Motherwell 0 Dundee United 0: Steelmen held after Kevin van Veen misses a penalty in stalemate

Motherwell paid the penalty for not taking their chances as they were held to a goal-less draw by managerless Dundee United.

In form striker Kevin van Veen had a spot-kick saved in the first half, hit the crossbar and saw a late goal-bound effort turned round the post in a dominant display from the Steelmen that, somehow, didn't see them come away with all three points.

United had lost an eye-watering 23 goals in their last four league outings, but Motherwell couldn't find their way past their defence under the stewardship of interim boss Liam Fox.

It stemmed a run of four straight league defeats for the Tangerines, while the Steven Hammell's Steelmen have picked up just a point from their last two league outings, leaving them fifth in the table.

There was no place in the squad for new signing Louis Moult as the striker still needs to build his match fitness, but he was given a heroes' reception when he was presented to the Fir Park crowd just before kick-off.

And with Moult still not up to speed, that meant Motherwell went with the same side that beat Inverness 4-0 in the Premier Sports Cup during midweek.

Ex-Well striker Tony Watt started for the managerless visitors alongside former Scotland international Steven Fletcher.

United didn't have their troubles to seek heading into this one, going in off the back of a 9-0 annihilation at the hands of Celtic in their last league outing, which cost Jack Ross his job as boss.

United picked up an early booking when Charlie Mulgrew tripped Ross Tierney in the second minute of the match. That presented Wednesday night's hat-trick hero Kevin van Veen with a great opportunity 25-yards from goal, but his effort went straight into the wall and the visitors cleared the danger.

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