KILMARNOCK shook off their losing streak by halting Dundee United's unbeaten run. The hosts just got better as the match wore on while United were disappointing throughout. Jamie Hamill put Kilmarnock in front from the penalty spot on half-time with David Fernandez doubling the lead on the hour-mark for what was a big win for Kilmarnock as it lifts them to fifth spot in the table, behind United who slip one place to fourth.

"The best team won today," said Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies, who was able to field his strongest starting side for some time. "I thought we were very entertaining in the second-half. With the run we've been on there is maybe an apprehension about lacking confidence.

"But we have played a team that's been flying. We deserved to win and that should give our confidence a huge boost."

Craig Levein was honest in his admission of United's failings. "We weren't firing on all cylinders. We never really hit the heights of recent weeks and as a result we lost the match. I thought there was more to come from us in the second-half, but I was wrong. We were below the standards we have set."

As well as the penalty that was given – for Morgaro Gomis' trip on Mehdi Taouil – there were a couple of claims turned down.

Kilmarnock felt they had a case for a Paul Dixon handball in the United box while United and their fans behind the Kilmarnock goal were adamant that substitute Jon Daly was brought down.

"I saw it but I didn't have a flag in my hand," said Levein. "But I can't really blame the referee. If he didn't see it, he didn't see it. I can't blame him for us not passing the ball either."

Kilmarnock started strongly and Taouil outwitted both Willo Flood and Scott Robertson with an audacious piece of skill before threading a pass to Fernandez who was flagged offside. The home side pressed and probed a United side that failed to make much impact and didn't resemble a team on a 10-game unbeaten run. With half an hour gone, it was impossible to recall a clear-cut chance for either side in a stodgy affair.

United's Sean Dillon slung in a cross from the right and Kilmarnock keeper Alan Combe spilled the ball; Scott Robertson's initial shot was blocked and Craig Conway blazed his effort over the crossbar; Darren Dods played a defensive header into the path of Conor Sammon whose ambitious hook didn't threaten Lukasz Zaluska at all.

Then Conway broke on the left flank and Kilmarnock captain James Fowler chopped him down to earn a booking from referee Euan Norris, who had earlier cautioned Taouil for kicking the ball away. Conway attempted to take a corner for United but the wind wouldn't let him, the ball repeatedly blowing away. It summed up a contest no one had a grip of.

Then, at the very end of the first half, Taouil won Kilmarnock a penalty as he danced into the box and was felled by Gomis. Norris pointed straight to the spot, Hamill stepping up to smash it straight and low past the diving Zaluska.

As the second half got under way, Roy O'Donovan flashed a shot across the face of the Kilmarnock goal then Francisco Sandaza, on the edge of the home box and surrounded by defenders, tried to turn and shoot but couldn't quite pull it off.

Then Taouil forced his way into the United box again only to be sandwiched between Conway and Dillon. Taouil went down – but he was not getting another penalty. At the other end, Sandaza twisted and turned and struck a shot into the side-netting.

Then Kilmarnock extended their lead. Garry Hay whipped in another inviting cross and Sammon failed to get his head to it but Fowler gained possession and his smart cutback was lashed high into the net by Fernandez. Suddenly United had an awful lot to do to get back into this game.

Conway was yellow carded for a bad tackle on Hay. Manuel Pascali shot into the hands of Zaluska then another fine Hay cross was cut out by the United goalie. In the midst of all this were penalty claims from both sides, both turned down. Gibson was booked for scything Paul Dixon.

Combe saved a Gomis drive in the last action of this match.