Rampant Motherwell display ruthless attacking efficiency to leave 10-man Dundee United dazed and dishevelled

There was a point, shortly after half-time, when Dundee United might reasonably have wondered whether the driving rain at Fir Park was the least of their problems. Motherwell were a goal ahead, had been playing against 10 men for more than half an hour and were attacking with the conviction of a side who sensed that a substantial victory was within their grasp. By the end, the only surprise was that the margin was not greater than three.

This was a sharp contrast to the optimism generated by Saturday’s 4-0 victory at struggling Kilmarnock for the visitors. Their manager, Jim Goodwin, who was admitted to hospital last Thursday following a health scare, was absent from the away dugout once again as he continues recovering at home. His players had given him plenty to be proud of at the weekend, but there was little consolation to be found here.

Goodwin’s assistant, Lee Sharp, could only watch as Motherwell began with an intensity that immediately unsettled the visitors. There was a fleeting United appeal for a penalty after Mehdi Merghem went down, but it was the hosts who dictated the opening exchanges.

New Motherwell signing Dylan Levitt celebrates after scoring to make it 3-0 against his former club, Dundee United | SNS Group

Jack Walton was called on to make an excellent save from Alex Lowry following Seb Palmer-Houlden’s cross. The rebound fell kindly to Emmanuel Longelo, whose low drive struck the right-hand post. Palmer-Houlden then forced Walton into another save before the game’s defining incident arrived in the 14th minute.

Agyei red card proves costly for United

Emmanuel Agyei launched himself into a high challenge on Lowry, leading referee Calum Scott to brandish a straight red card for dangerous play. A brief VAR review followed, but the on-field decision stood.

From there, Motherwell looked hungry to press home their numerical advantage. The busy Walton pushed a low drive from Tawanda Maswanhise behind for a corner before producing an even better save from Lukas Fadinger’s fierce 25-yard effort, which looked destined for the top corner.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 19th minute. Tom Sparrow threaded the ball through to Palmer-Houlden, who opened his body and calmly slotted home. It was his first goal since joining Motherwell permanently from Gillingham, and a fitting reward for a composed performance.

United sacrificed Abdoulaye Yoro for Dylan Tait, but the alteration did little to alter the pattern of play. Motherwell continued to attack in waves. Maswanhise went narrowly wide, while Jardell Kanga, making his first start, also threatened before the interval.

Exciting Motherwell attack rack up impressive win

The second half offered little respite. Fadinger struck the post again within three minutes of the restart, his effort deflecting off Bert Esselink. Then, in the 65th minute, the second goal arrived.

Maswanhise supplied the lively Lowry, who paused just long enough to create the space before steering a fierce shot into the bottom corner, leaving Walton with no chance.

Two minutes later came the coup de grâce. Dylan Levitt, signed from Leyton Orient only the previous day, had barely settled into his new surroundings when Maswanhise slipped him into the penalty area. Levitt steered his low drive beyond Walton and into the far corner, marking his debut with a goal against his former club.

United briefly threatened late on when Kevin Ciubotaru raced onto Lachlan Rose’s pass and struck the far post, although the flag had already gone up for offside.

It was an apt conclusion to a night in which Motherwell’s energy, precision and ruthlessness overwhelmed the visitors whose recent exertions finally appeared to have caught up with them.

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