Motherwell0–1Dundee Utd

United's season opened as the previous term had ended with victory at Fir Park. There was never any real doubt that the Tangerines would emerge winners after Motherwell's early spell of pressure had been easily repelled. Indeed, the home side were lucky to escape penalty appeals when Nijholt tripped John O'Neil in the box. As we tightened our grip on proceedings former United keeper Billy Thomson tipped a Grant Johnson shot round the post. This was the first of several times that Billy was to deny us that afternoon.

Immediately after the interval he miraculously kept out a John O'Neil shot. Eventually even he succumbed. John Clark clattered a free-kick off the angle of bar and post and Duncan Ferguson scrambled home the rebound. Only once did Motherwell look like equalising. That came when Davie Cooper cracked a 20 yarder off the post, but the ball rebounded straight into the arms of Alan Main. Billy Thomson was the man responsible for United's victory not being greater. Twice before the end he performed heroics to deny Maurice Malpas and John O'Neil. None-the-less this was a highly satisfactory start to the new campaign.