Free-scoring Shankland adds another three to tally as United thump Morton

Championship leaders Dundee United went into Saturday’s home encounter with Morton on the back of two late Lawrence Shankland goals that turned defeat into victory over Arbroath and, this time out, two quickfire goals from the striker set up a 6-0 success.

Shankland clinched a double within the first five minutes and the game was over for the Greenock men four minutes from the break when Paul Mcmullan swept home.

Shankland took his tally for the season up to

15 with a solo effort 11 minutes after the restart, with Mcmullan slotting in his second before Logan Chalmers completed the scoring six minutes from time with a header.

Tannadice manager Robbie Neilson was keen to emphasise the team nature of his side’s performance.

He said: “Lawrence will capture all the headlines, however everyone in the team played well. “Scoring early helped and it is good to get another win chalked up.”

Ayr United showed no negative effects after manager Ian Mccall’s move to Partick Thistle last week as they romped to a 3-0 win at Arbroath to sit on the same points mark as the Tayside team.

Alan Forrest, pictured, swivelled and shot the Honest Men, under the guidance of interim manager Sandy Stewart, ahead on 12 minutes and eight minutes later he took advantage of home goalkeeper Darren Jamieson failing to cut out a long free-kick to slam in again.

The rampant visitors added a third on 27 minutes when Stephen Kelly cracked a shot home from ten yards, with the Gayfield side going closest in the second half through Michael Mckenna.

Mccall’s arrival at Partick looks to have had a positive effect as they won 3-1 at Inverness Caledonian Thistle in his first Championship game in charge.

Dario Zanatta fired the Maryhill Jags into the lead on ten minutes, however Jordan White headed in an equaliser midway through the first half.

The hosts’ Jamie Mccart was caught dithering early in the second half and Kenny Miller robbed him before firing Mccall’s men ahead for a second time, with Cammy Palmer sealing the points eight minutes from time.

Dunfermline drew 1-1 with a visiting Alloa side who have slipped to the foot of the table. Adam Brown cracked the Wasps ahead on 50 minutes, before Kyle Turner ignored visiting appeals for a handball to shoot home an equaliser seven minutes later from a Kevin Nisbet lay-off.