Motherwell 0
Dundee Utd 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

That well worn cliche, a game of two halves, perfectly sums up this confrontation of the McLean cIan. Virtually from the first whistle United took the game to Motherwell taking full advantage of a strong wind at their backs. In fact, it was former Tannadice custodian John Gardiner who kept Motherwell in the game with some fine saves, notably from Dave Narey, after a superb move. Then just on the interval, John tipped over a well placed chip from Eamonn Bannon. However, he had been beaten earlier. Persistence on the right by Davie Dodds paid off when he chased a ball to the bye-line as Forbes was allowing it to go out, he turned it back to Eamonn Bannon and his first-time cross was side-footed strongly past Gardiner by John Clark.

After the break Motherwell, now aided by the elements, performed much better, and it was Hamish McAlpine's turn to perform heroics. One save in particular, when he tipped over a Harrow shot, almost fell in the miraculous category. Raymond Blair posed problems on the left and he, too, brought out a fine save by Hamish at the near post. Overall, United probably deserved to win by creating the greater number of chances in that first half, but 'Well hit back strongly in that second period and could easily have snatched an equaliser.