SPL: Sammy Clingan strikes late to earn Gary Locke his first win in charge of Kilmarnock

Sammy Clingan scored deep into injury time to earn Gary Locke victory in his first game since being named Kilmarnock caretaker manager in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Dundee United at Rugby Park.

Killie twice came from behind to earn all three points, Josh Magennis wrong-footing goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak to level the match in the 10th minute after Nadir Cifci's third minute penalty sent the vistors ahead, before Johnston's 52nd-minute equaliser cancelled Henri Anier's 13th minute strike.

And with less than a minute of stoppage time remaining, Clingan fired the decisive blow with a free-kick from close range to steal all three points and end United's unbeaten run of seven games.

The win also ends Killie's run of five games without victory, and sees them close the gap on seventh-placed St Johnstone who lost earlier 2-1 to Celtic.

After Locke recieved a warm reception from the home fans, the game gathered pace early on when John Rankin was bundled over in the box by Manuel Pascali to gift the visitors a penalty.

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Ciftci stepped up and coolly converted to send United ahead with a right-footed shot to the bottom-left corner.

The Terrors nearly doubled their advantage inside of 10 minutes through Ryan Dow when he slipped in behind Kilmarnock’s defence and almost chipped it over Craig Samson who stretched to deflect it away.

But Killie, who had looked stretched, bounced straight back from United’s fast start with an equaliser through Magennis in the 10th minute after Utd failed to deal with a free-kick.

Magennis wrong-footed goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak after the ball fell to him inside the box, his fifth goal of the season.

Less than three minutes later, United took the lead again through  Anier who netted his first goal for the club after being sent through one-on-one with the keeper.

Chris Erskine played a clever ball through the Kilmarnock defence to Anier who made no mistake from the centre of the box with his shot to the bottom-left corner.

After a barrage of chances from the visitors, Kilmarnock had two chances to level the match towards the end of the first half.

Chris Chantler’s strike from outside the box forced a save from the Utd Keeper, before Tope Obadeyi fired his shot over the bar after finding space inside the box.

At the start of the second half, Josh Magennus was denied by Cierzniak after firing a lethal header into the arms of the keeper from close range.

But, moments later, Killie found the equaliser through Chris Johnston in bizarre fashion, after Cierzniak seemed to be have been fooled by Craig Johnston.

Johnston appeared to slip after meeting Tope Obadeyi’s pass and poked it over the line, which beat the United keeper who dived early in anticipation.

The pace of the game then slowed with the away side enjoying more of the possession until, deep into stoppage time, Kilmarnock found the winner through Clingan who sent the home fans into raptures after finding the net from a close range free-kick.