Dundee United manager Craig Levein revealed it was Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee who had provided the motivation for his side's 2-0 win at Pittodrie.

Levein admitted McGhee's claims that Dundee United's summer signings had not improved his side had fired up his players for the game.

McGhee had reportedly claimed the players brought in by Levein had maintained his side rather than strengthened it.

Goals from Damian Casalinuovo and Morgaro Gomis secured Dundee United a deserved win.

The Dons were made to pay for some poor finishing with Fraser Fyvie and Lee Miller both guilty of missing excellent chances before Argentinian striker Casalinuovo found the net for the visitors on the half-hour mark.

United midfielder Gomis doubled the lead five minutes later with a smart finish from the edge of the box

But after the win at a rainy Pittodrie, Levein said: "Mark McGhee had a go at the players earlier in the week about the quality and I love when that happens because it means I don't need to say anything.

"He has done his team talk for me. He did two team talks for this match, one for his team and one for mine. I'm really pleased and I need to thank him for that.

"You know what players are like, they won't say anything to you but I know they were disappointed.

"I think it is hard enough in this game when you talk about what is right for your team without worrying about everybody else's.

"I didn't mention what Mark had said in my team talk but I know the lads were talking about it.

"It does make things easier when you have 38 league games and cup ties and you always need to find something to give them a little extra boost which is not always possible every week as sometimes it becomes a grind."

Both sets of players put on an entertaining spectacle despite the torrential rain which made for tricky playing conditions.

Levein felt his side won the match because they adapted better to the conditions.

He added: "That is the worst I can remember in a long, long time. The conditions obviously played a large part in the match.

"Apart from two early mistakes I thought we coped better with the conditions and I think we won the game because of that.

"I thought we chose the better options which in the first half was to go longer and get as many balls in the box as we could.

"We got goals from it but we also had to defend solidly against some corners and free-kicks as well. I'm delighted to come away from here with the three points."

McGhee said he did not believe it was his words that had spurred the Arabs on to victory.

He said: "That was something that was rehashed from two years ago and I said that what I said then still applies but I don't think that changed today.

"I don't think me saying that had anything to do with them beating us. They beat us today because we didn't defend two set pieces well enough. I thought we were actually the better side for the rest of the game."

McGhee admitted his side were made to pay for missing two early chances when Fyvie and Miller failed to hit the target when they both looked certain to score.

He added: "It was the same as last week when we drew a game (against Hearts) that we should have won.

"Today we lost a game that we certainly should have been in and had a lead.

"I didn't really think we deserved to lose. I think Fraser got a wee bit excited as he was running through but he will learn from that.

"It is important he keeps getting himself into those sort of positions."