Rugby Park saw yet another poor defensive performance from Kilmarnock as they lost another four goals taking their total to 13 against in three league games.

Kilmarnock came into this game off the back of a derby cup win against Ayrshire rivals Ayr United in the cup but had shipped nine goals in their opening two league games which saw them bottom of the league before a ball was kicked.

Dundee United had lost their last three in all competitions including a Dundee derby last weekend as they sat just one place and one point above Kilmarnock coming into this one.

Killie made four changes to their derby victory as Cathal McCarthey, Mark O’Hara, Jonathan Meier and Nicky Clescenco replaced Jamie Brandon, George Stanger, Aaron Tshibola and Erik Ring. McCarthy and Meier were making their debuts for the hosts today.

United also made four changes to their derby defeat as Vicko Sevelj, Dylan Tait, Jesse Randall and Idjessi Metsoko were replaced by Zac Sapsford, Emmanuel Agyei, Joshua Rawlins and Daniel Bennie.

The first real chance of the game came for Kilmarnock from a long ball that was flicked on by Greg Kiltie into the path of Joe Hugill who struck on the volley from around 25 yards but it proved to be an easy stop for United keeper Jack Walton.

United hit back a few minutes with a cross into the box from Zac Sapsford that was met at the back post from about a yard out as Meier lost his man but Michael Forbes somehow put his header over the bar.

Dundee United took the lead after 13 minutes as a corner was floated in by Mehdi Merghem near the front post and knocked in by the head of Emmanuel Agyei who was unmarked just six yards out as Killie’s woeful defensive run continued.

United continued to pile on pressure as Daniel Binnie won another header at the back post but it went wide and with Killie down to 10 men at the time as Robbie Deas had gone off injured and George Stanger came on to replace him.

Killie finally found themselves with an attempt on goal around the half hour mark as Mark O’Hara flicked a deep cross towards the far post and Walton was at full stretch to tip the ball past the post, the corner that came from it was well overhit and not an issue for United.

A penalty was awarded to Dundee United as Cathal McCarthy was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of Michael Forbes in the box, Sapsford took the penalty and slipped but managed to strike it past Max Stryek to put United two up.

That was followed by a beautiful strike from Will Ferry as he cut in on his right foot and curled one from about 25 yards into the top corner leaving Stryek with no chance at all as United were starting to make it look embarrassing for Killie.

Killie tried to get themselves back into the game as Michael Schjonning-Larsen had a couple of crosses that led to nothing as the half time whistle was blown there were boos all round Rugby Park as that’s now 12 goals conceded in two and a half matches.

A good start to the second half from Killie as substitute Djenaro Daniels’ low cut back was hit by Hugill but he got it all wrong and it went well over the bar.

United settled into the second half as Abdoulaye Yoro hit a shot on the spin after good work on the right hand side but it was a routine save for Stryek.

Mehdi Merghem was causing Killie troubles again and his pass inside found Binnie who took a good touch and hit a powerful strike but again it was straight at Stryek.

Kilmarnock then went straight up the park and Schjonning-Larsen hit a similar shot to Binnie but again Walton tipped it away.

Merghem was at it again but this time he went for it himself, his curling shot looked to be mirroring Ferry’s from the first half but this one drifted just wide.

As we entered the last 20 minutes United again found themselves with a player unmarked inside the Kilmarnock penalty area as Sapsford had a header saved by Stryek.

Just moments later substitutes Lachlan Rose and Jesse Randall combined but Rose’s shot was again saved by Stryek who got his foot on the ball at a stretch.

United made it four with just over 10 minutes to go as Ferry’s cross found yet another teammate unmarked at the back post, this time it was Randall whose volley found the roof of the net from close range.

As the game came to an end Dundee United were deserved winners as an almost empty Rugby Park boos their team off the park, Killie need to fix this schoolboy defending or they could have a record- breakingly bad season.

Kilmarnock

Max Stryek, Cathal McCarthy, Mark O’Hara (Bailey Rice 63’), Robbie Deas (George Stanger 17’), Joe Hugill, Tyreese John-Jules (Cole Burke 64’), Greg Kiltie, Tom Lowery, Jonathan Meier (Jamie Brandon 46’), Nicky Clescenco (Djenairo Daniels 46’), Michael Schjonning-Larsen.

Dundee United

Jack Walton, Bert Esselink, Mehdi Merghem (Jesse Randall 63’), Panutche Camera, Zac Sapsford (Neil Farrugia 74’), Will Ferry, Emmanuel Agyei, Michael Forbes, Joshua Rawlins, Abdoulaye Yoro (Lachlan Rose 64’), Daniel Bennie (Dario Naamo 79’) .