Dundee Utd2–0Motherwell

With last week's disappointment at Easter Road still on the player's minds, United were certainly fired up it was for this encounter. This was the first win since 25 November, and if ever we needed one it was today. For the first time this season goalkeeper Alan Combe missed a game, this being due to a suspension having been redcarded at the end of the game against Hibs. 17-year-old Jamie McCunnie was making his Tannadice debut before the home fans. Alex Smith has said on numerous occasions that he will not hesitate in giving young players a start in first team football.

The young McCunnie played like a veteran with numerous supporters commenting on how he looked like a young Maurice Malpas. From the ref's first blow of the whistle the United players who were obviously aggrieved at how they had lost a valuable point last week, came out with ali guns blazing and showed some fine inspired attacking play.

However, and rather surprisingly, it took fifty-five tinutes on the clock before they scored the first goal. Craig Easton headed home an inch perfect cross fired in from Derek Liltey. Eight minutes later Jim Hamilton secured all three points when he got on the end of another Lilley cross and headed the ball into the back of Goram's net. United almost went three up when Jim Hamilton again got his head to a Chariie Miller cross only to see it crash against the post. Motherwell did have their own chances in front of goal with a 25-yard shot from Ged Brannan just narrowly missing Gallacher's post. But with strong linking up from United's defence, Motherwelt never looked like troubling de Vos and company. After this fine gutsy display, United can look forward to the winter shutdown. The fans know that with a few more inspired performances like this, we could avoid the drop. However, one could not help thinking that the break had come at the wrong time. Just as United start to win!