Dundee Utd1–1Motherwell

Aiming for their first win of the season United went close in the first minute as Jim Paterson fired in a cross from the left which Steven Thompson knocked just wide at the near post. In the 10th minute however it was the visitors who went ahead when Ged Brannan played a ball through the middle to John Spencer who rushed in on goal. Alan Combe sprinted out to try and narrow the angle but John Spencer was first to it as he knocked the ball into the net. The Tangerines had much of the possession but struggled to make chances with Combe having to look lively when forced to turn a Spencer cross over for a corner. It was a positive reaction to going behind and Alex Mathie went for the spectacular when in plenty of space, with his overhead kick missing the target.

After a shaky start to the second half involving some panic at the back United again started to press for the equaliser. Beginning to dominate, Stephen McConalogue, who had come on for Alex Mathie, forced a good save from Andy Goram from a header before Jamie Buchan missed from long range. With four minutes remaining Jim Paterson was the hero of the United faithful when he scored a superb headed goal from an acute angle on the left hand side. Neil Heaney had laid on the goal with a good cross from the right. There was a scare for United in injury time as Combe was forced to save from Lee McCulloch's header but in the end a much improved performance ended in a draw.