United secured their first win of the season as St Mirren were handed a reminder of how tough life in the Bank of Scotland Premier League can be. A double from Barry Robson and a goal from Stuart Duff sealed the 3-1 victory, despite Garry Brady pulling a goal back for the SPL newcomers. But it proved to be a bittersweet afternoon for Robson, who was sent off with just six minutes to go.

Saints had headed into the game trailing leaders Rangers by a single point at the top of the table and bolstered by two wins and a draw so far with only the defeat to champions Celtic blotting their copybook. It was a different story for a United team who had secured just one SPL victory in 20 attempts since the arrival of player-boss Craig Brewster in January. But the Tannadice club were ahead in the 12th minute.

Robson exchanged a one-two with Mark Kerr before curling the ball past goalkeeper Chris Smith from 25 yards. St Mirren tried to hit back, firstly through a Brady strike which was smothered by Derek Stillie, before John Sutton's effort fizzed across goal and wide. The Buddies had a shout for a penalty when Andy Millen went to ground under pressure from Alan Archibald in the box but the claims were ignored by referee Iain Brines.

Saints put themselves under pressure at the other end of the park when Kirk Broadfoot hauled down Duff on the edge of the area. Robson stepped up for the free-kick but was denied by a gallant effort from Smith, who managed to claw the ball off the line. However, the Saints keeper was picking the ball out of the back of the net again in the 34th minute. David Proctor released Collin Samuel into the box, drawing Smith off his line, but the ball broke to the unmarked Duff instead and all he had to do was send it into an empty net from eight yards.

St Mirren's hopes of taking something from the game were raised briefly when they pulled a goal back three minutes after the break. A Kean ball from the left was collected by Brady and he rendered Stillie helpless with a thumping effort which found the top corner of the net. But a defensive blunder allowed United to restore their two-goal advantage in the 53rd minute. Broadfoot failed to clear the danger from a woeful short pass from his goalkeeper and was robbed of possession by Duff on the edge of the box. He fed the ball to Robson, who helped himself to his second goal of the day and all but ended the game as a contest. Love Street erupted when Saints should have been awarded a penalty for an Archibald push on Kean but, again, the pleas were ignored by the referee.

Instead, it was United who almost scored again when Samuel burst clear on goal only to see his point-blank shot blocked by the legs of Smith. The Taysiders held on for the win but the game ended on a sour note when Robson saw red for a challenge on David Van Zanten, with an earlier caution for kicking the ball away proving costly.

St Mirren: Chris Smith, van Zanten, Broadfoot, Millen (Mehmet 60), McGowne, Potter, Murray, Lappin (Corcoran 63), Sutton, Kean, Brady (McKenna 77). Subs Not Used: Bullock, Brittain, McCay, Gemmill.

Booked: Murray.

Goals: Brady 48.

Dundee Utd: Stillie, Kalvenes, McCracken, Archibald, Kerr, Robson, Duff, Conway (Robb 71), Cameron, Samuel, Proctor. Subs Not Used: McLean, Miller, Hunt, Kenneth, Gardiner, Robertson.

Sent Off: Robson (84).

Booked: Proctor, Robson, Archibald.

Goals: Robson 12, Duff 34, Robson 53.

Att: 4,902

Ref: I Brines