Dundee United 0-1 Motherwell: Tony Watt sent off as hosts slip to defeat
Match report as Tony Watt was sent off following a VAR intervention as Motherwell beat Dundee United 1-0 at Tannadice; Motherwell move into the cinch Premiership top six with their fourth away win of the season; The hosts drop back to the bottom of the table
Saturday 29 October 2022 20:35, UK
Tony Watt was sent off following a VAR intervention as Motherwell beat Dundee United 1-0 at Tannadice.
Sondre Solholm proved to be the match-winner after his 22nd-minute header was palmed over the line by recalled goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.
Former Well striker Watt was sent off five minutes before the break following a challenge on Sean Goss in the centre circle.
Referee John Beaton had played on but showed a straight red card after being called to his monitor by video assistant David Munro. Footage showed Watt had caught his former team-mate with his studs high up the shin.
Motherwell had suffered four consecutive defeats before their trip to Tayside but they moved into the cinch Premiership top six with their fourth away win of the season.
The home side were sent back to the bottom of the table and head coach Liam Fox could now face a dilemma over his goalkeeper after dropping Carljohan Eriksson and seeing Birighitti make an unconvincing attempt to save Solholm's header.
The Australian had not played since suffering a hamstring injury in mid-August after conceding 11 goals in a week.
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How Motherwell edged to victory at Dundee United...
United forced some early corners and Steven Fletcher came close with an acrobatic overhead kick after Callum Slattery had cleared Ryan Edwards' header off the line.
Connor Shields missed two good chances to get his first goal of the season and put Motherwell ahead. The forward shot straight at Birighitti after a brilliant run from Matt Penney and then blazed over from 10 yards after being set up by Kevin van Veen during a counter-attack.
The opener came after United were slow to react to a free-kick that was rolled short to Blair Spittal as most players waited for Goss to launch a free-kick into the box. Spittal's cross found Solholm's head and Birighitti could only palm the ball up in the air and watch it spin back and over the line.
The Australian soon flapped at a corner - Goss saw a shot charged down and then sliced the follow-up - before the goalkeeper slipped as he took a goal-kick.
The red card followed but United got some encouragement early in the second half when Liam Kelly saved well from substitute Ian Harkes following Fletcher's lay-off.
Motherwell, who lost Solholm to injury, could not use their numerical advantage to control proceedings and United were arguably playing better with 10 men than they had with a full complement.
The home fans called for the referee to even the teams after Jamie McGrath went down when Slattery went in with a high boot, although he appeared to get the ball. There was no free-kick or VAR review.
Motherwell eventually forced play further into United's territory after sitting deep for the opening spell of the second half, and the final quarter played out without any major chances at either end.
What the managers said...
Dundee United head coach Liam Fox: "Having seen the footage that the referee and the VAR has seen I could probably say, yes, it is a red card.
"But I have also seen other footage from different sources that maybe cast a wee bit of doubt over it so it is a bit of a contentious issue.
"It was a different angle and I see Tony Watt is pulling his leg back and there is very, very little contact with the player.
"I am frustrated at that and frustrated that we started the game well and then had a wee spell where we kind of lost our way a wee bit and then lost the player.
"But what I can say, and say this honestly, if I get what I got from the players in the second half attitude-wise, application and bravery in possession, then we will be okay."
Motherwell manager Steven Hammell: "I told them before the game it was important to get back to winning ways. We can't be a team who plays well but doesn't pick up points.
"People talk about four straight defeats, if we were losing heavily I would be concerned but we aren't.
"We are sixth and that's in and around where we want to be. We understand today wasn't perfect but we are trying to be positive.
"United had more of the ball than I would have liked with 10 men. We were a bit nervous near the end due to recent results.
"Liam had one save to make and that's pleasing. The second half wasn't enjoyable but we did enough to win it.
"It was a little bit more pragmatic and digging in but scrappy 1-0s are massive in a season so I'm glad we are on the right side of it this time."
What's next?
Dundee United's next Scottish Premiership match is away to leaders Celtic on 5 November.
Motherwell travel to take on Hearts the following day. Both games kick-off at 3pm.
