Motherwell2–1Dundee Utd

Micky Mellon made three changes to the side who were defeated by Hibernian on Saturday, as Connolly, Reynolds and Bolton dropped out for the incoming Spörle, Edwards and Harkes. United travelled to Lanarkshire knowing victory would put some daylight between
themselves and the Steelmen, with just three points separating the sides. United were also yet to taste defeat against Motherwell this campaign, a victory at Fir Park in August and a Boxing Day draw the previous outcomes.

United started promisingly, with Clark finding McNulty with a through pass from deep. McNulty attempted to tee up Smith however Mugabe was present to intervene. The first chance of the game fell to the hosts, with a Maguire free-kick headed goalward by Bevis Mugabe only for Siegrist to pull off a phenomenal save high in the top right corner.
It was Motherwell however who would strike first in this encounter, a set piece again proving to be United’s Achilles heel. A twenty-third minute corner was headed at the front post by Tony Watt and deflected by a combination of Shankland and Clark into the path of Devante Cole who flicked past Siegrist from three yards. Soon after, the Steelmen would double their advantage. Slack build-up play from Liam Smith and Ian Harkes was capitalised on by Allan Campbell who pickpocketed the latter. The ball was played into the path of Christopher Long twenty yards from goal, who struck a dipping effort low to Siegrist’s left corner.

Mellon turned to Peter Pawlett at half-time in search of the spark that would ignite United’s second period fightback. United started the second half as the dominant side. Five minutes after the restart, a series of penalty claims were waived away by referee Don Robertson. A theatrical McNulty fell to the floor claiming a push by Campbell, instantly followed by a more tangible call for a spot kick as Pawlett was felled under the challenge of Devante Cole. Just two minutes later, some neat link-up play between McNulty and Smith led to the former entering the box and being challenged firmly, leading to United’s third penalty claim in quick succession – Robertson again not interested. The Fir Park side would respond to United’s increasing pressure with a low Watt drive being saved comfortably by Siegrist down to his left-hand side following the Motherwell frontman being played in behind by Devante Cole. Shankland was the next United man to attempt to reduce the deficit, with the striker dragging his effort from the top of the box past Kelly’s right post as the visitors continued to pressure the Steelmen for a route back into the game. United’s efforts would finally be rewarded with just ten minutes remaining. A long distance Butcher drive was tipped round the post brilliantly by the Motherwell stopper. From the resulting corner, Ryan Edwards stooped to head Spörle’s delivery into the net via a deflection from Cole, to give Mellon’s side a deserved lifeline. United turned up the heat on the hosts once again as they went in search of an equaliser. The best chance to take a point back to Tannadice fell to Adrian Spörle who latched on to a Shankland flick on. The Argentinian thumped his half-volley goalward only for Kelly to be equal to the shot, with the ball landing at the feet of the ex-Rangers keeper.

The final whistle sounded after five minutes of injury time to continue United’s 2021 woes, with a 6 pointer in just 3 day’s time against Ross County next up for Mellon’s men.