Kilmarnock 2 - Dundee Utd 0: Taouil too tricky for United as Kilmarnock end unbeaten run

Published on Sunday 16 November 2008 21:56

THANK heaven for Mehdi Taouil. The Moroccan brought some respite to a largely dreary encounter with flashes of skill and trickery that helped end Dundee United's ten-match unbeaten run.

A penalty kick goal from Jamie Hamill in the dying seconds of the first half and a second from David Fernandez after 59 minutes earned Kilmarnock an unforeseen victory following a run of five straight defeats.

But it was Taouil who made the difference, albeit United were convinced that they had been denied a glaring penalty themselves when Jon Daly was twice impeded by fellow substitute Willie Gibson in the second half.

Kilmarnock, too, had strong claims for a second spot kick when Paul Dixon appeared to deliberately handle the ball. But neither rookie referee Euan Norris, who made his SPL debut at Rugby Park, nor his assistant had a clear view of the Daly incident, while the official gave Dixon the benefit of the doubt.

Not that United manager Craig Levein was of a mind to take the referee to task, pointing out that even if his side had brought the score back to 2-1 it would not necessarily have resulted in them garnering any reward from the encounter.

"The penalty award was a body blow but it was a pretty poor match and maybe the punters should have had their money refunded," confessed Levein.

Counterpart Jim Jefferies naturally did not entirely share Levein's sentiments, insisting: "The better team won and you could see our confidence grow in the second half.

"Having Garry Hay, Hamill and Simon Ford back meant we were able to field our strongest back-four and that made a huge difference. But the game only took off after we scored.

"It was a fantastic piece of skill by Taouil that won us the penalty and he carried that form into the second half.

"Taouil is different class and I should think some of the United players will have difficulty sleeping because he must have made them dizzy."

The opposition had no grounds for complaint when Frenchman Morgaro Gomis took Taouil out of the play in the final minute of the first half after his mazy run into the penalty box invited an over-zealous challenge.

Hamill showed a cool head as he powered the resultant penalty kick hard and low past Lukasz Zaluska, giving the Pole no chance whatsoever.

Kilmarnock extended their lead on 61 minutes when James Fowler beat Paul Dixon on the right and crossed for Fernandez to shoot high into the net of his former club.

Taouil confirmed that he had enjoyed himself. "The second half was a lot of fun and the result will be good for our confidence after recent results," said the attacking midfielder.

"The gaffer encourages me to take players on whenever I am in the danger area, but he also told me that as a former defender he would kick me if that was the only way to stop me. I think he was joking."

There was speculation in the summer that the talented Taouil – cautioned in the first half for dissent – would move to a bigger club, but he insisted: "I feel very comfortable at Kilmarnock and I enjoy working with the gaffer and Billy Brown so I was happy to stay here."

Midfielder Willo Flood, meanwhile, summed up United's lacklustre display. "We were not at the races and got what we deserved," said the Irishman. "If you take your foot off the gas you risk being punished and we had no momentum."

United cannot be dismissed as serious contenders for third place on the evidence of this performance alone. Kilmarnock, too, are capable of realising their ambition of a top-six finish.