Match Date : Thursday 26 December 1996 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 8,072
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Dundee United 2 Motherwell 0BOXING Day proved to be fruitless for Motherwell as they lacked the punch to take anything from this tie against in-form United. Desptie beginning the game well and indeed taking the game to United, bad misses and so slack marking contributed to a long trek home for the Motherwell support. The first clear-cut chance fell to United, Zetturlund set up Winters but Woods saved his shot well - McSwegan then put the ball wide following-up. On the balance of play early on United would perhaps have earned the lead, but when Motherwell's best chance of the first-half came up soon after, it wouldn't have been exactly against the run of play. The chance fell to Billy Davies - he was put clear after a neat one-two with Willie Falconer, but with only ex-Motherwell keeper Sieb Dykstra to beat, he slid his low shot under the Dutchman but well wide of his left-hand post. Motherwell's clever midfield play was being let-down with a poor final pass, though the prompting of Billy Davies was troubling the Home rearguard. However, it was a breakaway which provided United with the opening goal. After winning possession just inside the United half, Winters ran virtually unchallenged by half the Motherwell team to break into the box, lay the ball off to McSwegan, and the fromer Ibrox player rammed home the opening goal much to the disgust of the Motherwell support and Woods in the away goal. After the bright start Motherwell ended the half on the backfoot, a goal down to a hungrier and more eager side.
Half-Time Dundee United 1 Motherwell 0The opening spell of the second half saw Motherwell again in the ascendency, but that cutting edge was missing which their outfield play merited. United were gaining in confidence after beginning the match on a quiet note despite taking the lead, though within minutes of the re-start Motherwell should have been level. Again Davies was the culprit, charging into the box in a very good position but curling his shot wide of the target when a cut-back might have produced results with Falconer and Coyne in close attendance. United then doubled Motherwell's misery with an easy second goal. After winning a corner, McLaren crossed for Hannah to nod in from 10 yards completely unmarked and in perfect isolation. Near the end Motherwell almost grabbed a crumb of comfort when Willie Falconer, having a quiet afternoon, sent in a screamer but Dykstra tipped the ball over the bar. After that United could have doubled their lead yet again, and at the end of the match a miserable Motherwell team trooped off..
FULL TIME Dundee United 2 Motherwell 0