Motherwell 1
Dundee Utd 2
League Cup (Section 4)

Match Report

United maintained their 100% record in the League Cup when completing a hat trick of wins, this time triumphing 2-1 over Motherwell at Fir Park. Manager Jim McLean stayed with the same starting eleven from the midweek win over Partick Thistle, with John Reilly replacing Ian Gibson on the bench.

After Davie Dodds and Paul Sturrock had come close in the first quarter of an hour, United got the goal their play deserved after 23 minutes. Eamonn Bannon won possession in midfield and embarked on a 30 yard run up the left wing, wiggling past two defenders in the process. A finely judged pass found Willie Pettigrew who side-stepped one player before slamming the ball inside Hugh Sproat's inside post. Two minutes from the break, Motherwell were awarded a penalty, with Ian Clinging's header hitting Iain Phillip's arm. Brian McLaughlin scored from the spot.

Six minutes into the second half Richard Gough replaced Graeme Payne and it proved an inspired substitution. The big defender scored his first goal for the club, rising to powerfully head in another cross from Eamonn Bannon 13 minutes from the end of a match in which United were made to fight all the way.