Kilmarnock 2-0 Dundee United

• Dundee United lose six-game unbeaten run

• Kilmarnock win fourth straight home league game

• The Ayrshire side move into third place

• Dundee United remain top ahead of Hamilton

Two goals in three minutes gave Kilmarnock a deserved win that ended the six-game unbeaten run of Scottish Premiership leaders Dundee United.

The Ayrshire side had the better of the first half against lacklustre visitors, who started - and finished - the night two points clear of Hamilton.

But Kilmarnock had to wait until the 63rd minute for the opener, Alexei Eremenko setting up Tope Obadeyi.

That clever finish was followed by a more conventional Mark Connolly header.

United failed to threaten a comeback that would have extended their winning run over Kilmarnock, who move above Inverness and reigning champions Celtic into third spot, to six games.

Visiting manager Jackie McNamara had said this week that, while he hoped his side could provide a challenge at the top, it was too early to label them as potential title contenders.

His caution was justified as the Terrors struggled to come to terms with lively opponents looking much more comfortable on the artificial surface installed this summer.

Following his fine performance against Partick Thistle, Finnish playmaker Eremenko was the architect again as Kilmarnock whipped the ball around a rain-soaked pitch.

Conor Brennan replaced the injured Craig Samson to make his Kilmarnock debut

United struggled to cope and Josh Magennis forced one near-post save from Radoslaw Cierzniak, before the Polish goalkeeper palmed a downward header clear.

A volley from Eremenko flew wide and another by Obadeyi should have hit the target rather than flying over from eight yards.

It took United 25 minutes to threaten, when Nadir Ciftci headed wide, but they began to impress themselves in the exchanges that followed.

Stuart Armstong had an effort blocked by Craig Samson at point-blank range. And, although the United man appeared to come off worse as the two collided, it was the home goalkeeper who had to be replaced at half-time with a suspected fractured toe.

But before the half ended, the visitors had a lucky break when Magennis outmuscled Callum Morris to reach Eremenko's ball over the top and the forward's chip over the advancing Cierzniak bounced in front of the unguarded goal but kissed the top of the bar.

Kilmarnock faded after the restart but United were unable to test Conor Brennan, the Northern Ireland Under-21 goalkeeper making his debut from the bench after leaving Leicester City in the summer.

However, the home side burst back into life when Eremenko flipped the ball neatly over Jaroslaw Fojut's sliding challenge and curled a low cross into the path of Obadeyi, who nutmegged his marker before jabbing past Cierzniak.

It was Eremenko who also supplied the delivery for the second, Connolly holding off Fojut to head home the Finn's corner.

United substitute Gary Mackay-Steven sent one effort over while Chris Erskine had a shot beaten away by Brennan.

However, it was Kilmarnock who came closest to adding to the scoring with Robbie Muirhead's wicked drive being turned over by Cierzniak.

Stuart Armstong and Craig Samson clashed before half-time, leaving the goalkeeper with a broken toe

Tope Obadeyi's goal was his fourth of the season

Mark Connolly headed Kilmarnock's second goal following a corner

Kilmarnock were firmly in control after Mark Connolly's headed goal