Motherwell 2-0 Dundee United

David Partridge put 'Well into the lead

Goals from David Partridge and Scott McDonald allowed sixth-placed 'Well to edge closer to Hearts in the SPL.

Partridge put the home side into the lead after only four minutes, when he nodded home a Kevin McBride free kick.

United almost equalised 10 minutes later but Stephen Craigan cleared James Grady's header off the line.

The home doubled their lead two minutes into the second half, when Scott McDonald took advantage of a defensive mix-up before slotting past Bullock.

The home side slipped quickly into their stride and took the lead with a goal which would have had United boss Ian McCall fuming.

When Tannadice playmaker Grant Brebner gave away a cheap free-kick at the left corner flag, Fir Park midfielder McBride floated his cross into the packed six-yard box and Partridge rose highest to glance his header past Tony Bullock.

The Taysiders rallied and, moments later, Motherwell goalkeeper Gordon Marshall saved from United striker Jason Scotland at close range before Stephen Craigan cleared James Grady's header off the line.

Tannadice midfielder Mark Kerr's snap-shot from 25 yards halfway though the first half was sloppy in its execution and trundled wide.

The visitors stepped up the pace before the interval and striker Stevie Crawford missed a great chance to equalise when he slid his shot from 12 yards past the post.

The home side doubled their lead two minutes after the break.

Alan Archibald, in possession at the back and under no pressure, slipped, allowing the grateful McDonald to drive into the penalty area and stroke the ball past Bullock.

United were up against it now and Partridge brought out another great save from Bullock with a close-range header from a Steven Hammell free-kick.

In the 64th minute, United should have halved the deficit when Crawford picked out Barry Robson at the back post but, somehow, the former Inverness player contrived to miss the target from no more than eight yards out.

Robson's miss summed up the struggling visitors' display and their small band of fans braced themselves for another defeat.

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Motherwell: Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, McBride (Foran 54), Leitch, O'Donnell (Fitzpatrick 90), Paterson, Scott McDonald (Clarkson 80), Hamilton. Subs Not Used: Corr, Paul Quinn, Fagan, Kinniburgh.

Goals: Partridge 4, Scott McDonald 47.

Dundee Utd: Bullock, Wilson, Archibald, McCracken (Kenneth 11), Duff, Kerr, Brebner, Robson, Grady (Dodds 72), Scotland (Samuel 45), Crawford. Subs Not Used: McInnes, Robertson, Cameron, McLean.

Booked: Robson, Dodds.

Att: 5,110

Ref: A Freeland