Scottish roundup: Blair Spittal inspires Dundee United to rout of Killie
Two goals from Blair Spittal inspired Dundee United to only their third win of the season by thrashing Kilmarnock 5-1 at Tannadice.
The impressive teenage midfielder scored two first-half goals and also assisted in goals for the substitute Mark Durnan and John Rankin during a first-half spree of four goals for the home side. Sean Dillon added a fifth after the break before a Josh Magennis consolation header for the visitors.
The Rugby Park side remain 11 points clear of Mixu Paatelainen’s rooted team but having conceeded four goals or more for the fifth time this season, manager Gary Locke will face new questions over his future.
Liam Polworth passed up a late opportunity to break the deadlock as Inverness and Partick shared a 0-0 draw in their Premiership clash.
The home side were trialling a “pay what you can” initiative for the first time but few spectators would have gone away enthralled by the contest. .
Jackson Irvine and Brian Graham were on target as Ross County beat Motherwell 2-1 at Fir Park.
The Steelmen have now lost two matches back to back after last week’s 6-0 loss against Hearts.
Irvine showed composure to take a deep corner before shooting past Connor Ripley after 20 minutes and Graham sealed the points for the Highlanders with 21 minutes remaining when he finished after Motherwell’s defence failed to clear a Stewart Murdoch cross. Stephen Pearson scored a late consolation for Motherwell.
In the Championship, Hibernian leapfrogged Falkirk, and are now within two points of leaders Rangers, who visit Morton on Monday night, after a 3-1 victory against St Mirren at Easter Road.
Goals from Celtic loanee Liam Henderson’s free kick and a finish from John McGinn following good approach play by Jason Cummings put the home side two goals ahead before Stevie Mallan replied for the visitors before half time. Another Celtic loanee, Anthony Stokes added a late third goal to complete the scoring.
Falkirk could only manage a 1-1 draw at Livingston and are now four points behind the league leaders having played two games more.