Richie Foran struck twice against Dundee United at Fir Park to earn Motherwell their first win of 2006 and boost their hopes of making the Bank of Scotland Premier League top six.

United failed to sparkle and Craig Brewster's first defeat as Tannadice player-boss leaves them with an uphill struggle to reach the top half.

Foran gave Well the advantage midway through a tight first half and they looked comfortable after he headed home a second in the 57th minute.

Both managers named unchanged sides, made possible by appeals against red cards shown to Well substitute Abel Thermeus and United's Barry Robson in midweek.

Motherwell started with more purpose and Scott McDonald beat the offside trap in the eighth minute to latch on to Kevin McBride's pass down the right.

He cut inside and laid the ball back to Alan McCormack whose first shot was blocked before a powerful low drive from the edge of the box was saved by Derek Stillie's legs.

United were happy to sit back and look to break and Collin Samuel almost took advantage of a slip by Brian McLean.

But the United frontman's poor touch allowed Graeme Smith to dive bravely at his feet and avert the danger.

Robson fired a low drive from 25 yards out on the left channel after a quick United break but Smith got down well to block.

United were posing more of an attacking threat with David Fernandez looking dangerous but it was Motherwell who broke to deadly effect in the 27th minute.

McDonald played a fine through ball from wide on the left and Foran burst forward, brushed off a despairing challenge and slipped the ball past Stillie into the far corner.

Robson's outswinging corner from the left found Samuel in space past the back post but McBride blocked his powerful effort.

Well sat back for the rest of the first half and snuffed out any United threat.

The Taysiders pushed forward as the second half got underway and won a free-kick 25 yards out.

It was played short to an unmarked Charlie Mulgrew just inside

the box on the left channel but his weak effort was easily saved.

McCormack was booked for bringing down Fernandez wide on the United right and Robson swung in the free-kick.

United fans claimed for a penalty when McLean went up with his hand raised but the ball fell for David McCracken who shot wide from 12 yards.

Foran grabbed his second in the 57th minute when he rose at the back post to nod Kerr's left-wing corner down and into the net.

Mulgrew was booked for a late tackle on McBride but the goal had taken the sting out their game and Fernandez summed up their play with a speculative long-range effort that sailed wide.

McCormack moved wide right after Phil O'Donnell replaced McBride midway through the half and the Irishman almost scored instantly after latching on to Martyn Corrigan's lofted ball forward but Stillie, was quickly off his line to block.

McCracken was booked for a tackle from behind on McDonald 30 yards out and Steven Hammell curled the free-kick over the wall but the ball struck the base of the post.

Samuel turned well on the edge of the box and got a decent low strike on target but the Well keeper got down to smother.

At the other end, McDonald turned just inside the box but shot just wide of the far post.

United had four strikers on by the end of the game after Lee Miller and David Goodwillie were introduced but they never looked likely to spoil Motherwell's first clean-sheet since December 10.

Teams

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, McLean, Hammell,McBride (O'Donnell 67), Kerr, McCormack (Fagan 73), Foran,Hamilton, Scott McDonald (McGarry 89).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Thermeus, Darren Lee Smith, Reynolds.

Booked: McCormack, Hammell.

Goals: Foran 27, 57.

Dundee Utd Stillie, Duff, McCracken, Archibald, Mulgrew,McInnes (Miller 61), Kerr (Goodwillie 86), Brebner, Robson,Fernandez, Samuel.

Subs Not Used: Samson, Kenneth, Robertson, Cameron, Gardiner.

Booked: Mulgrew, McCracken.

Att: 5,257

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).