Motherwell0–1Dundee Utd

Fir Park hosted United’s first Premiership win since May 2016 and ensured a solid start to the season with four points on the board after the first two fixtures. United took to the field with their new and unfamiliar purple away kit. The first ever United kit of this colour signifies a partnership with Alzheimer Scotland. In team news injury to star striker Lawerence Shankland meant that he was missing from the squad. Micky Mellon looked to offset that blow by promoting youngster Louis Appere from the bench after the draw with St Johnstone at Tannadice the week before. Two of last week’s three substitutes earned a starting place as Luke Bolton and Logan Chalmers replaced Nicky
Clark and Lewis Neilson who both dropped to the bench. In a tactical move the defence consisted of a back four rather than a back five. New defensive signing Ryan Edwards, who spent the 19/20 campaign at Blackpool, featured on the bench after his signature was confirmed on Monday. Motherwell announced pre match that an unnamed player was unavailable for selection due to Covid-19 related self-isolation.

After their opening day defeat to Ross County in Dingwall, Motherwell started the better of the two sides. They maintained a lot of the early possession without seriously testing Benji Siegrist. It was United, though, who fashioned the first chance of note in the game. The referee did well to play advantage as Appere picked the ball up in the centre circle, with space in the Motherwell half ahead of him to drive forward. He picked out Ian Harkes who had a low shot at goal from just outside the right corner of the edge of the box. It was deflected off target leading to United’s first corner of the game. The first real opening for the home side came from a Sherwin Seedorf cross and a free header for Allan Campbell at the penalty spot. His effort flashed just wide. At the other end Harkes was again involved on the right as he played in Bolton for a shot at goal at an angle which he lashed into the side netting. Motherwell then registered their first shot on target but Siegrist was alert and showed good handling to catch an unexpected shot from a long-range free kick by David Turnbull.

The start of the second half saw United step up a gear. Peter Pawlett produced an excellent ball in from a corner on the left. Calum Butcher rose to direct a firm header towards goal but it ended up going just past the far post. Motherwell immediately made their way up field and Ricki Lamie chipped a nice cross into the United box but its height led to Tony Watt stretching for it awkwardly meaning he could only tamely volley in to the hands of Siegrist. There was more purpose about United’s attacking play now though and they made the breakthrough within the first ten minutes of the half. From the right Luke Bolton delivered a low cross in between the goalkeeper and defenders. The unlikely hero at the back post was former Motherwell man Mark Reynolds who fired into the roof of the net from close range. United continued to press and were very close to making it two when substitute Dillon Powers picked up a headed clearance from a United corner. He chested the ball down on the edge of the box and produced a fierce shot that rattled the underside of the bar via the fingertips of home goalkeeper Trevor Carson. A moment of relief followed soon after as Jordan White headed past a rooted Siegrist for what looked to be the equaliser with around just three minutes left. Thankfully for United he was penalised for a push on Mark Reynolds in the process of putting the ball in the net. A superb win for United which, on the balance of chances created, was a deserved and well-earned three points.