MATCH REPORT: DUNDEE UNITED V MOTHERWELL

Nicky Clark struck with an injury time equaliser to snatch a point at the death of a hard-fought match. 

Conditions at Tannadice were challenging, as the crisp cold of Christmas gave way to a blowy, blustery Boxing Day.

Dundee United started the game with the same personnel and in the same attacking 4-4-2 formation that resulted in a 2-0 win against Kilmarnock on the 23rd. In the opening minutes both Luke Bolton and Our Academy Graduate Jamie Robson found space attacking down the left, putting balls into the box.

Motherwell found the opening goal with their first sustained period of pressure. They won two corners in a row, the second finding striker Tony Watt leaping at the back post. On nine minutes, United found themselves behind.

United fashioned several chances, with both Shankland and the midfield metronome Fuchs having attempts blocked by Trevor Carson. An unusual chance presented itself just after 20 minutes, when Motherwell goalie Trevor Carson held the ball too long in his own area, conceding an indirect freekick. McNulty and Shankland stood over the ball, with Mark tapping to Lawrence who fired goalwards. The ball thundered into the stampede of Motherwell players, and broke away from target. But the attacking 4-4-2 certainly was showing its venom.

A thrilling feature of the first half was McNulty driving and dribbling through the blue away tops. His link play with Shankland, and the support from Bolton and McMullan in the wide areas was a constant stress-test to the Motherwell defence. When the ball was driven to United’s side of midfield, Tony Watt was nearly always hungrily upon it. The striker seemed energised by his early goal. 

United’s best chance in the first half came through Fuchs. The midfielder picked up the ball outside the Motherwell box and hammered a shot to the bottom right corner. Carson pulled off a good save to tip the ball onto the post. 

The Tangerines struggled to put the zip into their game in the early second half. Motherwell were happy with their lead and their five in the midfield were fighting tooth and nail to retain it. The away team came close to doubling their lead through Lang. The striker pounced upon a Siegrist spill in the penalty area and shot goalward, with a certain score averted by Liam Smith, belting back and knocking the ball clear. A very close call, and the momentum with Motherwell.

McNulty fashioned a chance by jinking and driving through the smallest crack in Motherwell’s defensive fortifications, but the striker was brought down on the point of shooting. The referee waved play on.

Micky Mellon rang the changes, bringing on Peter Pawlett and Nicky Clark to add fresh impetus to the attack. Motherwell for their part looked to lock up their box and throw away the key for the final twenty minutes. They had five at the back and another four not too far in front of them, keeping United at bay. Their approach almost secured them the win.

Nicky Clark struck for the equaliser on 92 minutes, with his initial shot rebounding back to him. United’s leading goal scorer had this final chance to grab a point for his team, and he took it. A composed shot from 10 yards found the net, and snatched a hard-fought point at the death. 

UNITED: Siegrist, Robson, Connolly, Reynolds (c), Smith, Fuchs, Butcher, Bolton, McMullan, McNulty, Shankland SUBS:  Harkes, Clark, Pawlett, Appere (AG), Edwards, Neilson, Deniz, Powers, Sporle 

MOTHERWELL: Carson, O’Hara, Gallagher, Lamie, O’Donnell, Campbell., Crawford, Polworth, Grimshaw, Watt, Lang SUBS: Carroll, McGinley, White, Hastie, Maguire, Mugabi, Cornelius, Chapman, Cole.