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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin vowed not to "get carried away" after his side beat Raith Rovers in a Scottish Championship top-of-the-table showdown to move four points clear.

United took an early lead through Tony Watt before Louis Moult's 75th-minute penalty ensured a seismic victory.

Ian Murray's Rovers have a game in hand.

"This was an important one - we had to win the game more than Raith," said Goodwin.

"I couldn't be happier at the moment but it's so important we don't get carried away. It's one performance, we need another five of those between now and the end of the season.

"If we do that in every game with that mindset, attitude and determination then we give ourselves every change of achieving what our objection has been all season."

Goodwin's men had failed to beat the Kirkcaldy side in three previous meetings this season, including two defeats, but left 10,000 home fans overjoyed as they took control of the title race.

Moult assisted the opener, cushioning the ball down to allow Watt to flick past Kevin Dabrowski from the edge of the six-yard box.

Watt tried to turn turned provider when he teed up strike partner Moult, forcing visiting goalkeeper Dabrowski into a full-stretch stop.

The hosts controlled proceedings but did have a moment of panic when Zak Rudden beat Jack Walton from 20 yards. The crossbar came to the rescue of the United number one, who had been relatively untroubled throughout the first half.

Scott Brown - scorer of a sensational strike the last time the two clubs met - had an idea of repeating the trick but fired well over from the edge of the box in the second period.

Any lingering anxiety was dispelled when Moult was upended in the penalty area. The striker dusted himself down to send Dabrowski the wrong way and wrap up all three points.

Disappointed Rovers manager Murray said: "Our performance wasn't great and I can't stand here and claim we deserved to win. United created the better chances and they win you games of football.

"I'd rather be in Dundee United's position than our own as points in the bag are more valuable than a game in hand. Football changes all the time, United have two difficult away games coming up and if they don't win and we do then we are right back in it."