Kevin McHattie's 88th-minute winner earns Kilmarnock first league win of seasonKilmarnock celebrated their first win of the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign on Saturday as they left it late to defeat Dundee United 2-1 at Tannadice and move off the foot of the table.Gary Locke's side triumphed thanks to Kevin McHattie's 88th-minute winner which gave them three precious points after Billy McKay's second-half penalty for United had cancelled out Kallum Higginbotham's 44th-minute opener from the spot for the visitors.It meant Jackie McNamara's United side suffered a fourth straight league defeat to leave them second bottom of the standings.There was a minute's silence prior to kick-off in memory of former United forward Ralph Milne, who died last Sunday at the age of 54.The home team gave debuts to on-loan Reading midfielder Aaron Kuhl and on-loan Fulham striker Adam Taggart.United enjoyed a lively start and as early as the first minute Taggart caught a glimpse of goal but shot high over the bar from 20 yards.Soon after, Blair Spittal crossed for McKay but he saw his left-footed shot saved by Killie goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.Kilmarnock weathered the early storm and on 35 minutes put together a decent move which saw Craig Slater and Darryl Westlake set up Josh Magennis, only for his shot on the turn to be blocked by a joint effort from Mark Durnan and Callum Morris.Shortly after, United's Aaron Kuhl saw his free-kick from the edge of the penalty area hit the side-netting after Jamie Hamill had fouled Scott Fraser.United stepped up the pressure towards the break and Fraser released Ryan McGowan, whose shot from inside the box sailed over the bar.However, Kimarnock went ahead on 44 minutes.Greg Kiltie's cross from the left was aimed for Rory McKenzie and United captain Sean Dillon was rash as he stuck his leg out.McKenzie hit the ground and referee Brian Colvin had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, before Higginbotham stepped up to send home goalkeeper Luis Zwick the wrong way as the visitors went 1-0 up.United began the second half on the front foot as McKay fed Ryan Dow but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.At the other end, Higginbotham played in Kiltie whose left-footed shot was wild and sailed well wide of the target.On the hour mark, Fraser almost levelled when he unleashed a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area, only for it to skid just past MacDonald's far post.But on 66 minutes United equalised from the penalty spot when McKay slotted home after Lee Ashcroft had handled Spittal's shot.With 10 minutes left, McKay almost won it for United with a neat back-heel from Dow's cross, but MacDonald foiled him with a reflex save.Then, two minutes later, substitute Dark Bodul missed a great chance for the winner by slicing his close-range effort well wide.And, on 83 minutes, MacDonald came to the rescue again for Killie when he defied Dow at point-blank range.However, McHattie was the hero for the Ayrshire side right at the end as he picked up a loose ball to fire a 30-yard low shot into the net past a helpless ZwickSource : PA
Source: PA