Gavin Gunning scored his first brace to help Dundee United to a 3-1 win over Motherwell, which reduced the gap to their opponents in the table to six points.

The defender netted either side of the break, adding to an early strike from Ryan Dow as the Terrors recorded a convincing victory over the Scottish Premiership's third-placed club at Tannadice Park tonight.

Dow bagged his first of the season, on his 14th outing, by showing good awareness to capitalise on a short back pass from Shaun Hutchinson and then shoot beyond Gunnar Nielsen on 22 minutes.

Iain Vigurs had two chances to equalise for the visitors, and would have had it not been for a point-blank save from United keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak following John Sutton's clever knockdown.

However, two goals from Gunning in the space of five minutes of play gave United a comfortable cushion. His first was smashed home from close range on 42 minutes after Well failed to clear a corner.

A set piece also yielded what was a more spectacular second as the centre-back struck a 25-yard free kick low into the bottom corner to double his tally and end Motherwell's hopes of a second-half revival.

The visitors did grab a consolation on 57 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for handball against Nadir Ciftci, allowing Sutton to convert from 12 yards for his 13th goal of the campaign.