Tam Courts hails Charlie Mulgrew’s midfield display in crucial Dundee United win

Dundee United head coach Tam Courts praised Charlie Mulgrew for rolling back the years in central midfield as his side took a major step towards sealing a European return.

Mulgrew lined up alongside 21-year-old goalscorer Dylan Levitt and 19-year-old Archie Meekison in the middle of the park as United beat Motherwell 1-0 at Tannadice to consolidate fourth place in the cinch Premiership.

Motherwell hit the frame of the goal through both Ross Tierney and Kaiyne Woolery before Levitt’s deflected strike in the 37th minute.

Courts was delighted with the way 36-year-old Mulgrew stepped forward from his usual centre-back role and helped look after his younger colleagues plus protect academy graduates Ross Graham and Lewis Neilson behind him.

“I think the last time he played central midfield was probably for Scotland five or six years ago,” he said.

“It was a bit of a calculated risk. It’s where we are at with the availability of players at the moment.

“I think he gave us real balance and a real measured performance and his experience was a part of the reason we won the game.

“I did worry when he went down and even more so because he was actually struggling with his hamstring but he asked to stay on. We asked him to be quite controlled and he did that. Him and Dylan really held the middle of the park well and controlled large parts of the game.

“Motherwell were still dangerous on the counter-attack and when they were going direct but I was almost happy to accept those moments because it felt like were getting back to being a football team.

“We played some nice stuff and looked dangerous going down the sides and over the top. I think we just recognised it was a must-win game.”

United are now four points and nine goals ahead of