Dundee United 1 - 3 Motherwell: Hard graft has been the key to our success so far, says McCal

MOTHERWELL manager Stuart McCall told his players they can continue to reap rewards for their hard work after they dominated Dundee United in a 3-1 victory at Tannadice.

The visitors were the better team from the early stages and never looked like losing their lead after Keith Lasley’s superb opener in the 13th minute.

Michael Higdon added a double either side of the break and the Lanarkshire side held on comfortably after Jon Daly forced home from close range in the 77th minute.

Motherwell have now taken 19 points from eight Clydesdale Bank Premier League games, excluding Old Firm opponents, and McCall has urged his players to have the confidence that they can beat anyone if their work ethic is right.

McCall said: “With the players we have in our team we always come to win games and I really was delighted with the team effort.

“I said to the boys at the end of the game: ‘There are no guarantees in football. You can make an error, get a decision, a bit of luck, but the only guarantee is if you work as hard as that, there is more chance of you winning the game than not.’ If we’re at it, and get in about people, we have enough ability in the side to win games, and so it proved.”

One player rewarded for his persistence was Higdon, who had been the target of frustration among some Fir Park fans during the previous weekend’s 1-0 win over Aberdeen. Higdon finished off the post after Dusan Pernis gifted him a chance with a poor kick-out in first-half injury-time and then sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a 64th-minute penalty after Garry Kenneth had brought down Nicky Law.

The former St Mirren striker also pressed United well at the back and led the line well and he was relieved to boost his popularity among the fans.

The Liverpudlian, who has scored six goals this season, said: “I didn’t turn up last week and maybe the St Johnstone game, too. The lads have been playing without me for a couple of games, but you have to keep working hard and I got the rewards.

“I looked back at the DVD and I’m surprised they never gave me more stick. Hopefully they will enjoy their pint after that and realise that I am a good player.”

While Higdon captured the headlines, Lasley was Motherwell’s most impressive performer, covering the whole pitch and helping Motherwell control the midfield along with Steve Jennings and Law. Lasley scored his third goal of the season after running on to Tom Hateley’s low cross and thumping the ball home first time from 14 yards.

“I gave him a DVD of my two greatest goals and he’s been watching that for weeks,” McCall joked.

“Jenno dogged about well, and it allowed Lasley and Law to get in the box and get forward and that’s what we worked on. We felt we had to match up with their midfield three because it’s a strong unit for them.”