CLARK NICKS IN TO EARN UNITED VITAL REPRIEVE
DUNDEE UNITED are beginning to make a timely habit of producing late shows to earn a precious point when none appeared forthcoming.
For the second weekend in succession, Micky Mellon’s charges struck home a leveller when this game appeared done and dusted.
Tony Watt’s first-half header for his sixth goal of the season looked to have ended Motherwell’s winless run, which has now stretched to eight games, but deep in injurytime Dundee United substitute Nicky Clark produced a clinical finish, at the second time of asking, to earn a point.
Just as at Easter Road the previous Saturday, United rode their l uck as Motherwell passed up a series of chances to put the outcome of this game beyond doubt. But Mellon’s players deserve credit for hanging in there and got their reward through Clark’s goal.
And manager Mellon was quick to praise the never-saydie spirit of his side. He said: ‘I think it was thoroughly deserved. We lost a sloppy goal from a set-plan early on and played some good football up until we equalised.
‘The group is relentless and they’ll keep going and going. Their fitness will make you bend in the end.
‘I was delighted to see that go in and we nearly nicked it right at the end with a brilliant counter-attack.
‘So full credit to the boys. We’ve had two tough games (Kilmarnock and Motherwell) where we wanted six points but came away with four.’
This match had been billed as a battle between the sides in fifth and sixth place in the Premiership but on the day of the match Motherwell tumbled out of the top six to ninth spot after the SPFL tribunal’s ruling into Kilmarnock and St Mirren forfeiting games for breaching Covid-19 regulations was suspended.
Motherwell had been awarded two 3-0 wins after their games with the two clubs in October were postponed after Killie and St Mirren were unable to fulfil those fixtures.
The six points they had gained from that ruling had been wiped from their total after the SFA announced that the appeal for the SPFL’s decision would be heard on January 14.
The timing of the decision left Fir Park boss Stephen Robinson livid. He said: ‘The timing of the SFA announcement was well thought out wasn’t it? The day of a game? Maybe people could use their brains and announce it on a Monday — I’m certain they didn’t meet on Christmas Day.
‘We haven’t shouted or screamed about points or not having points. We haven’t done anything wrong and are willing to play the games as we always were. We are not in control of that.
‘I have to be careful what I say, but the announcement on the day of a game isn’t ideal.’
Watt powered home a header in the ninth minute from Liam Polworth’s corner.
The striker lost his marker and sent an unstoppable effort past United keeper Benjamin Siegrist.
The visitors had plenty of pressure but the second goal Motherwell craved wouldn’t come and they paid the price for not taking their chances.
In injury-time, Luke Bolton’s cross was gathered by Clark and although his first effort was blocked, he made no mistake at the second time of asking as he dispatched it into the bottom corner.
The hosts then almost won the game but Trevor Carson pulled off a wonderful save to deny sub Adrian Sporle.
DUNDEE UTD (4-4-2): Siegrist; Smith, Connolly, Reynolds, Robson (Pawlett 57), McMullan (Sporle 68), Butcher (Clark 77), Fuchs, Bolton; McNulty, Shankland.
Subs (not used): Mehmet, Powers, Edwards, Harkes, Appere, Neilson.
Booked: Fuchs, Smith, Robson.
MOTHERWELL (5-3-2): Carson; O’Donnell, O’Hara, Gallagher, Lamie, Grimshaw; Campbell, Crawford (Cornelius 80), Polworth; Watt, Lang (White 77). Subs (not used): Chapman, Carroll, McGinley, Hastie, Maguire, Mugabi, Cole. Booked: None. Referee: Bobby Madden.