Dundee Utd 2 - 0 Motherwell

Dundee Utd 2 - 0 Motherwell



David Goodwillie scores for Dundee United against Motherwell
Goodwillie marked his return from suspension with a goal

Dundee United claimed victory in their first home league match since November as Stuart McCall suffered his first defeat as Motherwell manager.

Johnny Russell struck the post with a long-range shot during a promising opening spell by the hosts.

And it was Russell who broke the deadlock with a header on 53 minutes.

Motherwell came close when Jamie Murphy's header was blocked by keeper Dusan Pernis before David Goodwillie sealed United's win late on.

The win moves the Tangerines up to seventh in the Scottish Premier League, three points behind Motherwell who have played two games more.

United almost opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Johnny Russell's shot cracked off the post and the rebound evaded David Goodwillie, the subject of a failed transfer bid by Rangers last week.

Russell was involved again minutes later with a neat back-heel to set up Prince Buaben and the midfielder's shot was tipped wide by Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

Goodwillie, back from suspension, had an opportunity to score when he burst through the Motherwell defence and rounded Randolph but with the angle for the shot narrow, the keeper got back to block the striker's shot.

Motherwell were struggling to get a foothold in the game and John Sutton's shot over the bar on 19 minutes was the visitors' first real attempt at goal.

Buaben stung the palms of Randolph with another fierce drive and the goalkeeper claimed the ball at the second attempt.

Morgaro Gomis was next to test the Motherwell stopper with a powerful shot and Randolph dived to his right to beat the ball to safety.

Sutton rose to head the ball against the frame of the United goal from Ross Forbes's cross but the offside flag had already been raised against the Englishman.

Forbes tried his luck with a free-kick from distance but the effort sailed over as Motherwell continued to struggle to get a foothold in the game.

Referee Iain Brines ignored claims for a penalty after the ball appeared to hit the hand of Keith Lasley in the Motherwell box.

There were further penalty claims in the opening minutes of the second half when Paul Dixon went down in the box but the United full-back was booked for simulation.

But the hosts continued to press and took the lead when Dixon's corner was headed back across goal by Garry Kenneth for Russell to steal in and nod the ball into the net with the aid of the post.

There was more work for Randolph to do when Goodwillie fired in a shot and the striker was once again foiled by the goalkeeper 13 minutes from the end.

Motherwell pressed for a leveller and Jamie Murphy met Chris Humphrey's cross with a goal-bound header only for Pernis to make a terrific save, Garry Kenneth bravely blocking the rebound effort.

United made sure of their victory when Goodwillie converted substitute Stuart Armstrong's cross with a shot from eight yards