Motherwell kept up their unbeaten record this season against Dundee United in no uncertain manner with a comprehensive victory.

The home side must have had high hopes after their Ibrox win two weeks ago but went behind after seven minutes and never looked like getting back into the game.

Motherwell had only won twice at Tannadice in the Premier League but had been impressive earlier in the season and this time took United to the cleaners.

The home side could not be faulted for their efforts but must have known it was not to be their day when their top strikers Billy Dodds and Kjell Olofsson missed no fewer than five reasonable chances between them.

The visitors, on the other hand, had ex-Chelsea striker John Spencer in sparkling form and looked like they could score every time they went up the park. They only managed three because they took their foot off the pedal in the later stages.

Scott McCulloch made his home debut in place of the suspended Magnus Skoldmark and in the second minute, the ex-Dunfermline full-back played a ball forward which Olofsson nodded on, but Shaun Teale foiled Dodds with a brilliant last-gasp tackle.

That was the last time United were to be in control, for in seven minutes the visitors took the lead.

Ex-Everton winger Pat Nevin fired in a cross which was half-cleared by Neil Duffy, and ex-Manchester City midfielder Ged Brannan fired a powerful drive into the net from 22 yards.

United stepped up their efforts looking for an equaliser, and a Joe Miller corner was headed back across goal by Jason De Vos, but Duffy headed narrowly over from six yards.

Dodds then wasted a chance when he ran on to a 30-yard pass from Miller but shot tamely past from the edge of the box.

The visitors might have gone two up in the 26th minute when Spencer played a delightful ball over the home defence, and when McCulloch slipped, Nevin had a glorious chance but shot past the post from 16 yards.

Stephen McMillan was the next visitor to squander an opportunity. Fellow full-back Jamie McGowan swung a cross to the far post, but McMillan elected to head the ball back across goal, and the chance was lost.

United claimed a penalty when on-loan Coventry midfielder John Eustace clashed with Andy Goram, but referee Martin Clark waved away their protests.

He did award the home side a corner which was taken by Miller and half-cleared as far as David Hannah who fired in a 30-yarder which came back off the base of the post with the keeper beaten.

Ex-Scotland man Goram then did well to save an angled Miller effort, but the visitors deservedly went two up seven minutes from the break.

Ex-Wolves striker Don Goodman beat Duffy down the right and squared the ball for Spencer to hit a shot which deflected off De Vos and trundled in to the corner of the net.

Three minutes from the break, Olofsson had a glorious chance to pull one back after Miller had put him through but from 12 yards, he shot wildly over the top.

The second half continued with loads of effort from United and just as much cultured play from Motherwell, but it was the hour mark before the visitors got their third.

Goodman challenged Sieb Dykstra, and the ball broke to Spencer who steered it away from the two defenders on the line and into the corner of the net.

There was only one booking - United's Miller for diving.

Teams

Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Malpas, Olofsson, Hannah, Easton (Worrell 72), Dodds, Miller (Mathie 72), Duffy, De Vos, Eustace, McCulloch. Subs Not Used: Jonsson, Gallacher, McLaughlin. Booked: Miller.

Motherwell: Goram, McMillan, McGowan, Brannan, Valakari, Gower, Thomas, Teale, Nevin (Nicholas 83), Spencer, Goodman.

Subs Not Used: May, Matthaei, Bannister, Adams.

Goals: Brannan 7, Spencer 38, 60.

Att: 8,110

Ref: M Clark (Edinburgh).