Motherwell had plenty chances but lost ground in the race for Europe as Dundee United ran out 1-0 winners.
Kaiyne Woolery came in up top for Joe Efford, with Mark O’Hara taking Dean Cornelius’ place in midfield in two changes from the side which lost to Rangers last time out.
Both sides went into the Tannadice fixture with aspirations of claiming a UEFA Europa Conference League place and both were on the front foot from the off.
While United had most of the early ball, it was Motherwell who arguably should have been out of sight within 20 minutes
Ten minutes in, a United corner found its way into Kelly’s hands. The goalkeeper saw the determined sprint forward of Tierney and the long kick went over the United defence and got the Irish youngster in behind.
Taken slightly wide, Tierney drove towards goal and saw the space open on Siegrist’s left side, but saw hit shot agonisingly bounce clear off the post.
Another golden chance would follow 10 minutes later.
A swift Motherwell attack saw Tierney hacked down on the edge of the box but the advantage was played as Woolery gathered.
The forward took a touch to set himself, before firing a rocket towards goal which smashed off the crossbar and away.
Motherwell continued with wave after wave of attack, with United leading a charmed life as they got in the way of a number of final balls which looked set to gift further opportunities to the visitors.
As has too often been the case in recent months, however, the sucker punch wasn’t far away.
Eight minutes from the interval, Levitt started a good and quick interchange on the edge of the area and, via Watt and McNulty, the ball was returned to him in the middle.
His shot took a wicked deflection off the grounded Goss, catching Kelly by surprise and looping over him into the net.
Motherwell kept at it, with Tierney and Woolery in particular looking dangerous, but a shot at a leveller just wouldn’t fall before the interval.
‘Well started the second half in similar positive vein.
Woolery’s pace was a persistent danger and that endeavour produced the first chance of the half early on.
Siegrist was panicked enough to rush out of his area to try and intervene as Woolery chased down the loose ball and his clearance fell to Tierney 30 yards out.
The United goalkeeper scrambled back and as Tierney looked to chip him, he couldn’t get the elevation on the shot and Siegrist could gather.
Motherwell continued to flood forward and a tactical change with 25 minutes to go saw the team shift to a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Ojala replaced by Efford and O’Hara moving to right back.
Mugabi was then sent up top for the last 10 as Alexander went all out for the game-changing moment.
It came agonisingly close with eight minutes left. Slattery’s free-kick from the left met Lamie in the area, but the defender could only steer his header wide.
Tierney saw a header from close range brilliantly saved by Siegrist with five minutes to go as Motherwell kept pressing and O’Hara would also head wide from another Slattery free-kick.
But the goal just wouldn’t come, with ‘Well leaving Tannadice empty handed.
