Kilmarnock 'still have work to do', says Tommy Wright as losing streak ends

Kilmarnock still have "a lot of work to do", says manager Tommy Wright as they scored their first goal in 571 minutes to end an eight-game losing streak with a draw at home to Dundee United.

Adrian Sporle's deflected shot gave the visitors a half-time lead.

But Kilmarnock, who dominated proceedings throughout, eventually got their reward as Zech Medley tapped in.

"To be on the front foot against a side pushing for the top six shows how good we can be." said Wright.

"Out of my four games we've had four really good performances. But we've only got one point."

Kilmarnock nudge away from bottom club Hamilton but remain in the relegation play-off spot, while Dundee United hold on to seventh, but are now four adrift of St Mirren in the hunt for a top-six place.

• Reaction as it happened

Kyle Lafferty was involved throughout this match, the new Kilmarnock forward driving his team on. He had the first chance of note, a brilliant curling effort which failed to dip under the crossbar with Benjamin Siegrest scrambling.

United, though, delivered the sucker punch almost immediately. Ian Harkes stole the ball from Medley in the Kilmarnock half, fed Sporle and his shot looked unlikely to trouble Colin Doyle before taking a deflection off Kirk Broadfoot.

The home side were not swayed as they continued to apply pressure and create a number of chances. Siegrest was forced into a fantastic double save; blocking a Lafferty free-kick before reacting quickly to deny Mitch Pinnock.

In the second half Siegrest was again called into action as he kept out efforts from Greg Kiltie, Pinnock and Medley. However, the latter eventually made the breakthrough on 64 minutes, slamming home the equaliser through a crowded box at the back post.

Wright's men had all the momentum and thought they had grabbed a quick second, only for Lafferty's high finish to be ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

For Dundee United, they rarely threatened when producing another all too familiar performance with little attacking intent.

Lawrence Shankland cut a frustrated figure throughout with his only real opportunity of note coming at the end of the game where he could have done better when through on goal.

Man of the match - Kyle Lafferty

The nomadic striker marked his first start with an all action, swashbuckling performance

What did we learn?

Kilmarnock showed improvement under new boss Wright and will be pleased to earn their first point under him. However, they will have an overriding feeling that one point should have been three as they were far better than their opposition. Lafferty was good throughout but they still seem to be searching for a goalscorer.

For Dundee United, this game should have been a good opportunity to keep pushing for a top six place but with St Mirren winning against Ross County and their remaining fixtures appearing significantly harder on paper, that looks increasingly less likely. The away side once again offered up very little despite the attacking talent within their ranks.

What did they say?

'Kilmarnock should have won it' - Tommy Wright

Kilmarnock manager Tommy Wright: "It's a point closer to where we want to be. The players gave everything and I think they showed a lot of character in the game when you consider they go one nil down to come back and get back in the game and we ultimately should have gone on to win it."

Dundee United manager Micky Mellon: "Before we came here we knew it would be a tough game but to score the first goal and get into half time you'd expect to be able to dog that out. We know that there are areas that we need to get better at, we invited the pressure onto ourselves. But then on the flip side of that we've probably had the better chances in the game to win it."

Dundee United should have 'dogged it out' - Micky Mellon

What's next?

Kilmarnock travel to Dingwall for a huge relegation battle against Ross County on Saturday (15:00 GMT), while Dundee Utd welcome Celtic to Tannadice on Sunday (12:00).

Player of the match

SmithLiam Smith

with an average of 7.16

• KilmarnockKilmarnockKilmarnock
• Dundee UtdDundee UnitedDundee United

Kilmarnock

Avg

1. Squad number28Player nameLafferty

   Average rating

   5.91
2. Squad number24Player nameMedley

   Average rating

   5.57
3. Squad number22Player nameMillen

   Average rating

   5.23
4. Squad number16Player nameDoyle

   Average rating

   5.17
5. Squad number10Player nameKiltie

   Average rating

   4.94
6. Squad number6Player namePower

   Average rating

   4.82
7. Squad number29Player nameBurke

   Average rating

   4.68
8. Squad number8Player nameDicker

   Average rating

   4.65
9. Squad number3Player nameHaunstrup

   Average rating

   4.64
10. Squad number11Player nameKabamba

    Average rating

    4.50
11. Squad number5Player nameBroadfoot

    Average rating

    4.33
12. Squad number19Player namePinnock

    Average rating

    4.29
13. Squad number7Player nameMcKenzie

    Average rating

    4.18

Dundee United

Avg

1. Squad number2Player nameSmith

   Average rating

   7.16
2. Squad number1Player nameSiegrist

   Average rating

   6.79
3. Squad number24Player nameShankland

   Average rating

   5.97
4. Squad number3Player nameSpörle

   Average rating

   5.96
5. Squad number66Player nameFuchs

   Average rating

   5.76
6. Squad number23Player nameHarkes

   Average rating

   5.57
7. Squad number18Player nameButcher

   Average rating

   5.50
8. Squad number12Player nameEdwards

   Average rating

   5.48
9. Squad number6Player nameReynolds

   Average rating

   5.41
10. Squad number9Player nameMcNulty

    Average rating

    5.31
11. Squad number27Player nameAppéré

    Average rating

    4.96
12. Squad number5Player nameConnolly

    Average rating

    4.34
13. Squad number10Player nameClark

    Average rating

    3.63
14. Squad number17Player nameRobson

    Average rating

    1.38

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Kilmarnock

Formation 4-4-2

16Doyle

22Millen5Broadfoot24Medley3Haunstrup

7McKenzie6Power8Dicker19Pinnock

10Kiltie28Lafferty

• 16Doyle
• 22Millen
• 5Broadfoot
• 24Medley
• 3Haunstrup
• 7McKenzieSubstituted forBurkeat 61'minutes
• 6Power
• 8Dicker
• 19PinnockSubstituted forKabambaat 61'minutes
• 10KiltieBooked at 38mins
• 28Lafferty

Substitutes

• 2McGowan
• 9Oakley
• 11Kabamba
• 14Rossi
• 18Waters
• 21Mulumbu
• 23Rogers
• 27Tshibola
• 29Burke

Dundee Utd

Formation 4-4-2

1Siegrist

2Smith12Edwards6Reynolds17Robson

23Harkes66Fuchs18Butcher3Spörle

9McNulty24Shankland

• 1Siegrist
• 2SmithBooked at 67mins
• 12Edwards
• 6Reynolds
• 17Robson
• 23HarkesBooked at 86mins
• 66FuchsBooked at 45minsSubstituted forConnollyat 55'minutesBooked at 71mins
• 18Butcher
• 3SpörleSubstituted forAppéréat 28'minutesSubstituted forClarkat 83'minutes
• 9McNulty
• 24Shankland

Substitutes

• 5Connolly
• 10Clark
• 14Hoti
• 15Chalmers
• 19Mehmet
• 20Bolton
• 27Appéré
• 30Neilson
• 43Smith

Referee:

David Munro

Match Stats

Home TeamKilmarnockAway TeamDundee Utd

Possession

Home58%

Away42%

Shots

Home13

Away12

Shots on Target

Home5

Away4

Corners

Home12

Away2

Fouls

Home14

Away16

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Kilmarnock 1, Dundee United 1.

2. 90'+3'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 1, Dundee United 1.

3. 90'+1'

   Post update

   Attempt missed. Calum Butcher (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

4. 90'

   Post update

   Attempt saved. Lawrence Shankland (Dundee United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

5. 88'

   Post update

   Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Brandon Haunstrup.

6. 88'

   Post update

   Attempt saved. Marc McNulty (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jamie Robson with a cross.

7. 87'

   Post update

   Foul by Alan Power (Kilmarnock).

8. 87'

   Post update

   Nicky Clark (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9. 86'

   Booking

   Ian Harkes (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

10. 85'

    Post update

    Kyle Lafferty (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

11. 85'

    Post update

    Foul by Ian Harkes (Dundee United).

12. 83'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Lawrence Shankland (Dundee United) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left. Assisted by Nicky Clark.

13. 83'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Dundee United. Nicky Clark replaces Louis Appéré.

14. 82'

    Post update

    Foul by Nicke Kabamba (Kilmarnock).

15. 82'

    Post update

    Ryan Edwards (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

16. 79'

    Post update

    Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Mark Reynolds.

17. 78'

    Post update

    Attempt saved. Lawrence Shankland (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Liam Smith.

18. 77'

    Post update

    Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Jamie Robson.

19. 74'

    Post update

    Alan Power (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

20. 74'

    Post update

    Foul by Lawrence Shankland (Dundee United).

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