Dundee United couldn’t take advantage of ten-man Kilmarnock despite striker Billy McKay scoring for the third successive game in a 1-1 draw at Rugby Park.
Kris Boyd struck on his return for the home side inside five minutes but McKay equalised from the penalty spot after Stuart Findlay was sent-off midway through the opening half.
The bottom-of-the-table visitors had the worst possible start as top-flight record goalscorer Boyd slotted in Josh Magennis’ early cross to earn his side the lead.
Goalkeeper Michal Szromnik then twice came to the rescue to thwart Tope Obadeyi before the dismissed Findlay fouled Ryan McGowan and McKay calmly wrong-footed Jamie MacDonald from twelve-yards.
On loan striker McKay should really have had another when released through on goal but MacDonald came out to block, while Blair Spittal and latest signing Florent Sinama Pongolle also threatened.
Killie’s response witnessed Obadeyi once again calling Szromnik into action from the edge of the area before Spittal appeared to be dragged back inside the box after the break.
Defender Paul Dixon next struck wide and MacDonald twice denied Spittal as the numerically superior visitors continued to search for a vital second goal.
But it was their opponents going closest when midfielder Craig Slater surged forward and curled his shot against an upright, while United centre-back Mark Durnan’s miscued clearance fortunately dropped towards his own keeper.
Kilmarnock: MacDonald, O’Hara, Connolly, Balatoni, Findlay, Obadeyi (Kiltie 64), Slater, Hamill, Smith (McHattie 59), Boyd (Carrick 88), Magennis
subs (unused): Ridgers, Barbour, Robinson, Ashcroft
Goals: Boyd (4)
Dundee United: Szromnik, Dillon, Durnan, Gunning, Dixon, Souttar, Rankin, McGowan, Spittal (Erskine 81), Sinama-Pongolle (Connolly 77), McKay
subs (unused): Fraser, Spark, Donaldson, Zwick, Demel
Goals: McKay (pen 24)
Ref: J. Beaton
Att: 2,828
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