Ten-man Terrors suffer Killie defeat

Two goals in the last 11 minutes enabled Kilmarnock to come from behind and defeat 10-man Dundee United 2-1 at Rugby Park.

The Tannadice side led 1-0 through Noel Hunt's 50th-minute goal - but the controversial 77th-minute dismissal of Christian Kalvenes for violent conduct proved the game's turning point. Kalvenes appeared to win the ball in a sliding tackle on Killie's Steven Naismith - but referee Brian Winter saw it otherwise and dismissed the visiting defender.

William Gibson levelled the scores within two minutes - and Colin Nish won all three points for the home side with a close-range effort in the 87th minute.

Three Killie players named in the Scotland Under-21 squad all started - Naismith, Jamie Hamill and Ryan O'Leary. Gary Wales, who missed his side's goalless draw at Celtic on the opening day of the season, was also included in the side.

United, who opened their season with a 1-0 home victory over Aberdeen, had Lee Wilkie back after suspension with Garry Kenneth relegated to the bench.

The deadlock was broken in the 49th minute when United took the lead - with the first goal the home side have conceded in more than seven hours of top flight action.

A ball from the right by Kalvenes found its way to the feet of Barry Robson. He mishit the ball across goal to Hunt - who had a simple tap-in from a few yards.

In the 71st minute Killie brought on winger Gibson for Wales - and six minutes later the home side were thrown a lifeline when Kalvenes was dismissed.

Two minutes later Gibson scored his first goal for the Ayrshire side when he slammed in a David Fernandez pass from 15 yards.

Killie stepped up the pressure - and in the 87th minute Nish steered in a Wright centre for Killie's winning goal.