He doesn't know the nicknames of his new team-mates, or even most of their names, having only arrived the day before, but John Sutton settled in securely to the Motherwell attack and grabbed a debut goal. Dundee United, belaboured, battered and breathless, might have nicked all the points, which would have been larceny on an unfeasible scale.

The second half was all Motherwell. They played fluently, aggressively and had chances to win a clutch of games but squandered them all. But when the whistle was in the mouth of the referee for the last toot of the game, only a great save by their goalkeeper Graeme Smith from a Prince Buaben shot prevented the pillaging of the points.

Two superb crosses ensured deserved parity in the first half. Both sides had produced entertaining football, United having chances, before Motherwell went ahead.

Full-back Paul Quinn, in the inside-right position about 40 yards from goal, noticed Keith Lasley running into an unmarked position wide of the left post. The ball reached him in a flat curve and he headed it across goal where Sutton scored his first goal for his new club.

The equaliser was similarly crafted, a bending cross providing an easy opportunity for the mammoth Lee Wilkie to score with a downward header.

The ball was swung in by Morgaro Gomis who had already been booked and hit the post with a cute chip.

The Motherwell defence could have been accused of contributory negligence, first Gomis was allowed to turn past Quinn to the by-line before producing his delivery. Goalkeeper Smith then hesitated at the cross.

Smith, it's true, had as early as the third minute shown considerable flying abilities, arcing to turn round the post a mighty clout from 25 yards by Buaben, and was to save them at the death.

If the first half had been interesting, the second, in which Motherwell dominated and should have closed the game out, fizzed by comparison.

Motherwell tore into every tackle and seemed to best their opponents in every tangle. That's not to say they were overly-physical, rather the reverse, their football was measured and incisive, threatening to overwhelm United.

Their best chance came from the penalty spot 15 minutes into the second half. David Clarkson played in Chris Porter beautifully with the outside of his right foot and as he cut into the box Gary Kenneth, one half of the central defensive pairing took him out. Referee Dougie MacDonald, over-fussy throughout, gave the penalty immediately.

Another might have judged it a fair attempt. Porter dusted himself off and took the kick, which he knocked, right-footed, to the goalkeeper's left but Lukasz Zawaska had anticipated the shot and palmed extravagantly away.

Porter sqaundered enough chances himself to have put the game over the horizon. His best, or worst, came five minutes earlier when he was one-on-one on the goalkeeper. He decided to chip and the ball was clawed away.

He had been put clear by a 60-yard pass from Keith Lasley, deep in the midfield. A tactic was clearly to exploit the lack of pace in United's defence. Porter, clearly expecting a ball over the top, was already peeling off when Lasley launched the precise arrow over the back line.

Motherwell were not dispirited by the penalty miss and repeatedly dissected and by-passed the United defence but could not finish.

In probably the best move of the game, which began deep in defence and spread almost the length of the pitch. Porter, again, was the last player involved but volleyed past from two yards.

But despite the predominance of play against them, United still fashioned their chances, the final one the Bauben shot.

Their substitute Danny Swanson had a particularly fine run - his boss Craig Levein described it as "mesmerising" and went on to profess his "love" for the boy.

"He's a huge part of my plans," said Levein. "He's going to be fantastic for us. His attitude is superb and you saw today he is as talented as anyone in Scotland."

A lot to live up to. For Motherwell, there are those misses to live with.

Motherwell substitutes not used: Neilsen, Smith, Murphy, O'Brien, Malcolm, Connolly, Forbes. Booked: Clarkson 47, Reynolds 67.

Dundee United substitutions: Sandanza for O'Donovan 61, Swanson for Feeney 73. Not used: McGovern, Dillon, Daly, D Robertson, Dixon. Booked: Gomis 4, Buaben 48, Sandanza 78, Grainger 87. Referee: D MacDonald Att: 5,149