Their struggling visitors had genuine reason to feel aggrieved as the big decisions went against them but this was a reassuring day for Dundee United supporters at just the right time as a Charlie Telfer brace offered the latest example of just how good their club is at nurturing talent.

That the youngster, one of no fewer than seven players brought into the starting line-up following the midweek draw at St Mirren, believed he should have done better only speaks to the standards players are learning to set themselves at Tannadice.

"I wasn't particularly happy with my performance in the first half. It definitely got better in the second half, but the two goals brightened it up a bit," he said.

As Jackie McNamara, his manager, readily admitted the overhauled team had taken time to settle and it might have been a different outcome had Motherwell taken advantage, or indeed been allowed to take advantage of their sluggish start.

Much the livelier side in the opening quarter they had what looked a stonewall penalty while even towards the end of the first half they thought they had registered the game's opening goal only to be disappointed and disquieted by the sequence of events that followed.

John Sutton had done enough in what was a painful collision for United captain Sean Dillon, to direct the ball goalwards after Stephen Pearson, whose presence added much to his team's efforts throughout, had squared the ball to him.

It was hooked off the line by Callum Morris, but the goal was initially given by Craig Thomson, next week's Old Firm semi-final referee, only for that decision to be rapidly rescinded, leaving Ian Baraclough, the Motherwell manager, deeply frustrated.

"It was one that got away for me. I'm not going to sit here and cane officials," he said initially, before handing out what some might interpret as a bit of a caning to the officials.

"I just spoke to him (Thomson) and the linesman gave a decision. He apparently shouted 'play on' and the referee thought he shouted 'goal'. It's easy to mix those two words up isn't it?" he mused.

"I've just seen it and the standing foot is on the line and the foot he's cleared it with is behind the standing foot so make your own assumptions. I don't know."

Thereafter Motherwell's players were told not to contest the drop ball through which play was re-started.

"I don't know exactly what the rules say but if one team doesn't want it uncontested then surely they have to go and drop it and then it's contested. What were we, 12 yards from goal?" Baraclough continued, again rhetorically.

All that after an earlier decision had not gone their way when Pearson was apparently tripped by Morris as he powered into the box.

"That's a stonewall penalty," Baraclough contended.

"He's got the first touch ahead of the centre half, the centre half hasn't taken his foot out of the way and he's caught him in the knee. Some decisions don't go for you do they?"

As everyone knows they particularly tend not to when you are at the wrong end of the table and after Pearson missed a good chance early in the second half you could sense what was coming.

A classic United counter-attack produced their opener,

The ball was won on the left and worked quickly upfield to Ryan Dow who pushed it into the Telfer's path. His initial shot was blocked but the ball came directly back and he composed himself before, from 20 yards out, drilling a low shot to Dan Twardzik's right which found the inside of the post.

Five minutes later the contest looked over when an Aidan Connolly corner from the right found the head of Fojut who had time to pick his spot before directing the ball firmly to Twardzik's left, however Lionel Ainsworth's introduction brought an almost immediate reward for the visitors.

Trying to get to the bye-line on the right he initially stumbled, but he recovered well and clipped the ball back, Simon Ramsden showing both agility and good technique to meet it on the volley and offer his side renewed hope as it flew past Cierzniak's right hand.

Anxiety among the home support was only removed in injury time when a Dow cut back teed up Telfer who calmly passed the ball round Twardzik, but now able to focus on next week's League Cup semi-final meeting with Aberdeen their manager was satisfied after his squad had demonstrated the strength in depth.

"I think over the piece we created enough chances," he reckoned.

"I thought Motherwell were the best team in the first 15 minutes and I think we came into after that. We started using the ball, made some good chances. The 'keeper's had a couple of good saves, but that was a good three points because that was a hard fought game today."

Dundee United: (4-3-3) R Cierzniak, B Spittal, C Morris, J Fojut, S Dillon, C Telfer, C Butcher, S Armstrong (P Paton 79), A Connolly G Mackay-Steven 70), H Anier (N Ciftci 55), R Dow

Goals: Telfer (2), Fojut

Motherwell: (4-4-2) D Twardzik, F Kerr, S Ramsden, S McManus, L Watt, C Reid, S Carswell (L Ainsworth 76), J Law (C Moore 67), S Pearson, L Erwin, J Sutton

Goal: Ramsden

Referee: C Thomson