Motherwell extended their unbeaten run to four games with a hard fought 2-1 victory over a luckless 10-man Dundee United.

The Tannadice side had already seen defender Jim Lauchlan dismissed after 50 minutes before Ged Brannan scored from the penalty spot after Jason De Vos had brought down Stephen McMillan in the box.

It seemed all over for the visitors when Stuart Elliott added a second five minutes from the break but a Beto Naveda goal in the 55th minute gave the Tayside team some hope.

But although United battled hard for the equaliser a desperate Motherwell team hung on in the end to gain all three points.

It was the home side who started the game the better and they forced a corner within a minute of the kick off.

But John Spencer's cross to the back post was easily headed away by Lauchlan and danger was averted.

Debutant Charlie Miller was showing some nice touches for United in the early stages.

But the first real threat on goal came from the home side in the eighth minute.

Steven Hammell's cross from the left caused havoc in the United box and with goalkeeper Alan Combe well out of position De Vos had to clear the danger.

But as the game settled down it became clear both teams were intent going all out for a win although clear cut chances were few and far between.

United's first shot on target didn't arrive until the 24th minute and Naveda's poor effort form the edge of the box was easily saved by Motherwell goalkeeper Stephen Woods.

The game began to boil over with both sides flying into tackles and referee Alan Freeland was struggling to keep control.

But in the 33rd minute he had no option but to dismiss Lauchlan after the United defender struck McCulloch with his knee.

But the sending off seemed to settle the players down and they went back to concentrate on their football.

In the 40th minute United came close when a Jamie Buchan drive from 12 yards was heading for goal only for Woods to tip the ball past for a corner.

Just as the first period looked like ending in stalemate the home side took the lead with a penalty.

Hammell sent Stephen McMillan clear in the box only for the Motherwell midfielder to be brought down by De Vos.

There was little protest from the visitors and Brannan confidently stepped up to smash the ball high into the net.

Motherwell pushed the visitors back from the restart of the second half and had doubled their lead within five minutes.

When a cross from Derek Adams landed at the feet of Spencer in the United box, the little striker cleverly back-heeled to the on-rushing Stuart Elliott who buried it past Combe from 12 yards.

Motherwell were rampant now and in the 54th minute Spencer's 18-yard shot was goal-bound until United defender David Partridge blocked the shot for a corner.

It seemed all over for United now but a minute later they clawed their way back into the game.

A John McQuillan cross was met by Miller whose shot from eight yards was blocked by the knees of keeper Woods.

But following up was the unmarked Naveda who slotted the rebound home from 10 yards.

The goal seemed to inspire United and for the rest of the match they were the equal of a nervous Motherwell team who lost all composure and assurance.

But in the end a desperate home side hung on for victory and the result leaves United still firmly rooted at the bottom of the league.