Bottom club Dundee United go into the winter break in a positive frame of mind after they secured three vital SPL points with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Motherwell at Tannadice.

United closed the gap on second bottom St Mirren thanks to second half goals from Craig Easton and Jim Hamilton, which put the memory of their last-gasp loss to Hibernian on Saturday behind them.

The home side, with Scotland under 21 goalkeeper Paul Gallacher in for the suspended Alan Coombe, started well.

Young Jamie McCunnie, impressive at full-back throughout, swung a long ball to the far post which Hasney Aljofree unmarked but the former Bolton man's volley just missed Goram's left-hand post.

Centre half Jim Lauchlan sprung to meet a Charlie Miller cross from six yards but with Goram beaten the ball rebounded on the right-hand post.

Danny Griffin came close after 14 minutes and shortly afterwards, Derek Lilley's fierce right foot volley screamed wide.

With United well on top, strike partner Jim Hamilton got in on the act with his fierce volley from long range just going wide.

But Motherwell, rarely seen as an attacking force up to this point, then carved out an opening for Ged Brannan, but his finely struck drive whistled only inches away from Gallacher's top right-hand corner.

Right on half time, Lauchlan became the first name in the book after a bad challenge on John Spencer but the goal United had deserved for their first half play came just 11 minutes after the interval.

Derek Lilley squeezed over a cross from the left and Scotland under-21 striker was on hand to head the ball low past Goram.

Motherwell midfielder Steven Hammell had an immediate chance to equalise but his low drive after a cleverly worked free kick was deflected behind.

And just past the hour, United made Motherwell pay by grabbing the second goal.

From the right flank, Lilley created the space and his flighted cross was powered home by Hamilton.

This was no less than United deserved and Lilley almost made it three when he shot just wide from long-range.

Hamilton headed against a post from a Charlie Miller corner and the visitors defence scrambled away the rebound.

Motherwell's efforts to come back into the match proved fruitless, despite boss Billy Davies introducing Derek Adams, Stuart Elliott and Don Goodman for his mis-firing front line.

Derek Townsley, Greg Strong and Lilley were all booked by referee Eric Martindale and so long before the end, the home support had begun long overdue celebrations - safe in the knowledge that their team had at least earned a 100% record in 2001.

Teams

Dundee Utd: Gallacher, McCunnie, De Vos, Lauchlan, Partridge, Easton, Griffin, Miller, Aljofree, Hamilton, Lilley (Thompson 87).

Subs Not Used: Onstad, Davidson, McCracken, Winters.

Booked: Lauchlan, Lilley.

Goals: Easton 55, Hamilton 62.

Motherwell: Goram, Corrigan, Strong, McMillan, Hammell, Twaddle (Elliott 67), Brannan, Leitch (Adams 63), Townsley, McCulloch (Goodman 75), Spencer.

Subs Not Used: Wood, Lasley.

Booked: Strong, Townsley.

Att: 6,311

Ref: E Martindale (Scotland).