Goals by David Partridge and Scott McDonald gave Motherwell a 2-0 victory over
Dundee United to leave the Tangerines level on points with Bank of Scotland
Premier League bottom club Livingston.
Defender Partridge grabbed his first goal of the season in only the fourth
minute at Fir Park when he rose unchallenged to meet a Kevin McBride free-kick.
Two minutes after the interval, Tannadice defender Alan Archibald's blunder in
defence allowed McDonald in to seal the points.
The visitors, however, had only themselves to blame for the defeat with a poor
performance where everything that could go wrong did so.
The home side slipped quickly into their stride and took the lead with a goal
which would have had United boss Ian McCall fuming.
When Tannadice playmaker Grant Brebner gave away a cheap free-kick at the left
corner flag, Fir Park midfielder McBride floated his cross into the packed
six-yard box and Partridge rose highest to glance his header past Tony Bullock.
It was the ideal start for the Lanarkshire men and striker Jim Hamilton showed
his confidence five minutes later when he sent a 30-yard drive inches past the
post.
In the 10th minute, United were dealt another blow when defender David
McCracken went off with what appeared to be an arm injury after a clash with
Hamilton and Garry Kenneth slotted into defence.
However, the Taysiders rallied and, moments later, Motherwell goalkeeper
Gordon Marshall saved from United striker Jason Scotland at close range before
Stephen Craigan cleared James Grady's header off the line.
Tannadice midfielder Mark Kerr's snap-shot from 25 yards halfway though the
first half was sloppy in its execution and trundled wide.
At the other end, as the ball bobbled around the United penalty area, Phil
O'Donnell's left-footed effort was weak, limping past the post.
The visitors stepped up the pace before the interval and striker Stevie
Crawford missed a great chance to equalise when he slid his shot from 12 yards
past the post.
United boss McCall replaced Scotland with Collin Samuel at the interval but it
was the home side who doubled their lead two minutes after the break.
Tannadice defender Archibald, in possession at the back and under no pressure,
slipped, allowing the grateful McDonald to drive into the penalty area and
stroke the ball past Bullock.
It was another self-inflicted blow to the visitors and only a great save from
Bullock prevented Jim Paterson's volley from the edge of the box finding the far
corner.
United were up against it now and Partridge brought out another great save
from Bullock with a close-range header from a Steven Hammell free-kick, United
striker Grady having to make the final clearance.
In the 64th minute, United should have halved the deficit when Crawford picked
out Barry Robson at the back post but, somehow, the former Inverness player
contrived to miss the target from no more than eight yards out.
Robson's miss summed up the struggling visitors' display and their small band
of fans braced themselves for another defeat.
The latter stages of the match saw United run out of steam and, at times,
heart as they saw the points slipping away.
The home side, however, were happy to guard their lead through to the final
whistle for the three points which consolidate their top six place spot in the
SPL.
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