3 talking points as Dundee United destroy abysmal Aberdeen with four goal rout to record first win of the season

Dundee United put their Scottish Premiership ghosts to bed in their 4-0 win over Aberdeen at Tannadice to register their first league win of the season.

Two quick-fire goals from Tony Watt and Aziz Behich just before the break consigned Aberdeen - who were without boss Jim Goodwin over his Ryan Porteous 'cheat' comments - to a loss against the Tangerines, before Jamie McGrath and a Ross McCrorie own goal settled a first league win since mid-May for the hosts. Leaving them on seven points in the table following a horrible start to the campaign, Liam Fox's men will have renewed confidence ahead of their admittedly uphill battle.

Two consecutive losses in the top-flight left the hosts with just two points from their opening eight games, more than easily classed as relegation form as they continued to struggle against some of the smaller sides in the league such as St Johnstone, St Mirren and more. But a comprehensive win over the Granite City outfit stoked a newly-lit fire in the orange shirts that have been burning out since the end of July as their relegation rivals start to feel the heat in the harsh winter weather.

Proceedings almost got off to a flyer for the hosts when Glenn Middleton's cross from out wide found the head of Jamie McGrath up front, although he couldn't direct his head on target as he searched for his first United goal in 11 games.

From there, the game became all but a cluster in the centre of the park; United's disgruntlement was clearly felt if not heard from the stands, with players getting stuck in to appease the Tannadice faithful. If they were confident about securing a result against the Jim Goodwin -less Granite City outfit, their swagger will have been tested - and some - when a diagonal