Morton hammer another nail in United title hopes, while Dobbie’s a dazzler for Queens
Dundee United failed to rise to the challenge of Championship leaders St Mirren winning at Dunfermline on Friday night as they slumped to a 3-0 home defeat by Morton.
The Greenock side impressed from the first whistle and their endeavours were rewarded when Thomas O’ware headed home a Michael Tidser freekick ten minutes from the break.
Within a minute of the second half, Scott Tiffoney lofted the ball over Harry Lewis from 20 yards, with Jack Iredale dancing through the home defence before slotting in the third with 80 minutes gone.
Morton boss Jim Duffy said: “It is our first league win in four games and it is a terrific win to get. We have not been playing poorly but, as often happens in this league, small margins can make a big difference.
“You do not get many 3-0 wins at the home of a club as big as Dundee United. Every player involved deserves great credit as their approach to the game was outstanding.
“We played good football and scored good goals and I cannot ask for any more than that.”
United boss Csaba Laszlo declined to comment.
Livingston shrugged off their midweek Scottish Cup exit to Falkirk by seeing off visitors Dumbarton 2-0 to return to third place.
Alan Lithgow headed the Lions in front midway through the first half from a Raffaele De Vita corner and before the Sons could recover the lead was doubled.
Sons goalkeeper Scott Gallacher and defender Dougie Hill made a mess of dealing with a long clearance and Ryan Hardie easily slotted home his first goal for David Hopkin’s side.
Falkirk’s recovery under Paul Hartley continued with a 3-1 success over the ten men of Inverness Caledonian Thistle, with the win lifting the Bairns up to eighth.
The first half ended goalless but the visitors finished it a man down as Jake Mulraney picked up two quick-fire bookings just before the break.
Falkirk made their extra man count and Aaron Muirhead fired in a penalty after 48 minutes before repeating the feat midway through the half.
Caley substitute Daniel Mackay nicked a goal back with six minutes left but Andrew Nelson turned in a cross from Alex Jakubiak to settle the match.
Queen of the South’s talismanic striker Stephen Dobbie hit a hat-trick as the Dumfries side beat bottom-placed Brechin City 3-1 at Palmerston.
Dobbie drilled in a Myles Beerman cross to open the scoring after seven minutes and another defeat for the Glebe Park men was on the cards six minutes later when the striker evaded the clutches of a host of visiting defenders before shooting past Graeme Smith.
Dobbie dazzled again 17 minutes from time when he left opponents for dead before firing in, with Brechin debutant Callumn Morrison grabbing a consolation goal five minutes from time.