Goals from Craig Dargo and Kevin McGowne gave an impressive Kilmarnock side a comfortable 2-0 victory over Dundee United.

The Tannadice men had not beaten their Ayrshire opponents since November 1997 and there was no danger of that record being broken as Kilmarnock bossed the game almost from start to finish.

A late pitch inspection saw the game go ahead but it was Kilmarnock who coped better with the atrocious conditions - adjusting their tactics to suit and never looking in any danger from a struggling United side.

Indeed, it took only three minutes for the visitors to race into the lead after a mistake by former Kilmarnock player Jim Lauchlan.

The United defender miskicked a clearance allowing the ball to be threaded through to Craig Dargo, who brushed off the attention of Stephen Wright before slotting the ball past Paul Gallacher in the United goal from 10 yards out.

It was a great start for the Rugby Park men and, moments later, Jesus Sanjuan hit the bar from an Ally Mitchell corner.

Kilmarnock looked like doubling their lead with their quick counter-attacks and Kris Boyd came close with a shot from 20 yards which Gallacher did well to save at his right-hand post.

The home side were struggling to come to terms with the poor conditions - often bogged down in the mud while their opponents played the more direct and profitable football.

United's first effort on goal came in the 22nd minute when midfielder Charlie Miller's shot from 18 yards went well wide of the target to the dismay of the disgruntled home fans.

At the other end, Dargo got on the end of a McGowne flick and headed onto the top of the net from only six yards out.

In the 37th minute, Kilmarnock striker Tommy Johnson had a snap-shot from the edge of the box but the ex-Celtic player's effort went wide of Gallacher's post.

The fierce wind at the start of the second half made conditions even more difficult for the players but United began battling their way back into the game.

The home side tried to force the pace in the opening minutes but the visitors were always composed and disciplined with the experienced McGowne leading by example.

In the 63rd minute Gallacher held off a good save from a Johnson shot after Mitchell had set the striker up 16 yards from goal.

However two minutes later the visitors doubled their lead with a simple goal.

James Fowler floated a high cross in from the right and McGowne out-jumped goalkeeper Gallacher to head into an empty net from six yards out.

United continued to battle but there was no way back and in the end Kilmarnock ran out comfortable winners.

Teams:

Dundee Utd: Gallacher, McCunnie, Wright, Lauchlan, Fullarton, Easton, Hannah, Miller (McConalogue 71), McIntyre (Paterson 63), Lilley, Thompson (Winters 59).

Subs Not Used: Jarbie, Aljofree.

Booked: Thompson.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Canero, Hessey, McGowne, Hay, Fowler, Mitchell, Sanjuan, Johnson, Dargo, Boyd (McLaren 79).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Innes, Canning, McDonald.

Booked: Sanjuan.

Goals: Dargo 3, McGowne 65.

Att: 5,774

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).