Motherwell 1 Dundee United 0

No quick revenge for Dundee United as they suffered a second narrow defeat at Motherwell in just three days to exit the Co-operative Insurance Cup at the quarter-finals stage. To add to their disappointment, Alan Gow grabbed the winner with just four minutes remaining.

The Arabs were without both winger Craig Conway and defender Scott Severin, who actually put through his own goal at the weekend, with Keith Watson and Scott Robertson recalled.

Striker David Goodwillie prodded an early effort towards goalkeeper Darren Randolph following a Garry Kenneth knock down for the visitors before Nick Blackman almost converted a dangerous Jamie Murphy ball across in reply.

Gow then produced a routine catch for visiting keeper Dusan Pernis, whose opposite number Randolph parried from Paul Dixon and left Scott Robertson claiming for a penalty as he tried to follow up under challenge from Steve Jennings.

In-form United striker Goodwillie soon had a long-range attempt taken by the keeper and Pernis had to block to keep out Blackman as the interval approached.

The visitors were forced to replace Dixon with Barry Douglas upon the restart - their opponents having already lost Murphy early on - although it was on loan Blackburn Rovers forward Blackman wide from an angle.

Prince Buaben then surged forward towards the opposite area and drove over and Kenneth also later headed wide a Morgaro Gomis cross.

But it was the hosts who went on to snatch a late winner after Buaben sliced an attempted clearance against his own upright following a corner and Gow fed eagerly off the remains.

Motherwell: Randolph, Saunders, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Hateley, Humphrey, Jennings (Forbes 88), Murphy (Sutton 20), Blackman, Gow (Page 90)

subs (unused): Hollis, McHugh,

Goals: Gow (86)

Dundee United: Pernis, Dillon, Dixon (Douglas 46), Kenneth, Watson, S. Robertson, D. Robertson (Shala 88), Buaben, Gomis, Daly (Cadamarteri 79), Goodwillie

subs (unused): Banks, Dow

Ref: W. Collum

Att: 4,838

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