We lined up with one change from Saturday’s eleven with Leitch replacing Ainsworth. United were unchanged as we kicked off looking good in the new away strip.
In two minutes we struck the cross bar when Law collected a short corner and launched a curling effort from the angle of the box. Cierzniak was beaten but the woodwork saved his blushes.
The wall dealt with this first half threat
We set up with a lone striker and a packed midfield, Sutton and Erwin swapping the left midfield slot as required but support was soon forthcoming when we were in possession. We had half a dozen corners in the first half hour though no clear cut chances. At the other end United’s first shot on target was a long range blast from Ciftci. Our wall stood firm when we conceded a free kick 24 yards out. Leitch collected a needless caution when he tripped GMS inside the centre circle. The right winger was proving hard to handle and he soon set up Rankin but Twarzik coped easily with the shot.
David Ferguson started the second half as Francis-Angol lingered in the shower and the youngster entered the referee’s book three minutes into his debut game. Mackay-Steven’s run was halted with a tug. Erwin looked lively at both ends of the pitch though the link up play between him and Sutton has some way to develop.
United had lots of decent possession in our last third but slack final passing let them down. Ciftci forced McManus into a last gasp block as we defended deep. We had the ball in the net after 65 minutes but Erwin was just offside before he collected and finished.
The pressure continued and we survived a series of scares. For long spells most of the players were in our box. It seemed inevitable that we would concede. We were unable to hold the ball and our frantic clearances were quickly returned with interest. Paton should have scored from 8 yards dead centre but he managed to send the ball high into the stand.
Bilate had replaced Watson and within ten minutes he produced a goal fit to win any game. He found space 26 yards out and unleashed a cracker of a shot that no ‘keeper could stop. McCall’s response was to send on Ainsworth and McHugh for Sutton and Leitch.
We came close in added time when Reid came close but on the second half performance we can have no complaints at the result.
Motherwell: Twardzik, Reid, Carswell, McManus, Sutton (McHugh 85), Lasley, Francis-Angol (Ferguson 45), Law, Erwin, Kerr, Leitch (Ainswort 85)
Attendance 8,367
Dundee United 1 Motherwell 0