Brandon
Average Rating: 3.79
Number: 21 M. Schjønning-Larsen
Average Rating: 3.74
Number: 18 T. Lowery
Average Rating: 3.74
Number: 9 J. Hugill
Average Rating: 3.64
Number: 29 D. Daniëls
Average Rating: 3.58
Number: 4 C. McCarthy
Average Rating: 3.54
Number: 11 G. Kiltie
Average Rating: 3.52
Number: 5 M. O'Hara
Average Rating: 3.52
Number: 10 T. John-Jules
Average Rating: 3.39
Number: 19 J. Meier
Average Rating: 3.35
Number: 20 N. Cleșcenco
Average Rating: 3.27
Number: 49 B. Rice
Average Rating: 3.26
Number: 6 R. Deas
Average Rating: 3.25

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.