Kilmarnock 0-4 Dundee United: Jim Goodwin missing as Terrors secure first Scottish Premiership win of season
Report as Dundee United win 4-0 at Kilmarnock; manager Jim Goodwin missed their first win of the season after being admitted to hospital; Killie are bottom of the table without a point
Saturday 29 August 2026 18:30, UK
Dundee United produced a fine performance in the absence of hospitalised manager Jim Goodwin as they thrashed Kilmarnock 4-0 at Rugby Park.
Goodwin was admitted to hospital on Thursday and United said on Saturday morning the 44-year-old "continues to deal with an ongoing medical matter".
His players, under the guidance of assistant Lee Sharp, did him proud as a trio of first-half goals helped ease them to a first Scottish Premiership victory of the campaign.
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United, who had not scored in their previous three games in all competitions, were three up by 41 minutes thanks to Emmanuel Agyei's opener, Zac Sapsford's penalty and a Will Ferry beauty.
Jesse Randall added a late fourth as Killie conceded for the 13th time in three top-flight matches to remain bottom of the table without a point.
It was a tough day for two new defenders added to Neil McCann's struggling back line.
Hull loanee Cathal McCarthy conceded a penalty and German full-back Jonathan Meier was replaced by Jamie Brandon at half-time.
Michael Forbes should have nodded United in front after just seven minutes from Sapsford's dinked cross.
Agyei, however, made no mistake five minutes later as Killie showed no capacity to shut down danger.
United worked a short corner to Mehdi Merghem who swiftly delivered to the near post where Agyei powered a header past Max Stryjek for his second goal for the club.
Kilmarnock's start went from bad to worse when centre-back Robbie Deas was forced off through injury and replaced by George Stanger after just 19 minutes.
United doubled their lead nine minutes before half-time from the penalty spot.
Referee Nick Walsh spotted an infringement from McCarthy as United took a corner and, after VAR backed up his decision, the new boy went in the book and Sapsford overcame a slip to slot in his fourth goal of the season.
Ferry made it three with a sensational strike. No Kilmarnock player could get close as he cut in from the left flank before curling a superb effort into the top corner from 22 yards.
United goalkeeper Jack Walton was worked by Joe Hugill and Mark O'Hara but the visitors were well worth their three-goal advantage at the interval.
McCann beefed up his strikeforce with Djenairo Daniels, on his return from 10 months out with with an injury, brought on for the second half.
By the 64th minute, the Kilmarnock boss had made all five substitutes.
If Hugill had not blazed over the crossbar in the 48th minute, Kilmarnock might have been capable of mustering a comeback.
However, United were comfortable thereafter and extended the margin of victory.
Stryjek made excellent stops from an unmarked Sapsford header and substitute Lachlan Rose.
But he had no answer to substitute Jesse Randall's brilliant first-time finish in the 77th minute. Ferry's bustling run up the left was followed by a perfect delivery and the New Zealand international swept home at the back post.
What management had to say
Dundee United assistant Lee Sharp
"The boys were excellent from start to finish.
"The motivation is there anyway but you're wanting to put a performance on.
"I relayed that message to the players - the manager is not here, he's not well. So let's make sure we do him proud and put on a performance he can sit and watch and not stress too much about.
"He was very pleased. He's alright, he's feeling fine.
"They are keeping him in for observation. He is a bit perplexed by it as well.
Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann
"That's a sore one.
"I've had a good chat with the boys in the dressing room. They're feeling the exact same way as me.
"But I know words are cheap right now for the fans.
"It's early in the season but that's not going to be of any solace to them.
"They're not going to give us any breathing space in respect of that. They expect to see results come quick.
"I apologise to them for what they saw out there."
