6pm

Today's result: Motherwell 2, Dundee Utd 0.

At long last we recorded our first win of 2006 with a much needed victory against Dundee Utd at Fir Park this afternoon.  Not really much of a game or performance to be honest, but the long overdue three points are all that matter.

Terry Butcher kept faith with the same team which lost to Kilmarnock in midweek.  Abel Thermeus was able to take a place on the bench following the club's decision to appeal against his dismissal at Killie.

After a fairly even opening period, Motherwell look the lead after 27 mins when Foran collected McDonald's through ball, brushed off a challenge from a United defender and coolly slotted past Stillie.  Foran grabbed his second after 57 minutes when he headed home a Kerr corner, and Hammell came close to a third when his free kick rebounded off the post.  The visitors enjoyed a fair amount of possession but rarely threatened Graeme Smith's goal.

Given our results since the turn of the year, I'm sure we would have settled for ANY sort of victory this afternoon.  It certainly wasn't pretty to watch, but at last our season is back on track and we can look forward to two tricky away games (Hearts and ICT) with a bit more confidence.  However, to take anything from either game we'll need to play an awful lot better than we did today.

Team (4-4-2): Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, McLean, Hammell, McBride (O'Donnell 67), Kerr, McCormack (Fagan 73), Foran, Scott McDonald (McGarry 88), Hamilton.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Thermeus, Darren Lee Smith, Reynolds.

Motherwell scorer: Foran (27, 57).

Booked: McCormack, Hammell.

Attendance: 5,257.