Dundee United cruised past Gretna to increase the pressure on Motherwell in the race for third place.
Comfortable victory for Dundee United
Dundee United cruised past Gretna to increase the pressure on Motherwell in the race for third place in the Scottish Premier League.
Garry Kenneth headed the visitors into an early lead before Morgaro Gomis and David Robertson sealed an easy triumph after the interval.
Gretna had beaten United twice this season but rarely threatened as Craig Levein's men moved a point behind Well in the chase for a UEFA Cup spot.
United scored from the first piece of goalmouth action in the 15th minute when Greg Fleming could not hold Jim O'Brien's corner and Kenneth nodded home after an initial shot had come off the bar via the head of Christian Kalvenes.
Blocked
Gavin Skelton came close to the equaliser in the 51st minute when his low shot from 15 yards was blocked by Lukasz Zaluska following Rhys Meynell's cross.
But United went straight up the park and scored as Gomis placed Noel Hunt's cutback into the bottom corner after the unmarked O'Brien had taken a fresh-air swing.
Robertson provided the third in the 64th minute when he beat the offside trap to side-foot home a Kalvenes cross.
Another deep cross, this time by Willo Flood, then hit the post with Fleming beaten.
Gretna looked a dispirited side in the closing stages as they stay 11 points behind St Mirren, who they play at Fir Park next week.