Johnny Russell's late goal earned Dundee United a 1-0 win over Motherwell

Johnny Russell headed a late winner as Dundee United continued their recent revival with victory at Fir Park.

Murphy was continuing to cause problems on the left but Darren Randolph kept Motherwell level with an impressive double save, diving to his right to stop Gavin Gunning's powerful 25-yard free-kick before getting up to block Armstrong's follow-up. United survived, although only just when Ojamaa ran at the visiting defence and unleashed a powerful 20-yard strike that crashed off the underside of the bar and bounced to safety. Another Ojamaa shot suffered the same fate in the 57th minute. Keith Lasley won the ball from Willo Flood following a United throw and tried to play Ojamaa in on the right channel. The pass forced Ojamaa wider than he would have liked but he still managed to beat Cierzniak with an angled drive only to see his effort bounce off the far post. Motherwell soon had two close escapes, the first when Armstrong's shot took a deflection and spun just wide. United almost scored from Flood's corner when Russell helped the ball through a crowded goalmouth. The shot escaped Randolph's clutches but Lasley stopped it going in, although United fans behind the goal claimed that the ball had gone over the line. The hosts had a good chance with 15 minutes left when Chris Humphrey drove from his own half into the box and laid a square ball into Higdon, who scuffed his shot and allowed Cierzniak to save. Neither side looked content with a point and it was United who made the breakthrough. Watson sent in a cross from just inside the Motherwell half over the head of Motherwell centre-back Adam Cummins and Russell looped a header from a tight angle over the head of Randolph and into the far corner.