A well-taken goal by Owen Coyle saw Motherwell fortunate to collect three
points and ease their relegation worries.
United, having twice rattled the woodwork, were unlucky not to take at least
one point as Motherwell held on desperately in the dying stages.
Motherwell made a promising start when after only nine minutes Simo Valakari
had a tremendous volley brilliantly saved by Sieb Dykstra at full stretch.
As the first half progressed though, United started to dominate and 10 minutes
from half time Gary McSwegan came close with a snap-shot which trundled just
wide.
Then four minutes from the break McSwegan collected a pass from Kjall
Olofsson, turned brilliantly and watched in disappointment as his wonderful
volley rattled off the crossbar.
Motherwell looked much more positive at the start of the second half and a
rare blunder by Dykstra, fumbling a free-kick from Kevin Christie, gave Willy
Falconer an opportunity but although he rattled the loose ball towards goal the
United keeper recovered to block.
After 52 minutes, Motherwell made the breakthrough when Stephen McMillan won
the ball outside his own penalty area and raced towards the halfway line before
releasing a superb pass in front of Coyle.
The Motherwell striker calmly advanced on goal, drawing the keeper off his
line, before sliding the ball home for his 15th goal of the season.
United brought on striker Robbie Winters and in the last 20 minutes he came
close to giving United a deserved point.
Having watched one header flash past the post Winters was unlucky nine minutes
from time when, from a Dolan free-kick, his header rebounded from the outside of
the post.
The pressure continued and minutes later Motherwell's new Swedish signing
Stefan Lindqvist cleared off the line as he helped his new team-mates to three
precious points and takes the side to seventh place in the Premier Division.
Teams:
Motherwell: Woods, Christie, McMillan, Denham, Martin, Falconer,
Valakari, Lindqvist, Coyne, Davies, Coyle.
Subs Not Used: Philliben, Shivute, McCulloch.
Goals: Coyle 52.
Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Jonsson, Jenkins, Alsford, Perry, Pedersen,
Olofsson, Easton, McSwegan, Dolan, Zetterlund.
Subs Not Used: Winters, Bowman, Duffy.
Att: 5,012
Ref: K Clark (Paisley).
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