A double strike from fit-again striker Noel Hunt allowed Dundee United to come from behind and secure the points against Inverness in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

The forward missed last week's loss at Hibernian with a hamstring injury, but his brace today allowed the hosts to claim their fourth home win on the trot.

Barry Wilson had opened the scoring for Caley in the 15th minute before Hunt struck either side of the interval, while David Robertson ensured the win for United in the 78th minute.

Craig Dargo missed a late penalty which would have given them a point and the result means Charlie Christie's men have now gone seven league games without a win.

United boss Craig Levein brought Hunt back into the starting line-up in place of youngster David Goodwillie, in the only change to the side.

The visitors were still without the injured Stuart Golabek, as well as midfielder Richard Hart and Liam Keogh, while Darren Dods was suspended.

Defender Stuart McCaffrey came into the side and took over the captain's armband in the absence of Golabek and Dods.

John Rankin also replaced Russell Duncan in the side after Jags' defeat to Motherwell last week.

United dominated the early exchanges and spurned two chances to take an early lead.

Only a superb point-blank save from visitors goalkeeper Mark Brown kept the scoreline level in the ninth minute when he parried a powerful header from Hunt a few yards out after Stuart Duff's cross.

And United winger Craig Conway headed narrowly past from close range in the 11th minute after Barry Robson swung a ball in from the right.

But the visitors went ahead against the run inn 15 minutes after Collin Samuel hauled down Barry Wilson on the edge of the United box.

Wilson himself got up to send a curling shot into the corner of United keeper Derek Stillie's goal.

But United were doing all the pressing and pulled themselves level in the 22nd minute when Conway swung in a cross and Hunt headed home from close range.

They almost went ahead in the 38th minute when Robson sent in a left-footed free-kick from 25 yards which sailed narrowly over Brown's top right-hand coner.

But the visitors almost went ahead again five minutes from the break when an innocuous John Rankin free-kick was spilled by Stillie, but the keeper recovered well to parry Graham Bayne's effort as the striker pounced on the loose ball.

The visitors came close to netting again three minutes after the restart when Rankin sent a free-kick in from the left which almost deceived Brown at the far post.

A minute later, Rankin sent Wilson clear on goal, but the midfielder delayed allowing the United defence to fall back and clear the danger.

Charlie Christie's side had seized the initiative in the second period and threatened again in 53 minutes when Dargo worked his way into the box and laid it back for Graham Bayne who fired wide.

But the hosts took the lead when Hunt grabbed his second of the afternoon in the 64th minute.

Robson's corner from the right was helped on by Robertson and Hunt was on hand to ram the ball home from close range.

United's confidence was surging after the goal and they went close again five minutes later with a 25-yard shot from Mark Kerr which was well saved by Brown.

Hunt might have claimed a hat-trick in the the 74th minute when he headed a Robson header narrowly wide.

But the striker turned provider in the 78th minute when he drove into the left side of the Jags box and cut back for Robertson to finish from close range.

The visitors passed up a golden chance to level five minutes from the end when ref Stuart Dougal awarded a soft penalty for Duff's foul onisitors sub Dennis Wyness, but Dargo skied the spot-kick well over.

Teams:

Dundee Utd Stillie, Duff, Mair, Archibald, Kalvenes, Conway,Kerr, Robertson, Robson, Samuel (Cameron 63),Hunt (Goodwillie 84).

Subs Not Used: McLean, McCracken, Robb, Kenneth, Smith.

Booked: Samuel, Mair, Robson.

Goals: Hunt 22, 65, Robertson 78.

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely, McCaffrey, Munro, Hastings,Wilson (Wyness 77), Black, McBain, Rankin, Dargo, Bayne.

Subs Not Used: Fraser, Morgan, Duncan, Soane, Sutherland,

McAllister.

Booked: McBain, Rankin, Hastings, McCaffrey.

Goals: Wilson 15.

Att: 5,294

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).