Dundee United win in style as Goodwin misses game due to hospital admission

Report as Dundee United win 4-0 at Kilmarnock; manager Jim Goodwin missed their first win of the season after being admitted to hospital; Killie are bottom of the table without a point

Dundee United produced a fine performance in the absence of hospitalised manager Jim Goodwin as they thrashed Kilmarnock 4-0 at Rugby Park.

Goodwin was admitted to hospital on Thursday and United said on Saturday morning the 44-year-old "continues to deal with an ongoing medical matter".

His players, under the guidance of assistant Lee Sharp, did him proud as a trio of first-half goals helped ease them to a first Scottish Premiership victory of the campaign.

United, who had not scored in their previous three games in all competitions, were three up by 41 minutes thanks to Emmanuel Agyei's opener, Zac Sapsford's penalty and a Will Ferry beauty.

Jesse Randall added a late fourth as Killie conceded for the 13th time in three top-flight matches to remain bottom of the table without a point.

It was a tough day for two new defenders added to Neil McCann's struggling back line.

Hull loanee Cathal McCarthy conceded a penalty and German full-back Jonathan Meier was replaced by Jamie Brandon at half-time.

Michael Forbes should have nodded United in front after just seven minutes from Sapsford's dinked cross.

Agyei, however, made no mistake five minutes later as Killie showed no capacity to shut down danger.

United worked a short corner to Mehdi Merghem who swiftly delivered to the near post where Agyei powered a header past Max Stryjek for his second goal for the club.

Kilmarnock's start went from bad to worse when centre-back Robbie Deas was forced off through injury and replaced by George Stanger after just 19 minutes.

United doubled their lead nine minutes before half-time from the penalty spot.

Referee Nick Walsh spotted an infringement from McCarthy as United took a corner and, after VAR backed up his decision, the new boy went in the book and Sapsford overcame a slip to slot in his fourth goal of the season.