Dundee Utd2–1Motherwell

Frank Kopel failed a late fitness test and Derek Stark stepped in to fill his defensive position, with Graham Honeyman taking over the No. 7 spot to make his home debut. In a surprise move, Graeme Payne is relegated to the subs bench, with Bobby Robinson taking his place.

United's first chance arrived when Paul Sturrock raced down the left and crossed into the centre. Honeyman just failed to connect, but Bobby Robinson followed up to hammer a low drive which comes back off the keepers legs. United kept on the pressure and took the lead in the sixth minute. A Robinson throw-in bounced in front of Ray Stewart 35 yards from goal, and the full-back rocketed in a spectacular half volley which Rennie stretched full length to touch onto the right hand post. However the ball just crossed the goal line before spinning back out, with the referee awarding the goal. Three minutes later United had a chance to make it two when Carr blatantly pushed Sturrock in the back as both men challenged for a cross in the box. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but captain Paul Hegarty fared no better that his previous team mates who had scorned three chances from the spot this season as he sent the ball over the bar. United continued to push, and finally grab their second after twenty minutes. Billy Kirkwood collected the ball in midfield and sent a long pass out to Sturrock on the left. His cross into the box is met by Kirkwood on the edge of the 'Well box, with his header looping over Rennie and into the net. Minutes later Honeyman steered home from close range but the goal is disallowed for an infringement. Motherwell, finding it hard to break the United pressure, made a change just before the half-hour mark, with Lindsay on for Wilson. With five minutes of the first half remaining, the visitors surprisingly pulled a goal back, when Mike Larnach ran through between Hegarty and Narey to flick the ball past Hamish McAlpine and high into the net.

After such a pulsating first-half, the second period was a bit of a disappointment, although Motherwell came more into the game. They had a penalty appeal turned down when Larnach was stopped by Hegarty just inside the United box, and on the hour mark Willie Pettigrew steered goalwards from six yards out but saw his effort well saved by McAlpine. Motherwell were now operating a cleverly executed offside trap to thwart United's attacks, and when Derek Addison attempted to run through on his own he is upended by McVie, who is booked by the referee. The match finished with few additional chances at either end, and United remained top of the league after fourteen matches, equal on points with Partick Thistle.