Substitute Danny Swanson scored after less than a minute on the pitch to set Dundee United on to road to a crucial 2-0 victory over Motherwell in the race for Europe.

He broke the deadlock when he was introduced 15 minutes from time and team-mate Mark de Vries then slotted home a calm finish with just two minutes remaining.

The victory in the lunchtime match put the Tannadice side three points clear of their visitors and elevated them to third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, two points ahead of Hibs who travelled to play Rangers later in the day.

Dundee United manager Craig Levein made one change to his League Cup final line-up for the visit of Motherwell as Jim O'Brien, who had been cup-tied for the penalty shootout defeat by Rangers at Hampden six days earlier, returned in place of Ghana international Prince Buaben.

Motherwell were playing their first game in 10 days, and manager Mark McGhee made one change from the side which had lost at Hibs by handing a starting place to midfielder Keith Lasley in place of the benched Steven McGarry, while Bob Malcolm continued in place of suspended captain Paul Quinn.

Ross McCormack took a free-kick on five minutes after he had been pulled down in a challenge with Morgaro Gomis - his cross from the left to the back post was met by Malcolm, but his effort lacked power and was easily scooped up on the line by goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska.

Keith Lasley then directed a half chance towards the goalkeeper, while his Motherwell counterpart Graeme Smith clutched a near-post header minutes later from De Vries following a Christian Kalvenes cross.

O'Brien's free-kick after 24 minutes drifted harmlessly wide.

Motherwell made an early substitution by withdrawing left-back Steven Hammell and replacing him with midfielder Simon Lappin.

He tried to create an opening for David Clarkson after 31 minutes but his cross was ruled to have hit the striker's arm.

United had their best chances of the half in the 10 minutes before the interval.

De Vries played advantage after O'Brien was fouled by Lappin and squared for Noel Hunt but his effort was blocked for a corner.

Hunt then headed over the bar after De Vries had found Gomis with a cross out to the left, and he in turn played it back for Kalvenes to cross towards goal.

Hunt and Kalvenes then got in each other's way as they both went for a ball fired in towards the left-hand post.

Motherwell looked livelier as the half drew to a close but McCormack rushed a volley six minutes before the break and ballooned his well effort over the bar.

Clarkson fired over the bar from 20 yards two minutes after the restart.

United then had their closest chance of the game when O'Brien fired in a free-kick from the left wing only for Garry Kenneth to send his diving header wide of the left-hand upright.

Mark Kerr tried his luck with a long-range effort after a Hunt throw was cleared but his drive rolled off target.

McCormack then had to settle for a corner when he raced onto a quickly-taken Stephen Craigan free-kick and held off Michael Kovacevic to try to turn the ball home from close range.

Hunt headed wide of the left-hand post when he rose to meet a Kalvenes cross.

Chances in front of goal continued to be at a premium, and neither goalkeeper was tested as Craigan's 25-yard shot from a McCormack lay-off was still rising as it went over the bar and De Vries sent the ball wide of the left-hand post from a turn and shot.

Kalvenes rushed to the edge of his box and stuck out a foot to block Chris Porter from Motherwell's most promising attack of the second half, started when McCormack pounced as Kenneth missed a harmless clearance into midfield.

Motherwell had a trio of McCormack corners from the left as the game entered its final quarter, with Hunt heading a clearance into the side netting and then Craigan having a downward header go just wide of the post.

United finally took the lead 15 minutes from time through Swanson who had been on the field for just one minute after being introduced in place of O'Brien.

He picked up possession on the right wing and cut inside, easily weaving post visiting defenders Malcolm and Craigan, and scored with a low drilled shot which evaded goalkeeper Smith and nestled in the bottom left corner.

De Vries sealed the three points with two minutes remaining, collecting Willo Flood's pass inside from the right wing, beating Craigan and rounding advancing goalkeeper Smith to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

Teams:

Dundee Utd Zaluska, Kovacevic, Wilkie (Grainger 71), Kenneth,Kalvenes, Flood, Kerr, Gomis, O'Brien (Swanson 75), Hunt,De Vries.

Subs Not Used: McLean, Dillon, Daly, Conway, Odhiambo.

Goals: Swanson 76, De Vries 89.

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Malcolm, Craigan, Reynolds,Hammell (Lappin 27), Fitzpatrick, Hughes, Lasley (McGarry 56),McCormack, Porter, Clarkson, McGarry (Murphy 83).

Subs Not Used: Daniels, Brian McLean, Darren Smith, Archdeacon.

Booked: Porter, Lappin, Craigan, McCormack, Clarkson.

Att: 6,779

Ref: Scott McDonald (Scotland).

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