Courts delighted as United edge close to coveted Euro spot
Levitt (37)
Tam Courts watched his Dundee United hopefuls take a significant step closer to securing European football – then challenged them to go and finish off the job.
Welsh ace Dylan Levitt’s 37th-minute deflected strike was enough for the Tangerines to move three points ahead of rivals Ross County in their quest to clinch a Europa Conference League place.
With just three Premiership games left, Courts’ side are in pole position to round off what would prove to be an impressive first season at the helm.
And the United manager couldn’t hide his delight as he contemplated the prospect of competing on a wider stage next season.
He said: “This was definitely one of the first games we said ‘ That’s a must-win game’ to maintain fourth position and heighten the chances of us getting that European spot.
“So I’m delighted for a couple of different reasons – clean sheet, I
thought we were really controlled the game after we went in front and we played some lovely stuff.
“And, on top of that, we started with three academy graduates. Lewis Neilson at 18 years old had his first victory in a tangerine shirt.
“I tried not to make too much of the fact we have lost a few leads recently because equally we have come from behind just as often.
“But today it felt like there was a lot of control on the pitch and we didn’t fall into the same traps as recently.
“Motherwell have good players and had chances,they hit the woodwork and Benji Siegrist made a big save.
“There was a lot of big-game experience on the pitch and that won us the game.
“Now we just have to keep going over the next three games and hopefully that should take us to where we want to be.”
Motherwell arrived on Tayside knowing a win could see them leapfrog United into fourth place in the table although confidence wasn’t exactly sky-high among Graham Alexander’s men.
The visitors, though, began brightest and almost took the lead in just eight minutes.
Liam Kelly’s long kick-out was missed by Liam Smith. That allowed Ross Tierney to run in on goal, and he was unfortunate to see his curling shot strike Benjamin Siegrist’s far post.
Then, in 18 minutes, Kaiyne Woolery, had a golden opportunity to give the Steelmen the lead.
Callum Slattery robbed United youngster Archie Meekison, and fed it through to striker Woolery, who was 10 yards from goal.
Woolery took a touch before firing a stinging shot towards goal, which Siegrist was relieved to see crash back off the bar.
The sprightly visitors had another chance to break the deadlock in 30 minutes.
This time Woolery pounced on some slack defending by the hosts but the English ace was denied by Swiss keeper Siegrist, who raced off his line to slice the ball clear.
However, United took the lead against the run of play in 37 minutes.
Levitt’s shot, from Marc Mcnulty’s assist, took a deflection off Jake Carroll and just rose over Kelly, who’d gone to ground and couldn’t keep it out despite his best efforts.
They came close to extending their lead after the break through Watt and Scott Mcmann, but it was still the visitors who had the better opportunities.
With seven minutes left, Slattery’s cross from a set-piece was headed just inches wide by Lamie.
Tierney, in 86 minutes, also saw his flashing header from Carroll’s cross tipped round the post by diving Siegrist but it just wasn’t to be for the Lanarkshire club.