Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon insisted last night that his side are ready to face bitter rivals Dundee as he gears up for his first experience of the fixture in Sunday's derby cup clash at Dens Park.

The Tangerines secured a hat-trick of victories on the spin thanks to their Sunday stroll which saw them sweep past Cowdenbeath in yesterday's Betfred tie at Tannadice as they claimed outright leadership in Group C.

McKinnon's men have hit the ground running following the agony of missing out on promotion back to the Premiership at the hands of Hamilton in last season's play-off final, and goals here from summer signings Sam Stanton and Billy King as well as Scott Fraser's penalty and youngster Matthew Smith's late strike gave kept their 100 per cent record intact.

McKinnon said: “We'll go to Dens for that tie on the back of some decent form.

“This should set us up nicely for the derby.

“This will be my first derby as manager so I can't wait.

“It's very pleasing overall how well we've done so far."

It was a simple enough strike which gave United the lead on the half-hour mark.

King releasing Stanton who calmly struck his shot past visiting keeper David McGurn from 12-yards for his first goal for the club since moving on loan from Hibs.

The visitors made a change at the start of the second-half substitute keeper with Joe McGovern replacing McGurn.

And the first touch of the ball for former United youth goalie McGovern saw him having to pick the ball out the net.

Smith sent King free and he outstripped the visiting defence and kept his composure to lift the his effort over the advancing McGovern to kill the tie.

Fraser then made it 3-0 with a textbook penalty after Jamie Pyper had brought down King just inside the box, before Muirhead grabbed a 76th minute consolation with a low drive past Harry Lewis from Shaun Rutherford's cross.

Then, in 80 minutes, Smith completed the rout with a close-range finish after McGovern had parried King's shot.

Cowdenbeath boss Billy Brown hailed his part-time Fifer's for their efforts.

Brown said: “For a team that finished bottom of all the leagues in Scotland last season, I thought they acquitted themselves fairly well.”