Dundee, Scotland (SportsNetwork.com) – Dundee United moved one point clear at
the top of the Scottish Premier League on Saturday after notching a 3-0 home
win over St Mirren.
Paul Paton, Nadir Ciftci and Charlie Telfer each scored for United to move the
club one point clear of second-place Hamilton, while Celtic and Inverness sit
two points adrift.
The hosts nearly scored inside of two minutes when a free kick from Paton was
headed on goal by Calum Butcher, only for St Mirren’s Kenny McLean to clear
the ball off the goal line.
But Paton put his team in front just before halftime when a cross from Aidan
Connolly found its way to Paton’s feet, allowing him to fire home the opener
from 12 yards.
United goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak made a few good saves to keep his team in
front, and Ciftci doubled the advantage in the 56th when he was on hand to
score on the rebound from close range.
The win was secured in the 73rd when Connolly’s through ball picked out
Telfer, who slotted home his shot past diving goalkeeper Marian Kello for his
first goal with the team.
Hamilton dropped to second place after being held to a 3-3 draw at home by
Partick Thistle, which got two goals in the second half from James Craigen to
take a 3-2 lead into stoppage time, only for Anthony Andreu to score the
equalizer for Hamilton to salvage a point.
Celtic used a goal from John Guidetti early in the second half to edge
Inverness, 1-0, while Greg Stewart scored a goal in each half to lift Dundee
to a 3-1 win at Kilmarnock.
