Motherwell 2
Dundee Utd 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Our thrice postponed match at Fir Park had an all too familiar ring to it as we concede an early goal, dominate thereafter, but then fail to hit the target. The irritating habit of losing an early goal struck after a mere four minutes play. Davie Cooper threaded the ball through the Tangerines back four to Steve Kirk who looked suspiciously offside, but was not penalised and he rounded Alan Main to roll the ball into an empty net. We were unlucky not to draw level 20 minutes later when Grant Johnson and Paddy Connolly both had shots blocked and with Dykstra stranded out of his goal, Mark Perry headed narrowly past. The game was a story of United pressure with only occasional offensive forays by the home side as Motherwell defended in depth.

Events in the 68th minute led United supporters to believe that it was just going to be one of those nights. Scott Crabbe's snap shot at the near post hit the bar and the ball fell to Christian Dailly, but hesitancy cost him a scoring chance and Paddy Connolly sent the ball whistling narrowly over the bar. Griffin then struck the woodwork at the other end and twice Jim McInally cleared off the line as Motherwell settled and the home side removed any doubts about the result when Paul McGrillen struck with an angular drive two minutes from the end. A fourth league defeat in five outings came as a bitter blow to our European aspirations, particularly, as against Hearts, we had the lion's share of possession.