Robbie wants new home run
Neilson unhappy after perfect record KO
Davie Irons hailed Stenny for a 14 first-half minutes super show.
Ryan Blair’s screamer, Botti Biabi’s finish and Callum Moore’s curler lifted them eight points clear of basement Brechin.
Irons said: “No-one can argue with three good goals.” Annan’s Peter Murphy said: “We’re making big errors.”
The high-flying Tangerines were brought down to earth as par t - t ime v i s i tor s Arbroath became the first side to win in the league at Tannadice all season.
Former Dundee kid Craig Wighton netted the only goal in the first half.
And United, who lead nearest challengers Inverness by 17 points, tasted defeat for the first time in 13 games since losing to Queen of the South at Palmerston way back in October.
Neilson made no excuses for the leaders’ lacklustre display and ordered them to bounce back at the earliest opportunity as they aim to wrap up the Championship title in the coming weeks.
He said: “The first-half lost us the game to be honest. We were nowhere near the levels we want to be at.
“We gave away a poor goal. It’s one of theeasiest goals you’ll ever see.
“It was a two-versus- one situation out wide, we let the cross in and just did not defend it. Once you do that, it’s an uphill battle against a team l ike Arbroathwho are very well organised.
“I said at the start of the season that we’re going to lose games in the league.
“But the key thing is how you respond to that.
“The last time we got beat we then went on a great run so we just need to react quickly.
“Now we need to make sure that we get back to winning ways against Alloa a week on Friday.”
Esc t a t ic A rbr o a th assistant-boss Iain Campbell said: “It’s three marvellous points for us.
“Uni ted were on top territorially but all credit to our players.
“They will probably win this league but I thought we were magnificent.
“We’ve got a lot more ability than people give us credi t f o r, which we proved here.
“We came close here earlier in the season so this was sweet to be fair.”