After a keenly-contested 90 minutes, Motherwell secured their first home win since October with a 2-1 win over Dundee United.
A terrific first half saw a quick double from Devante Cole and Christopher Long to put ‘Well in the driving seat.
But just like the game at Tannadice, the Steelmen passed up a host of chances and nearly paid the penalty as Ryan Edwards’ goal ten minutes from time once again gave United the chance of grabbing a late equaliser.
Although Graham Alexander boosted his squad with five signings in the last few days of the transfer window, the ‘Well boss largely stood by the side which earned three points at Dingwall.
In the absence of skipper Declan Gallagher, Ricki Lamie came in to partner Bevis Mugabi at the heart of the home defence.
For the opening 15 minutes the ‘Well defence was kept in in its own half as the Tannadice played a high press in search of the opener.
However, the game turned Motherwell’s way inside an intense 10 minute spell.
It started after 17 minutes when Barry Maguire’s free kick found Mugabi and his powerful header was searing towards the net until the goalkeeper’s left hand turned the ball over the bar.
Tony Watt was next to try his luck. Allan Campbell’s floated ball to the back post and found Watt unmarked but his raised boot failed to make contact when it looked easier to nod the ball into the net.
Motherwell sensed a goal coming and it duly arrived three minutes later. Maguire’s inswinging corner again caused panic in the United six yard box and this time Cole punished them, forcing the ball over the line from a couple of yards for his fourth goal in the last five games.
With the Tannadice defenders rocking ‘Well pushed for a second and when it arrived in the 28th minute it was a cracker.
Long worked a quick exchange with Cole and when he collected the ball to the left of the penalty box he hammered a low drivel past Siegrist and into the ‘keeper’s left hand corner.
As the Fir Park men looked to kill the game Cole hooked the ball over the bar before Long fired another impressive attempt into the side netting.
Having steadied themselves in the lead up to the interval, United started the second on the front foot.
And within seven minutes of the restart the Tannadice men made two appeals for penalties when Marc McNulty twice tumbled in the box.
In a quick break to the other end, though, Siegrist kept the visitors’ hopes alive, diving low to his left to palm away Watt’s angled shot.
As the Taysiders pushed for a goal to give them a lifeline, Cole’s strength to hold up the ball for his striking partners always threated a third goal.
However, the on-loan Wigan striker should have killed the contest after 66 minutes. Watt carried the ball down the right before slipping the ball in behind the United defenders. With only Siegrist to beat, Cole rattled the ball off the advancing ‘keeper when he might have grabbed his second of the evening.
With 72 minutes on the clock, Harry Smith replaced Long as the ‘Well boss aimed to put the game beyond United’s reach.
Within a couple of minutes of coming on Stephen O’Donnell’s wonderful cross field ball picked out Smith but as tired to get his shot away he slipped inside the box under pressure from his near namesake Liam Smith.
Liam Kelly finally produced his first save of the game after 79 minutes, at full length to his left to push a terrific drive from Callum Butcher round his post. From the resultant corner United pulled a goal back when Edwards’ header found its way past Kelly to set up a tense final ten minutes.
It was then ‘Well’s turn to claim for a penalty when substitute Nathan McGinley took a boot to the head as he set himself up to steer the ball towards goal. With blood streaming from the defender’s nose he was led to the dressing room for further treatment.
As Alexander waited to replace him with Sam Foley, Kelly brought of another impressive save to deny Adrian Sporle an equaliser.
Then in added on time, with United fully committed for the equaliser ‘Well had one final chance to find that elusive third goal.
O’Donnell and Campbell engineered the break down the right and when the latter released Harry Smith, the striker forced another fine save from the United ‘keeper.
Despite an anxious final five minutes, ‘Well held strong for a deserved win and kick-off a hectic February, where they face an incredible seven games which could define their season, on a high note.
