Ross County hit four as Dundee United fall further behind
- Published
Yan Dhanda drills Ross County into a 2-0 lead in Dingwall
Dundee United fell four points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership after being outplayed at relegation rivals Ross County.
A calamitous mix-up gifted Eamonn Brophy the opening goal and Yan Dhanda cracked in a second on 14 minutes.
County also struck the woodwork twice and had an effort disallowed before Jordan White nodded in the third.
Star of the show Brophy then lashed in the best of the bunch to complete the rout in Dingwall.
United have now lost five league games in a row, while County, who nudge up to 10th spot on goal difference, have taken seven points from their last three home games.
The visitors gave goalkeeper Jack Newman a first start after Mark Birighitti's costly error in last weekend's loss to St Johnstone.
The 21-year-old was at fault for Brophy's early breakthrough, but he wasn't the only one.
Newman came haring out of his area to clear but Charlie Mulgrew ignored him and rattled the ball against team-mate Ryan Edwards. The angle was tight as Brophy took aim at the open goal and Mulgrew's misery was compounded as he got the final touch with his lunging bid to block.
Brophy then clattered the post with a powerful shot on the turn before playing a big part in the second goal.
Mulgrew was brushed aside by White, who sent Brophy running purposefully into the penalty box before laying off for Dhanda to slam in a low strike.
County hit the frame of the goal again when Jack Baldwin threw himself at a nod across goal from White at a corner and Craig Sibbald managed to hack the ball away on the line.
United's only effort of note before the interval came when Steven Fletcher flicked on a Sibbald shot, although Ross Laidlaw saved comfortably. That was about it for Liam Fox's side.
Ryan Edwards knocked the ball inches wide of his own goal at the start of the second half before Newman made an excellent save to push over a smart strike from Gwion Edwards.
The County pressure continued and a very long VAR check ruled against a White header that clipped team-mate Nohan Kenneh standing on the goal-line.
White was not be denied though, steering in a fizzing cross from Brophy, with the United defence in disarray.
Those bedraggled defenders were caught napping again when Brophy charged after a long ball over the top to thunder a rising shot beyond Newman.
A splendid day for the home supporters got even better in the closing minutes as news of a Motherwell equaliser at Rugby Park filtered through, lifting Malky Mackay's men above Kilmarnock.
Player of the match - Eamonn Brophy
Two goals, two assists - who else?
Brophy leads a one-sided battering - analysis
The County forward, on loan from St Mirren, turned in a hugely impressive display, dovetailing nicely with White as they ran United ragged.
Sharper than a sherbet lemon, the 26-year-old grew in confidence after his early gift and capped a great afternoon by lashing in a terrific second. His delivery for White's goal was a thing of beauty too.
Kenneh and Victor Loturi kept an iron grip on central midfield, allowing the forwards to do their thing.
United were simply abject, with the experienced pair of Mulgrew and Edwards extremely shaky at the back. Heads went down at 2-0 although there were 75 minutes remaining and that is a worrying sign for under pressure boss Liam Fox.
'County fighting for each other'
Ross County manager Malky Mackay: "I'm delighted with the way we played and the confidence that will bring. It's an eight-goal swing on United and we could have had a few more.
"I've known Eamonn Brophy since the Scotland under-21s and he knows where the goal is. He's a clever player too. You saw that with his link up play.
"The group are fighting for each other, which I think everyone can see."
Dundee United head coach Liam Fox: "In any game of football, if you don't turn up, don't compete, don't run about, you'll run the risk of a result like that.
"Confidence is always an issue on runs like this. We never looked like we were going to get ourselves back in the game.
"Everyone is hugely disappointed. We'll go away and have a think, look at ourselves, players, staff. Everybody. We'll see where we are in the next couple of days."
Watch Fox's last interview as Dundee Utd head coach
What next?
Ross County have another home game to look forward to, with Motherwell heading north next Saturday (15:00 GMT). Dundee United host Aberdeen at the same time.