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Dundee United go two points clear at top

Chris Erskine scores after returning to starting line-up

United now unbeaten in six games

St Johnstone fail to record fifth straight win over United

Dundee United went clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a workmanlike win over St Johnstone.

United opened the scoring on the counter-attack, with Chris Erskine slotting the ball past Alan Mannus after being set up by Nadir Ciftci.

A Michael O'Halloran effort came off a post after the break as St Johnstone went close.

But United made the points safe when Paul Paton fired high into the net after being set up by Keith Watson.

The Tannadice outfit had started the day level on points with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but the Highland side's defeat in Aberdeen leaves United two points clear of Hamilton Academical at the summit of the Premiership.

And victory stretched the Terrors' unbeaten run to six games, while ending Saints' run of four victories over the hosts without conceding a goal.

Murray Davidson (left) was a late addition to the St Johnstone starting line-up

For the first meeting between the sides since last season's Scottish Cup final - a game which St Johnstone won 2-0 at Celtic Park in May - visiting manager Tommy Wright was forced into a late change when midfielder Chris Millar picked up an injury during the warm-up.

Murray Davidson, who was initially left out after playing in the midweek League Cup win over Kilmarnock, was restored instead.

There was also no place for the scorer of the winning goal in that tie, Brian Graham, who was ineligible to play against his parent club.

Yet it was Jackie McNamara's changes that proved more crucial in the opening half. The United manager opted to include Erskine and Mario Bilate ahead of Stuart Armstrong and Blair Spittal and it was the former Partick Thistle player who opened the scoring after 23 minutes.

From a St Johnstone corner, United goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak gathered and threw the ball out for his side to break. Ciftci fed Erskine on the right side of Saints' penalty box and the midfielder fired in a composed finish.

United began brightly after the restart, with Ciftci forcing Mannus to race from goal to clear as he raced in on the Saints goalkeeper. Then Bilate fired in a lobbed effort that flew just over the Saints bar.

Saints were almost level on the hour mark when O'Halloran reacted quickly when the ball evaded United defender Callum Morris in the six-yard box, but the woodwork denied the striker.

However, United added a second in the 72nd minute when Ciftci laid the ball to the right for Watson on the overlap and the defender's low cross was fired home from eight yards by the well-placed Paton.

Chris Erskine slipped the ball past Alan Mannus for the opening goal

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright (left) was forced to make a change to his line-up before kick-off

Paul Paton left St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus in despair

Paul Paton (left) scored Dundee United's second goal