Following the defeat to Hibernian ten days ago Motherwell were back in action this afternoon against another of the closest challengers for a UEFA Cup slot as they travelled to Tannadice to take on Dundee Utd.

Manager Mark McGhee made one change to the starting line up with Keith Lasley restored to the first eleven in place of Steven McGarry who had to be content with a place on the bench.

Smith claims the cross

Both sides created half chances in the opening ten minutes as they looked to impose themselves on the action. A Ross McCormack free kick made its way deep to the far post but Bob Malcolm's header caused no real problems for Lukasz Zaluska in the home goal.

At the other end a Christian Kalvenes cross found Mark Dee Vries at the far post but his header also was easy for Graeme Smith.

The game settled into a nervy midfield affair after those two chances with neither side taking any kind of solid grip of the game. The only action of note was the replacement of Steven Hammell by Simon Lappin in the twenty-sixth minute with the full back suffering from a calf knock!

The substitution was followed by a bizarre warning for Chris Porter from referee Dougie McDonald who somehow believed the striker was guilty of persistent fouling in a game of few, if any, free kicks. Wisely he decided not to show a yellow at this stage.

But within minutes the card was shown when Porter was adjudged to have fouled Kenneth in what looked a nothing incident much to the displeasure of the 'Well fans and bench alike.

Craigan heads the ball clear

The ref compounded the unrest a minute later by showing a yellow to Simon Lappin who was booked for his first tackle within minutes of coming on as a sub.

As the first-half towards the closing stages, things exploded to life and the fans were finally treated to some goalmouth action. United were first to threaten when a Kalvenes cross was headed over his own bar by Stephen Craigan under pressure from Noel Hunt.

We responded by carving open a great chance for McCormack, Clarkson did well down the right side and the ball finally reached Porter who set up McCormack fifteen yards out, but the striker snatched his shot which sailed well over.

It was the be the last action of a poor first half and as the players trooped off the field minutes later everyone inside the bitter-cold Tannadice were keeping their fingers crossed that the second half would provide much better fare.

Hughes battles with Wilkie

It was the home side who made the brighter start to the second half and could've taken the lead after only five minutes. A Jim O'Brien free kick picked out the run of Garry Kenneth but the big defender somehow managed to send a header wide from only six yards out.

McCormack almost found an opening as he reacted quickly to a quick free kick from Craigan but United defender Kovacevic got back to put in a block t deny the Well striker.

Half way through the second period McCormack looked as though he had sent Porter clear but the big Englishman was denied by the legs of the on rushing Zaluksa.

With fifteen minutes left the home side took the lead when sub Danny Swanson scored within a minute of replacing Jim O'Brien. He picked up a loosed ball thirty yards and darted past two 'Well defenders before sliding a right foot shot low past Smith.

Jamie Murphy has a dig

It looked as though Hunt would seal the points with five minutes left as he ran on to a Swanson through ball but in keeping with the afternoon he snatched his shot wide.

The game was put beyond The Steelmen with a minute left when Flood won the ball in midfield before he picked out De Vries who ran through to fire past Smith from about two-yards out.

In the end it was the visitor's inability to score for the third successive game that saw them slip further behind in the race for third place, falling four points behind United but still with two games in hand.

Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Kovacevic, Wilkie (Grainger - 71mins), Kenneth, Kalvenes, Flood, Kerr, Gomis, O'Brien (Swanson - 75mins), Hunt, De Vries

Subs Not Used: McLean, Dillon, Daly, Conway, Odhiambo

Booked: None

Goals: Swanson 76, De Vries 89

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Malcolm, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell (Lappin - 27mins), Fitzpatrick, Hughes, Lasley (McGarry 56mins - (Murphy - 83mins)), McCormack, Porter, Clarkson

Subs Not Used: Daniels, Brian McLean, Darren Smith, Archdeacon

Booked: Porter (33), Lappin (35), Craigan (58), McCormack (68), Clarkson (84)

Goals: None

Att: 6,779

Ref: Dougie McDonald