Motherwell had to settle for a point from Tannadice, coming away with a 0-0 draw.
The Steelmen secured their fifth clean sheet in a row and had the bulk of the possession, but neither side could carve out any definitive chances to take all three points.
There were three changes to the Motherwell team at Tannadice Park. Stephen Welsh, Callum Hendry and Callum Slattery all returned to the starting 11; Regan Charles-Cook, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Liam Gordon dropped down to the bench.
With Motherwell looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine games, which would be the first time since April 2013, and also aiming to keep a fifth consecutive clean sheet for the first time since February 2010, the Steelmen lined up for kick off looking to take control of possession early on.
Slattery’s cross found the head of Hendry, but his effort was easy for Dundee United keeper Richards.
Jens Berthel Askou’s plans were dealt a blow just 17 minutes in, after a clash of heads between Elliot Watt and Stephen Welsh, with the defender coming off worst and having to be replaced by Liam Gordon.
United had a decent opportunity after a long ball over the top found Max Watters, who took a great touch which almost let him in behind, but thankfully his next touch played it out of the park.
The first shot on target came on the stroke of half-time as United broke forward, but Zach Sapsford’s shot was routine for Calum Ward.
Motherwell were next to threaten as half-time edged closer. Some good play down the right led to the Steelmen’s first shot on target, but Maswanhise’s low shot was easily gathered by Richards.
United started the second half with two good chances, both for Amar Fatah. First, the ball broke to him at the back post, and Gordon was on hand to block. Secondly, he drove forward from deep and saw his shot flash just wide of the target after cutting inside from the left-wing.
Well looked to respond as Callum Slattery worked his way across the box, but his shot back across goal drifted past the post, but Motherwell were upping the tempo.
Craig Sibbald intercepted and attempted an audacious shot from the halfway line as he looked to catch Ward off his line, but the lobbed shot went narrowly past the post.
Callum Hendry was next to have a go, but his snapshot was palmed to safety by Richards, who was the livelier of the two keepers. Stephen O’Donnell sent a searching curling pass up the right-hand channel that found substitute Apostolos Stamatelopoulos; from a tight angle, he tried to find the bottom corner but couldn’t keep his effort on target.
Motherwell’s best move of the second-half saw good build-up play on the right-hand side lead to a cutback to Slattery on the edge of the box, but the Englishman smashed his strike over the bar.
Motherwell Team: Ward, O’Donnell, McGinn, Welsh, Koutroumbis, Watt, Fadinger, Slattery, Just, Hendry, Maswanhise.
Motherwell Subs: Connelly, Longelo, Gordon, Sparrow, Priestman, Ross, Stamatelopoulos, Said, Charles-Cook.
