Soaked Killie keep on sliding

IT WAS the best of times, it was the worst of times. For United and Kilmarnock, respectively, that is.

KILMARNOCK 1
Wales 83

DUNDEE UTD 2
Robson 30; Conway 66

Craig Levein's men remained in third place with this win and, while no-one would mistake their well-drilled unit for the more expansive approach of, say, Barcelona, their quest for a UEFA Cup slot remains on track.

Jim Jefferies was not so happy, however. His side are on a seemingly unstoppable downward spiral, with only one victory from their last 13 outings. Second from bottom, should Gretna cut the current nine-point gap between the sides to six then Jefferies and his players will have good reason to worry.

With their irascible fan base lending less support than Jeremy Paxman's underpants, they will need to dig deep if they are to get themselves out of this hole.

Winter break, anyone? With managers asking footballers to play in weather they wouldn't send their dogs out in, it was remarkable that there was any entertainment on offer at all. However, on a sodden, rutted surface, Kilmarnock tried, initially at least, to play a passing game. A direct approach may have brought more dividends under the circumstances but their aesthetic approach is to be commended.

As for United, they didn't get where they are today by fretting about the beautiful game and their place in it. They started this match with a point and seemed determined they would leave with no less than that, deploying Noel Hunt as their lone striker and regularly keeping eight or nine men behind the ball.

Killie's cause wasn't helped when the Moroccan playmaker, Mehdi Taouil, pulled up during the warm-up and had to replaced in the starting line-up by Allan Johnston.

The early exchanges were tentative, to say the least. However, just when it seemed that a set play would be the only way either side would score, United took the lead with a splendid goal from open play. The selfless Hunt was the architect, playing the ball into space for Robson on the right-hand side of the penalty area. He was marked by Frazer Wright but conned the defender into thinking he would cut inside on to his favoured left foot and then fired home at the near post with his right.

United were undoubtedly creating the better openings. When Robson's through ball left Hunt one-on-one with Combe, the goalkeeper sprinted from his line so quickly that when the striker took the ball round him, the angle he was left with was too acute for a shot.

Combe excelled himself again on the half-time whistle, pushing Sean Dillon's awkward downward header from Craig Conway's corner over his bar.

Jefferies had clearly seen enough, dispensing with the services of the anonymous Johnston and Paul Di Giacomo and introducing Willie Gibson and Gary Wales in their place.

Lacking the ability of the suspended Collin Nish to hold the ball up, however, nothing seemed to stick up front for the Ayrshire club and that made life considerably easier for United. As did the dilatory defending which led to their decisive second goal. Robson's cross from the right should have been collected by either Combe or Martyn Corrigan, with the former the favourite to gather it. Unfortunately, a lack of communication between the pair saw neither man attack the ball and Conway was so surprised by that turn of events that he almost missed with his free header.

"These things happen and people make mistakes," said Combe. "However, when I shout for the ball I expect my defender to do everything in their power to stop the other team's players, not take their own goalkeeper out. Instead, I got a forearm smash as I prepared to jump for what would have been an easy catch."

Killie battled back but Lukasz Zaluska was largely untroubled until eight minutes from time when David Fernandez rolled the ball into Wales' path and the striker drilled a low shot home from 15 yards. Wright saw a header from Garry Hay's corner shave the outside of Zaluska's near post in stoppage time but United held out for all three points. The chorus of boos which greeted the home team at time-up suggested the victory was merited.