Scottish Cup: Jackie McNamara hails Keith Watson's heroics for Dundee United at Motherwell

Jackie McNamara hailed Keith Watson's attitude after the defender answered a late call to send Dundee United into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a late winner at Motherwell.

Watson had not played for five weeks and was due to start on the bench again but he was drafted in minutes before kick-off after Jaroslaw Fojut fell ill.

And he responded by heading the winner eight minutes from time after connecting with Conor Townsend's cross to secure a 2-1 victory at Fir Park.

It came after Henrik Ojamaa's sixth-minute long-range strike was cancelled out by John Souttar.

United manager McNamara said: "Jaro had been sick last night and started the warm-up but didn't feel right.

"I'm delighted for Keith with his attitude, not just his goal but I thought he had a couple of crucial headers at the back at the end.

"I spoke to him before the warm-up and told him Jaro was struggling and had no energy.

"I thought some of the other players were a bit similar in the first half."

Meanwhile, Motherwell were hit by an injury to Paul Lawson seconds after the restart when he pulled a calf muscle on his return from a two-month lay-off with a hamstring problem.

Caretaker boss Kenny Black believes Lawson's injury had an impact on the result.

"The injury to Paul Lawson certainly had an effect on the game because he was controlling the game in the middle of the park with Keith Lasley and Iain Vigurs.

"The first-half performance really pleased me.

 "I thought we deserved to be 1-0 up. Although they had two or three chances, we did as well.

"The first goal was really disappointing from our point of view, coming from a set-piece. Until we learn to defend these types of crosses, it's going to be a long season for us."