Dundee Utd 1
Motherwell 2
League (SPL)

Match Report

Peter Houston made one change to his starting line-up from the side which had won 2-1 away to Ross County at the weekend as Motherwell visited Tannadice on a cold Tuesday, Novemeber evening in Dundee. Gary Mackay-Steven dropped out of the side after he had fractured a bone in his hand in the Highlands which would keep him sidelined for at least four weeks. In his place, Rudi Skacel was given his first start for Dundee United.

Motherwell started the brighter almost opening the scoring from a Tom Hately corner. Fortunately for the Tangerines, Shaun Hutchison could only head wide. Hutchison almost cost the Steelmen a goal after bringing down Johnny Russell 20 yards from goal. However, the resultant free kick from Barry Douglas was easily held by Darren Randolph in the ‘Well goal. The Lanarkshire men, in excellent form away from home, and took the lead on 7 minutes after a Hately cross from the right was missed and landed at Michael Higdon’s feet. With enough space at the back post he calmly lifted the ball above Cierzniak to make it 1 – 0 to the visitors. Motherwell were looking dangerous on the counter attack and only three minutes later doubled their advantage. A 25 yard pass from Henrik Ojamaa found Chris Humphrey 25 yards out in line with the right side of the penalty area. The winger unleashed a blistering strike that burst into the top left corner of Cierzniak’s goal thus extending the lead to two goals. Difficult to defend against, Stuart McCall’s men continued to create goalscoring chances with Tom Hately firing over before Ojamaa hit the side netting. United fought to get back into the game and Gavin Gunning saw his powerful free kick tipped over by Randolph. This was followed on the half hour mark by a strong penalty claim being waved away. Stuart Armstrong, on his 50th appearance for Dundee United, looked to have wrong-sided Tom Hately who appeared to clip the Scotland Under 21 cap inside the area. With the home fans riled up on 36 minutes, the skipper got the Terrors back into the game. A fine Sean Dillon cross found Jon Daly in the box, and thanks to a slip up in defence, the big Irishman chested the ball to feet and slotted past a helpless Randolph for his fifth goal of the season.

The second half began by giving a glimpse of things to come. With Willo Flood effectively running the midfield, United began with the lion share of possession. Minutes in, Darren Randolph would be called into action to tip an excellent left foot strike by John Rankin over. Chances went a begging for the Tangerines as a Johnny Russell left foot cross from the right was just too far ahead of Daly arriving at the back post. This was followed by a great chance for Rudi Skacel. Making his first start for United, he collected the ball no more than 10 yards out but couldn’t work enough space to get a clear shot off thanks to the close attentions of Motherwell’s defence. Always dangerous on the counter, Motherwell had effectively their only real chance of the half when Jamie Murphy’s fine low effort was well tipped wide by Radoslaw Cierzniak. However, United were still the dominant side in the second half and looked to have deservedly got themselves back into the game only to see the linesman’s flag go up. A fine ball to the back post was headed back by Daly to the onrushing Skacel who bundled home for the equaliser but for Jon Daly having been deemed offside. United continued to press but the whistle arrived too soon and the visitors left with the points.