United in victory

Dundee United closed the gap to just four points on second-placed Motherwell with an impressive 1-0 victory at Fir Park.

Striker Johnny Russell scored their winner following an excellent break from Gary Mackay-Steven in the seventeenth-minute.

Motherwell later introduced former Scotland international James McFadden from the bench but he was unable to spark a recovery as the visitors bounced back superbly from their heavy weekend defeat at leaders Celtic.

The hosts actually began well with efforts from Chris Humphrey and Nicky Law while United defender Brian McLean cleared narrowly wide of his own goal.

But when Mackay-Steven burst away and slipped an inviting pass to Russell, the free-scoring striker guided a calm finish past goalkeeper Darron Randolph for his fifth goal in four games.

He almost added another when curling a shot wide from around twenty-yards before Randolph blocked from from Mackay-Steven after the interval and skipper Jon Daly headed over from six-yards.

Polish keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak was forced into a low save from Simon Ramsden at the other end. But the visitors were always dangerous on the break with the lively Mackay-Steven producing two more great stops from Randolph and then failing to take advantage after Richie Ryan had been similarly denied.

Well midfielder Law struck narrowly over in reply but back came their opponents as Mackay-Steven's effort was blocked on the line by Shaun Hutchinson after seizing upon a Stuart Armstrong pass.

Motherwell: Randolph, Hammell (Francis-Angol 55), Hutchinson, Hateley, Ramsden, Law, Humphrey, Higginbotham (McFadden 73), Carswell, Ojamaa (McHugh 73), Higdon

subs (unused): Hollis, Saunders, Cummins, Daley

Dundee United: Cierzniak, Dillon, Daly, McLean, Watson, Flood (Millar 87), Rankin, Ryan, Armstrong, Russell, Mackay-Steven

subs (unused): Banks, Douglas, Souttar, Gardyne, Dow, Thomson

Goals: Russell (17)

Ref: Finnie

Att: 4,633

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Spain