THE narrative around Dundee United in recent days has centred on their hopes for the future.
However, on this evidence, it might just be that the present day is every bit as exciting at Tannadice. This was not just a coruscating display but a statement of intent, a showcase of the potential being nurtured by a club who have invested in youth; the average age of yesterday's XI was 23.
Of course, it takes more than a victory over Motherwell to prove such promise - after all United have now won their past five matches at Fir Park and conceded in just one of those games - but this triumph was more comprehensive than any of their most recent visits and demonstrated eye-ctaching attacking brio to accompany a defensive record that is now the best in the SPFL Premiership. They were helped by how abject a makeshift Motherwell were, but United took full advantage of their malaise to end the hosts' run of five consecutive home league wins.
The four-goal victory did not flatter Jackie McNamara's young team, even if the goals that gave them a grip on the contest were wretched concessions. First, John Souttar's free-kick appeared harmless until Gunnar Nielsen skewed his punch under pressure from Nadir Ciftci, the ball dropping for Ryan Gauld to hitchkick into the net from 16 yards.
The diminutive playmaker was then involved in the second, forcing a befuddled Zaine Francis-Angol back towards his own goalline before dispossessing him and feeding Gary Mackay-Steven. He cut the ball back and, although Ciftci's shot was blocked, the Turk had the presence of mind to flick the loose ball sideways for Paul Paton to force over the line.
"They're probably the worst team we could have come up against with our defence missing a few," said Stuart McCall.
The Motherwell manager was entitled to be rueful, and United might have caused even more damage to a back four denuded of Shaun Hutchinson, Steven Hammell and Simon Ramsden. With Ciftci the pivot for a fluid, four-man attack, the visitors shuttled the ball around with dizzying alacrity but were often marginally wayward with their final pass. Andy Robertson did have the ball in the net for what would have been a third but was judged to have strayed offside, Ciftci twice skidded efforts past and Mackay-Steven was thwarted by the alert Nielsen.
It would not be the last time the Faroe Islands internationalist would save his side as United refused to relent. Souttar had already scudded wide following a corner by the time Nielsen had to retreat to divert a deflected Robertson drive on to his bar, but he was helpless just after the hour when United did find a third goal after embroidering further fine play. Ciftci found Gauld with a reverse pass and the 17-year-old flashed a ferocious finish past the exposed goalkeeper. "We can do anything if we play like that," said the youngster, who was withdrawn shortly afterwards having been left groggy by an early head knock.
He was not the only one left woozy, Motherwell conceding a fourth in stoppage time when Robertson lashed an unerring finish past Nielsen after patient play by John Rankin and Brian Graham.
"That was the best away performance from any team here during my three years and I include European games in that," said McCall, refusing to be overtly critical of players who did not have the reserves to haul themselves back into the game.
A John Sutton shot pushed past by Rado Cierzniak and two Craig Moore efforts were their only chances of note. "Yeah, we maybe should have done better but we were beaten by a talented young side at the top of their game so I can't be too hard on them," McCall added.
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