Motherwell, with over 20 attempts at goal, including a first half penalty miss from Kevin van Veen, failed to find the back of the net in match they largely dominated. United incredibly survived a first half onslaught from the free flowing Steelmen, to take a point they scarcely deserved.
Louis Moult took a stroll and bow prior to kick-off as he received a thunderous welcome from ‘Well fans on his return to Fir Park. The striker’s lack of match fitness, though, consigned his presence to the side lines. And how Motherwell’s legendary goal scorer must be relishing the opportunity to get himself in among the chances his team-mates create.
Motherwell were brimming with confidence after their commanding victory against Inverness CT on Wednesday night. And Steven Hammell, not surprisingly, following such a fine team performance, started with the same line-up.
Despite their mid-week League Cup victory over Livingston, managerless United were still looking for their first cinch Premiership win of the season.
Tony Watt was restored to the visitor’s attack for his first game at Fir Park since he departed for Tannadice in January’s transfer window.
Interestingly, there was little semblance of traditional club colours as the visitor’s kick-off.
Only ‘Well captain Liam Kelly sported a claret and amber outfit as the Steelmen, in their all white strip faced a United side also in their alternative all black kit.
In an early exchange Kevin van Veen blasted a free kick off the United wall before Steven Fletcher’s floating header provided Kelly with his first comfortable catch of the afternoon.
After eight minutes Carljohan Eriksson, in the opposite goal, faced a stiffer test getting down well to block Blair Spittal’s angled drive.
The ‘Well players seemed intent on maintaining their slick and decisive passing game in an attempt to cut open a United defence which has been hemorrhaging goals.
In the 14th minute Sean Goss’ pass sent Ross Tierney in behind the United rear guard and when his cut back found Joe Efford only a defender’s block prevented the ‘keeper being forced into a save.
Five minutes later the United stopper was called into action twice in succession.
Firstly, and similar to last week at Kilmarnock, van Veen raced through the middle and as Eriksson raced to the edge of his area, the Dutch striker nudged the ball past the ‘keeper before tumbling to the turf, but referee Craig Napier waved away appeals for a penalty.
Within a minute Eriksson went sliding out of his box to steer the ball away from the advancing Spittal.
While the United defence was being tested, Fletcher always posed an aerial threat. And in the 27th minute Kelly had to produce a fine save low to his right to prevent the former Scotland striker from opening the scoring.
Six minutes later the Fir Park men were twice denied the lead.
With Efford giving both Aziz Behich and Ross Graham a tough time on the right, Paul McGinn was given space to cut into the box. His curling left foot shot sailed past Eriksson but Ryan Edwards popped up the line to head clear.
As the United captain raced out to the right to block Matt Penny’s cross back into a packed box, the ball struck Edward’s arm, and this time the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Presented with his third spot kick in four days, van Veen looked confident of converting as he struck his shot powerfully to the left. But Eriksson was his equal throwing himself across goal to beat the ball away.
The United ‘keeper was the busiest man on the park and a couple of minutes later he denied van Veen again, holding the striker’s downward header from eight yards.
Two minutes from the break Eriksson was soundly beaten as van Veen nipped in behind Charlie Mulgrew to collect Ross Tierney’s lofted pass. But from six yards the ‘Well striker hammered the ball off the face of the bar as the United defence survived 15 attempts on their goal to somehow remain level at the interval.
Presumably, at half time, Hammell encouraged his players that a similar intensity and control of the play would be deservedly rewarded in the second half.
To be fair to United, having been on the back foot for the majority of the first forty five, they began the second finding space in the Motherwell half of the field.
A controversial decision by the referee after 53 minutes, awarding United a free kick after allowing them and Tony Watt to play the advantage, added an extra bit of spice to the proceedings, as Hammell picked up his first yellow card as a manager for querying the decision with the fourth official.
When things calmed down, Efford picked out van Veen at the front post but his cute back healer was blocked by the ‘keeper.
In the opposite box Fletcher’s dipping volley from 15 yards seemed certain to test Kelly until the ball deflected off Ricki Lamie’s chest and spin wide of target.
Van Veen, desperate to make amends for his missed penalty, was full of running and after chasing the ball down the left his low ball into the six-yard box found Efford, but his stab towards goal was blocked by Behich.
Despite the pressure on the visitor’s goal and creating a glut of chances, ‘Well had nothing to show for their supremacy as the game entered the final 20 minutes.
The Fir Park boss decided fresh legs were required and in a double substitution, Stuart McKinstry and Rolando Aarons replaced the hard working Efford and Tierney.
McKinstry’s tricky footwork carried him along the byeline and when he fired the ball low into the six yard box Mulgrew was relieved to watch his touch send the ball spinning narrowly over this own cross bar.
The 17 year-old former youth player then thought he had assisted in providing the winner seven minutes from time. His attempt towards goal was collected by van Veen and his turn and shot appeared to be destined for the back of the net until it was deflected wide by a ruck of United defenders.
Connor Shields was then given five minutes to find the winner and the three points that Motherwell’s performance fully merited.
But it was United’s interim boss Liam Fox who was a relieved and happy man at the final whistle as his side somehow survived to take point back to Tayside.
