Jim Jefferies' men had plenty defending to do at Tannadice, but goals from Gavin Skelton and Danny Invincible were enough to see them extend their unbeaten start to the campaign. And in the end they were just about worth this win, if for no other reason than they took their chances when they came. That was exactly what United did not do and is a big reason why they go into the international break still searching for a first league win.

Things almost got off to an explosive start when what looked liked a reasonable clearance by the Killie defence dropped in front of Garry Kenneth and from all of 30 yards the central-defender crashed a volley off Alan Combe's bar.

The tempo was high from United in those opening minutes and a dangerous Sean Dillon cross had to be headed away at the front post by James Fowler. The home side had definitely made the more positive start and almost created another opening when Willo Flood made good progress down the right. His cross was headed on by Francsico Sandaza and with Warren Feeney challenging strongly it took a determined save from Combe to keep the ball out.

This was Spaniard Sandaza's first start up front and if early indications were anything to go by, his partnership with Feeney could be a fruitful one. Most of United's early promise was coming from work down their right and the combination of Dillon, Flood and Sandaza created space for another cross. It came from Sandaza, but this time the ball dropped short of Feeney in the middle and Combe was able to smother it.

By the mid-point of the first half the home side had enjoyed enough possession to feel they might have been ahead, but that Kenneth volley apart, nothing had come Combe's way that would have been expected to beat him. Still, it was better that anything Killie had managed and in the opening half-hour the only note of any worth about them came when Moroccan Mehdi Taouil was booked for having a kick at Flood.

In the 31st minute they were inches away from falling behind when a Morgaro Gomis pass released Feeney inside the area and his low angled drive rolled inches past with Combe beaten.

United tails were up and a Danny Grainger cross from the left wing was headed behind by Fowler before Sandaza could connect.

With just five minutes of the half remaining, Craig Levein's main paid the price for failing to capitalise on their superiority. Former United player David Fernandez worked a corner short with Taouil, then swung over a cross that Skelton got his head to. It was not the cleanest of contacts, but the ball flew past Lukasz Zaluska and into the net to give the visitors the unlikeliest of leads.

Within a minute United could have been level when Sandaza danced past David Lilley inside the Killie penalty area. In pre-season and against Celtic when he came off the bench to equalise, the former Valencia man's finishing has looked deadly, but this time he pulled his shot wide when the least that was expected was a shot on target.

Early in the second half there were two quick bookings, Manuel Pascali for a tackle on Sandaza that saw the Spaniard fall rather theatrically and, in the 51st minute, Gary Hay for a foul on Swanson. That second offence allowed Flood the chance to float a free kick into the penalty area and when Combe, under pressure again from Feeney, dropped the ball, Sandaza missed his second good chance of the game when he failed to connect properly with the loose ball.

At least home tails were up and, with Craig Conway being sent on for Flood, there was a steady flow of ball into the box. With them came a flurry of penalty appeals – first skipper Lee Wilkie claiming he'd been pushed and then Grainger and Invincible squaring up after the home man felt a trip no one else saw.

Then, for the second time in the game, Killie soaked up the period of pressure before calmly heading upfield and grabbing a goal. Taouil played Invincible in and the Australian composed himself before coolly slotting the ball past Zaluska for his team's second.

That was a killer blow for United, though they did battle on in a bid to rescue something. Killie, who have not lost a goal in five competitive games this term, saw out time comfortably.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Mehdi Taouil – the Moroccan put in and intelligent performance and takes the award, but the strength of this victory lay in the overall team effort.

QUICK FACT

In recent years Tannadice has not been a favourite away venue for Kilmarnock. Until yesterday they had not won there since 2002.

TALKING POINT

United's success in finishing fifth last season was based largely on their strong start, so manager Craig Levein will want a quick improvement on a record of two draws and two defeats so far.