Dundee Utd 0-1 Motherwell

Motherwell claimed a rather fortunate win at Tanandice

A goalkeeping blunder from Paul Jarvie gave Motherwell the points at Tannadice as United drop to the foot of the SPL.

The only goal came after 17 minutes when Jarvie spilled a powerful shot from Jim Paterson and the ball trickled over the line.

Jarvie partly made up for his mistake when he parried a Richie Foran strike from 18 yards.

United had Motherwell pinned back for long spells and Barry Robson hit the woodwork with a fierce strike.

With Livingston winning against Dundee, Ian McCall's men now find themselves propping up the table with just 12 points from 17 games.

The home team had the best of a rather sterile opening but found themselves behind after former United midfielder Paterson's goal.

The game instantly turned in the Steelmen's favour and, moments later, Kevin McBride had a 20-yard shot which went a yard past Jarvie's left-hand post.

Jarvie then saved a powerful Foran shot, before Marc Fitzpatrick sent a drive from the edge of the box high over the bar.

Motherwell were dealt a blow at the end of the first half when they were forced into two substitutions, the injured David Clarkson and Scott Leitch being replaced by Kenny Wright and Paul Quinn.

The home side started brightly in the second half and had a half-decent penalty clam in the 47th minute when Stephen Craigan bundled Jim McIntyre over.

In the 52nd minute, Robson curled a 25-yard free-kick wide of the target.

Mark Wilson came closer in the 74th minute from the same distance but Gordon Marshall dived to clutch the ball to his chest.

Robson's angled drive slammed off the far post before rebounding out moments later.

In the 79th minute, a poor headed pass-back by Quinn was pounced on by United substitute Billy Dodds but Marshall was quick off his line to smother at the feet of the former Rangers player.

But United could not find a way through and trudged off the field to an angry chorus of boos.

Dundee Utd: Jarvie, Duff (Dodds 72), McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Wilson, Brebner, Kerkar (Samuel 45), Robson, Grady (Scotland 60), McIntyre. Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Innes, Callaghan, Cameron.

Motherwell: Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, McBride, Leitch (Paul Quinn 45), Fitzpatrick, Clarkson (Wright 45), Foran (Fagan 88), Paterson. Subs Not Used: Corr, Burns, Kinniburgh, Keogh.

Booked: Leitch, Partridge, Craigan. Goals: Paterson 17.

Att: 5,252

Ref: D McDonald