LAURIE ELLIS, the caretaker manager, hailed his Dundee United players after seeing them move joint top of the table and maintained he had given their incoming manager an ideal platform from which to prosper.

United proceeded to the summit of the Championship as they brushed aside off-field uncertainty to sink league leaders St Mirren who were a shadow of themselves.

Ellis guided the title-chasing Tangerines to their second consecutive win since taking over from departed manager Ray McKinnon courtesy of goals in either half from Mark Durnan and Sam Stanton, before Adam Eckersley hit a last-gasp consolation for the below-par Buddies.

There was no sign of a potential successor in the directors' box at Tannadice. The former Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo remains the front-runner for the vacant post and should he take on the job he will inherit a rejuvenated side.

Ellis, who has ruled himself out from succeeding McKinnon, said: “It gives the incoming manager a good platform to really kick this squad on to where we need to be come the end of the season. There's a lot involved in managing Dundee United and an experienced head whose seen things before and has quick answers to everything will ensure we keep our club moving at the speed we need to.

“The remit in this division is to win every game. We've come out of it with six points from the past two games. It's the players who've got this result. We've worked hard over the past couple of weeks but it's those lads who've generated this team spirit. They've shown a reaction and their responsibility to each other on the park."

It was the hosts who began brightest and created the first clear cut chance in just eight minutes.

Youngster Matthew Smith used his pace to burst through the Saints defence and picked out the on-rushing Scott Fraser with his pin-point cross.

Fraser was all set to pull the trigger but the midfielder's first touch was heavy and the ball ran out for a goal-kick as the chance went abegging.

However, they didn't have too wait too much longer for the breakthrough.

Scot McDonald was fouled by Buddies midfielder Stephen McGinn to hand the Tangerines a set-piece midway inside the visitors half.

Fraser's free-kick found Durnan in acres of space and he had time to plant a 14-yard header past Craig Samson who thought it was going wide and remained rooted to the spot.

They were well on top and Fraser tried to increase their lead soon after with an ambitious drive which went well over Samson's bar.

Yet, in 38 minutes, the visitors were screaming for a penalty when Cammy Smith went down inside the box under a challenge from Durnan.

The Buddies felt there had been contact but referee Greg Aitken was close by and waved play on.

Ten minutes into the second-half, Billy King went on a solo run which ended in Samson producing a reflex save from his angled shot.

United were looking for a clinching second goal and, with 15 minutes left, Stanton released Fraser but his curled effort was headed away by Saints centre-back Jack Baird.

But they sealed matters with 10 minutes left. Substitute Fraser Fyvie's cross was perfect for Stanton who turned before driving a low shot into Samson's corner, leaving Eckersley's injury-time volley from 30-yards acting as a mere consolation.

Deflated Saints boss Ross said: “There's a feeling of disappointment.

“We lacked what we normally have and that's that bit of quality in the final third.

“But we'll dust ourselves down and it's how we react which is the important thing moving forward.”