Motherwell are showing far more aggression in this second half as defender Simon Ramsden blooters the ball into a different postal code. That mighty hoof cleared the stand and may have amateur astronomers across Lanarkshire blinking down their telescopes.

Classic handbags as Jaroslaw Fojut and Henrik Ojamaa indulge in some foolish pushing and shoving and both end up in referee Steven McLean's wee black book.

Nadir Ciftci is involved straight away but his first shot on goal is not a thing of beauty and he inspects the turf for a divot as the ball is retrieved from the stand.

Dundee United send for the big guns, bringing on Gary Mackay-Steven and Nadir Ciftci. It's the young guns making way as Aidan Connolly and Blair Spittal trot off.

It's another stinker from the assistant referee as Lionel Ainsworth gets a deft touch on a raking pass from Craig Reid to divert it past Radoslaw Cierzniak. It should be 2-0 but the offside flag is fluttering. Ouch!

The home side are in front as captain Keith Lasley drives forward and sets up Iain Vigurs on the left edge of the penalty area. The midfielder drills in a shot and it nicks off the toe of defender Jaroslaw Fojut and creeps past the paw of keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak.

So close for Motherwell! A swift breaks allows Craig Reid to bang in a shot from the edge of the penalty box and United keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak spills it into the path of Lionel Ainsworth only for the winger to slam his effort against the junction of post and crossbar!

Motherwell get the action up and running again.

Pie and Bovril on Twitter: "Dundee Utd's under-20 side doing really well tonight. Look by far more likely to break the deadlock."

What about the former Queen's Park connection at Tannadice? Aidan Connolly and Blair Spittal look very handy indeed. Could they follow Andy Robertson's route to riches in the English top flight and full international honours?

"This game could be over if United had a clinical finisher," is the opinion of former Tannadice player Allan Preston on Sportsound.

Nadir Ciftci is on the bench. Could he be the man to make the breakthrough for the visitors?

Image source, SNS Group

Dundee United are well on top at Fir Park. The home defence has been under severe pressure from the visitors' lively forward line and much of that stems from the acres of space afforded to Jackie McNamara's side in the middle of the park.

However, the score remains 0-0 and Motherwell have a half-time team talk to sort out their troubles.

Remarkable! The Motherwell defence is opened up again as Aidan Connolly jinks past advancing goalie Dan Twardzik to slot into an open goal. But hang on; an offside flag goes up and the little midfielder bangs a shot from seven yards against the post. Did he see the assistant referee or hear a whistle?

Just to add to the drama, TV replays show the offside call was incorrect...

Stephen McManus is booked for a cynical trip on Aidan Connolly. The former Scotland defender is blowing hard as he chases after these young United whippets...

Andrew Priestly: "Patrick Kluivert to Motherwell? Well, Edgar Davids did manage Barnet for a spell last year. Stranger things could happen! #bbcscotfootball"

Neil Halliwell: "Surely Rafa Benitez can sort out all the European issues Motherwell have?! #bbcscotfootball"

Some very nifty footwork from Dan Twardzik as he back-pedals furiously to tip away a looping, deflected strike from Aidan Connolly.

United keep coming forward and Chris Erskine's fierce drive is pushed away by a diving Dan Twardzik.

Aidan Connolly splits the home defence to find his old Queen's Park team-mate Blair Spittal surging into the penalty area. Under pressure from two lunging defenders, he gives it the old toe-bash and the ball skids inches wide of the upright.

Aidan Connolly is a real livewire for United, showing two opponents a clean pair of heels to whip in a delicious cross from the left. If Ryan Dow can get a touch, it's 1-0 to the visitors, but the ball is just a whisker above his outstretched leg.

Henrik Ojamaa is away again, this time wriggling his way across the penalty box from the right but the Estonian doesn't manage to get a shot away, with John Rankin getting a toe to the ball in a vital clearance. It falls for Iain Vigurs but the home midfielder is leaning back and his rising shot fails to trouble visiting keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak.