Mulgrew stars as United keep showing they mean business

GOOD luck to Tam Courts with his plea, aired last week, for a lid to be kept on some of the hype surrounding his team.

Charlie Mulgrew blew that cover off with such force, with 13 minutes to play, that it was last seen heading for the River Tay never to be found again.

Dundee United, after their 10th victory in all competitions, remain third but are joint-top of the cinch Premiership. Their status as the surprise package of the early months is secure after defeating a fellow top-six gatecrasher.

But it would be natural to assume loftier targets are now being entertained by fans thrilled and giddy by what they are witnessing.

United’s defensive record is remarkable, giving them a chance in every game. They’ve conceded six in 10 league games and Motherwell needed a soft penalty award to peg them back for all of eight minutes in the second half.

And when the centrehalves responsible for excellence in that department are capable of winning games with prowess at the other end, then nothing seems impossible.

Dealing with the wild anticipation around Tannadice is a wonderful problem for Courts. He said: ‘It is amazing considering the initial journey we’ve been on but all credit to the players for the run.

‘They’re implementing the ideas and taking on the information they get during the week. Again we saw our quality, our mentality and a strong desire to win.’

A road accident on the outskirts of the city delayed the Motherwell team bus. And the visitors were left to lament not taking full advantage of a glorious opportunity in 50 seconds that would have brushed off their travel troubles in a flash.

Sean Goss should have put his foot through Tony Watt’s cutback but United keeper Benji Siegrist was able to spring smartly to his right to divert the attempt wide.

The confidence levels of Mulgrew and Ryan Edwards must be sky high, inspiring them to team up to stunning effect in attack.

After Mulgrew’s free-kick broke down, the veteran fired up some fancy footwork to advance down the right.

He whipped over a brilliant delivery with his weaker foot for Edwards to ghost in behind Stephen O’Donnell at the back post to head home his second goal in as many games.

Siegrist then saved from Kaiyne Woolery and Juhani Ojala had a header ruled out for a push as Motherwell were denied a reply before half-time.

Graham Alexander’s only complaint about his own team was not being tight enough at the two set-pieces. Otherwise, he felt they were excellent and suggested this was the best performance of a tenure that began in January.

Certainly, they were persistent in probing and testing Siegrist and eventually profited from the Swiss being penalised for a foul.

Two minutes after making a worldclass stop from a heavily deflected O’Donnell drive, the keeper came to punch and, while that bid was successful, he went through Watt to make it.

The striker dusted himself down to produce a cool finish from the spot, sending Siegrist the wrong way.

But United’s feelgood factor is so hard to stall right now and, within seven minutes, Tannadice was bouncing again. Nathan McGinley’s needless handball conceded a freekick. From the set-piece’s second phase, Mulgrew thrust out a leg at the loose ball. His prod at goal came off the luckless McGinley to beat Liam Kelly and secure a third United win in a row.

It was a personal triumph for Mulgrew, leaving his manager in awe. Courts said: ‘Charlie pushes himself to the limit, testament to his pedigree and winning background. It rubs off on players and staff, seeing what high standards look like on a daily basis.’ Mulgrew earned his most recent and 44th Scotland cap two years ago.

Courts added: ‘He should not rule anything out because he’s playing probably the best football of his life.’ DUNDEE UNITED (4-3-3): Siegrist; Freeman, Edwards, Mulgrew, McMann; Harkes, Fuchs, Levitt; Pawlett, Niskanen, Clark (Appere 80).

Subs (not used): Newman, Chalmers, Hoti, Glass, Smith, Biamou.

Booked: Fuchs, Edwards. MOTHERWELL (4-3-3) Kelly; O’Donnell, Ojala, Mugabi, McGinley; Goss, Slattery (O’Hara 82), Grimshaw; Woolery

(Roberts 86), Van Veen (Shields 82), Watt.

Subs (not used): Fox, Maguire,

Carroll, Solholm. Booked: Slattery, Grimshaw, Van Veen, McGinley. Referee: Kevin Clancy.

Attendance: 6,854.