Dundee United have ended their long spell without a win in style at Tannadice, outplaying and comfortably beating Motherwell.
Winter has not been kind to the Tangerines so far, the snow rendering them gameless for much of it and, when they have played, points have been at a premium.
Indeed, prior to this rearranged fixture, you had to go back to November 6 at home to Hamilton Accies to find their last victory five draws and one defeat their record in that time.
However, they shrugged off the chill to see off the Steelmen with goals from Johnny Russell and David Goodwillie, while creating chance after chance.
This was more like it from Peter Houston’s men who, even by the manager’s own admission, were poor in outings against Aberdeen and Ross County.
They were neat and tidy in their passing, fast-moving and keener than usual to have a shot at goal.
They also cashed in the considerable bonus of winger Craig Conway’s long-awaited return from injury as a late sub.
Houston said, “I think we merited the victory tonight I don’t think there is any doubt about that.
“I was critical of the players for the games against County and Aberdeen, when we were nowhere near it, but we played well tonight.”
He added, “I have been asking people to chip in and not be frightened to shoot and the only disappointment in the first half was that we were not ahead.
“In the second half, the set play worked for us with Johnny Russell scoring a well-deserved and well-earned goal. He worked a great shift and is not even playing in his best position yet because he is a right good striker and a goalscorer.”Goodwillie speculation dismissedHouston also had praise for 18-year-old substitute Stuart Armstrong, who came on to tee up Goodwillie for his last-gasp goal.
He said, “It was also great to see a young lad like Stuart come on and be positive. He made a couple of driving runs into the box then, just when he looked set to pull the trigger, he played in Goodwillie.
“It was not Goodie’s best night but he showed great composure and it was a great finish.”
On the subject of the star striker, Houston insisted there had been no fresh interest shown in, or approach made for, Goodwillie, who has most recently been linked with English Premiership side Blackpool.
“There is absolutely nothing,” said Houston. “No club has been in touch with this club since way back, two weeks ago.
“Certainly, I have not spoken to anybody and the chairman tells me he hasn’t spoken to anybody.”
Defeated Well boss Stuart McCall was understandably downbeat.
“It is obviously a disappointing result,” he said. “We were on the back foot at times but came in at half-time relatively pleased.
“We huffed and puffed then the second goal came in the dying embers of the game.”
United brought back Goodwillie and David Robertson to replace the injured Barry Douglas, while Scott Robertson dropped to the bench. Sitting alongside him was winger Conway, at long last free from injury.
Well’s last visit to the city was an enjoyable one for them, knocking Dundee out of the Scottish Cup on Sunday, so they were looking to do the double.Jimmy’s shooting bootsThe Tangerines started with a bang, hitting the woodwork inside just four minutes. Skipper Jon Daly played the ball forward to Goodwillie, who found Prince Buaben at the edge of the box.
The midfielder thought about having a go himself but left it for Russell, whose strike rattled the far post before bouncing to safety.
Five minutes later Gomis should have done better than volley wildly wide when picked out by a Keith Watson cross.
It was all United and, on 14 minutes, Russell’s clever flick teed up Buaben but his shot was well saved by keeper Darren Randolph, then Daly steered a header just wide of the upright.
Daly then turned provider for Goodwillie, threading through a pass which the striker picked up, went a wee bit too wide right then saw his strike from an acute angle collected by the retreating Randolph.
With 20 minutes on the clock, Well striker John Sutton sent a shot over the bar but Gomis was quickly back up the park for United, forcing the keeper to make a good stop.
The little Senegal international had his shooting boots on and tried his luck again from 25 yards on the half-hour, only for Randolph to push the ball away once more.
The impressive Jamie Murphy hit United’s post with a header on 33 minutes but the flag had long gone up for offside.
United, who by this time had defender Garry Kenneth taking the goal-kicks for keeper Dusan Pernis, came close again two minutes before the break when Watson’s ball into the box was fumbled by Randolph but Daly could not capitalise.
The second period took a while to get going but on 51 minutes Russell played the ball in from the right and it broke to Buaben, whose effort was blocked.
United left-back Paul Dixon then raced into the penalty area and appeared to be fouled by Chris Humphrey. It looked like a spot-kick but ref Iain Brines instead booked Dixon for diving.
The Tangerines only had to wait a little while for the opener, though, with Russell giving them a deserved lead on 53 minutes.
A Dixon corner flew over from the left, Kenneth nodded it back across goal and Russell had time and space to head in off the far post for his second counter of the season.
Randolph could not hold on to the ball on 62 minutes, spilling a Goodwillie shot, but Daly could not get there quickly enough and the keeper finally gathered.
As the match entered its final quarter, Goodwillie tested Randolph with a long-range strike that the Steelmen’s goalie saved well, before the Tangerines made changes, bringing on Scott Robertson for Buaben and the big one Conway for David Robertson.
Conway had seven minutes in which to shine but it was the visitors who nearly got back on level terms when Humphrey bulleted in a header that Pernis did well to keep out.
The home side made sure of the points on the stroke of 90 minutes.
Armstrong, who had just come on for Daly, did brilliantly to hold his nerve as his team raced upfield, taking possession on the edge of the box before passing to the onrushing Goodwillie.
The Scotland man, who had had a quiet night by his standards, took a touch before firing the ball low past Randolph and into the corner of the net.