LAST NIGHT’S RESULTS Rangers 1 St Johnstone 0 Motherwell 2 Dundee Utd 1 Accies 1 County 2
Alexander finally breaks duck despite second-half salvo from dogged United
Motherwell 2 Dundee United 1
MOTHERWELL claimed their first home win for more than three months but it was a night that became far tougher than it ought to have been.
A dominant first-half was reflected in a 2-0 scoreline at the break with goals from Devante Cole and Christopher Long giving them a firm grip on proceedings. However, United were far more aggressive in the second period and when Ryan Edwards pulled a goal back with ten minutes remaining it made for a fraught finale for the hosts. Liam Kelly pulled off a fine save to deny Adrian Sprole in the last few minutes of the encounter as United came within a whisker of snatching what had looked like an unlikely point.
Motherwell, though, felt that they ought to have had a penalty after substitute Nathan McGinley took a hefty boot in the face in the box from Jeandro Fuchs immediately before Edwards had given United a lifeline.
“It looked like it [a penalty] from my perspective, but I spoke to the referee and he gave me an explanation,” said Motherwell manager Graham Alexander.
“Nathan’s nose doesn’t look particularly pretty. You just hope it doesn’t come back to hurt you. The referee thought it was accidental and he said he didn’t want to guess at a penalty and I can understand that. Well, I can now that we have won the game.
“They really put us under the cosh towards the end. There were a few fantastic saves from Liam, and a few bodies throwing themselves in front of the ball but our discipline was good in terms of not giving away cheap free-kicks. The last 10 minutes was a nervous affair.”
The win nudges Motherwell up into ninth place, but had they taken some of their chances the win would have been more emphatic. Tony Watt worked his socks off throughout and could have clinched the points in the second period but was denied by a fine save from Ben Siegrist. While Long could have had his second of the night when he sent an angled effort just inches wide of the target after an intelligent ball into his feet from Allan Campbell.
Motherwell had the best of the early chances with Bevis Mugabi bringing out a fine save from United keeper Benjamin Siegrist after he had met a Barry Maguire cross with a fierce header. As the intensity of Motherwell’s play increased it was a scrappy goal that gave them the lead.
As United toiled to clear Maguire’s corner from the right-hand side, Cole was alert as the ball bobbled around the six-yard box to prod it into the net.
It quickly got better still for Motherwell. Cole was the architect this time, laying the ball into the path of Long who curled a 20-yard effort well beyond the reach of Siegrist. Long rippled the side netting after bursting into the box as Motherwell kept up a sustained period of pressure on the visitors.
United took off Nicky Clark for Peter Pawlett at the interval as they tried to inject some energy into their performance. They had three quickfire shouts for a penalty immediately following the restart but none of them carried any real weight.
There was more about United in the second period and they carved out a decent chance when Lawrence Shankland dragged an effort
wide. Kelly was the busier of the keepers in the late stages although Motherwell always looked dangerous on the break.
For all the late push, the signs look ominous for a United who could be dragged into a relegation dogfight.
“We understand that we need to win games of football,” said United manager Micky Mellon. “We won’t shy away from that. We know the importance of getting ready for an important game at the weekend. I won’t lie to you and say I don’t understand where we are in the league.”