SPL: Dundee United 2-1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Oct 5 2008 Ewan Smith At Tannadice

LEE WILKIE kicked off the afternoon by booting his first shot in to the car park - and ended with the goal that saw United step up their fight for UEFA Cup football.

When the skipper added to Jon Daly's opener with a second-half header - his third goal of the campaign - Craig Levein's men were on easy street.

And while Wilkie got in on the act at the wrong end, turning in a Barry Wilson cross for an own goal, it's his strike ratio in the opposition half that is pleasing him most.

United are now sixth in the SPL after slumping to bottom spot at one stage in a dreadful opening to the season and Wilkie said: "I've got to be pleased with that.

"OK, it's never nice to put the ball in your own net and we desperately wanted to make it four straight clean sheets. But to get another goal and win means a lot.

"We are now beginning to put in the sort of performances we expect but there is more to come from this side.

"I also hope there aremore goals to come from me. I thought normal service was resumed when I skied my first chance about 50 yards over.

"But when you have the sort of deliveries we're putting in I should be getting on the end of the ball more and I think I've just about matched my best tally for a season already.

"I hope there is more to come from me and the team."

While United ran out clear winners they didn't have it all their own way against a Caley side who threatened for long spells.

Recalled Don Cowie shot wide in seven minutes after latching on to a header from Andrew Barrowman.

Then Wilkie should have put his side ahead after Scott Robertson's header found him in acres of space but he shot wildly over.

In 15 minutes United felt they should have had a penalty with loud appeals from the home fans that Willo Flood's cross had struck a hand of Richard Hastings.

They were instead handed a corner and from Craig Conway's set-piece Daly headed goalwards to bring out a terrific one-handed stop from Michael Fraser.

The game was open and exciting and it was always going to be when and not if the deadlock would be broken.

Francisco Sandaza should have been the man to do it in 24 minutes. The former Valencia striker played a one-two with Daly only to over-run the ball in the box and allow Jamie Duff to clear.

Duff was again the hero for Inverness in 30 minutes as he knocked a Darren Dods header off the line.

But he could do nothing to prevent United going in front when Daly connected with a Sean Dillon cross to head home his fifth goal of the season.

The Arabs stepped up a couple of gears after the break and in 56 minutes a brilliant solo run from wing-back Paul Dixon set up Flood for a clear shot on goal from 20 yards that Fraser did brilliantly to parry.

Daly flashed another header wide from Conway's ball on the hour but Levein's side had to wait just five more minutes to get the clinching second.

Dixon's superb cross from the left was flicked up by Dods for Wilkie to power a header in off the bar.

While United were threatening to run riot keeper Lukasz Zaluska was doing his job to try to notch his fourth straight clean sheet. He got down brilliantly to turn round a Barry Wilson drive but then could only watch as Barrowman headed on to a post.

Caley's consolation came in 88 minutes as Wilkie knocked a Wilson cross in to his own net but it couldn't take the shine off a superb display by United.

REF WATCH IAIN BRINES faced few problems. Even denying United a penalty was offset by their display. Rating: 7/10