Smeltz gave United the lead mid-way through the first half, scoring his 15th A-league goal of the season, Miller capping off the win in the 75th minute with his first goal in Gold Coast colours.

United were given a defensive boost shortly before kick-off with a late change to its starting line-up. First choice left-back Adama Traore was deemed fit to start over Anderson, the Ivorian rewarded for his impressive last match with the youth team, after recovering from a serious knee injury.

Looking to repeat Round-11's home win over Perth, Gold Coast got off to a flyer, Shane Smeltz giving the men in yellow the lead after just two minutes. Making his home debut for United, Charlie Miller provided a great chip over the Perth defence to Smeltz, the A-league's top scorer then chested down and struck a sweetly hit first-time volley which left Glory 'keeper Tando Velaphi with no chance.

United Captain Jason Culina then flashed wide ten minutes later, his effort followed shortly by Perth's Victor Sikora, who saw his side's first chance at goal spray off to the left.

With both sides enjoying an open match, Miller almost caught Velaphi napping, attempting an ambitious shot from 30 yards, while Sikora's headed effort in the 23rd minute landed into the grateful hands of Gold Coast ‘keeper Jess Van Strattan.

The United custodian was then called into action in the 37th minute after Perth was awarded a free-kick just outside the area. Glory captain Jacob Burns was almost certain that his deflected free kick was bound for the top right-hand corner, however Van Strattan produced a top-shelf save turning it around the post.

With Gold Coast struggling to clear from the resulting corner, Steve Pantelidis was then yellow carded for a stretching tackle on Scott Neville, the resulting free-kick failing to eventuate.

Deep into first half stoppage time, Gold Coast then came close when Traore, finding himself unusually up-front, flashed a left-foot just wide of Velaphi's upright.

Returning from the interval, Miron Bleiberg's troop's looked to extend their lead further when Culina, tried to out-do Miller's first-half attempt from long range. The Socceroo launching a 52-metre chip that sailed over a back-pedalling Velaphi and into the cross-bar, bouncing out back into play.

Continuing to press, Miller extended United's lead fifteen minutes from time. The former Rangers star showed all his class as he fired a right-foot drive past Velpahi, after being played into the area by first-half goal scorer Smeltz.

The win keeps United in check with league leaders Melbourne and moves them to within two points of the second placed Sydney FC.