Motherwell began life after Stuart McCall with a 1-0 victory over Scottish Premiership leaders Dundee United at Fir Park this evening.

With Kenny Black in temporary charge, the hosts ended a five-match losing streak thanks to a second-half goal from Iain Vigurs.

McCall resigned from his post of four years this week with Motherwell second from bottom in the table, and the Steelmen were evidently short on confidence as United dominated the first half.

Home goalkeeper Dan Twardzik was forced into good saves from Aidan Connolly and Blair Spittal, who almost combined for the opener when the latter was inches away from connecting with a low cross.

Chris Erskine was also thwarted by Twardzik before half time and the German stopper's good work paid dividends when Well came out of the blocks flying after the break to take a 52nd-minute lead.

Moments after Craig Reid had hit the crossbar with a strike from the edge of the box, Vigurs collected a pass from captain Keith Lasley to shoot, via a deflection off Jaroslaw Fojut, beyond Radoslaw Cierzniak.

It should have been two before the hour mark as Lionel Ainsworth saw a goal wrongly disallowed, and they nearly doubled their advantage again when Henrik Ojamaa's bending shot narrowly missed the far post.

Conor Townsend headed wide from Nadir Ciftci's cross and then again in the closing moments, while Twardzik gathered a deflected Jon Rankin strike after a goalmouth melee as Motherwell hung on for the points.

United remain one clear of Hamilton Academical at the top of the table, while Well climb above St Mirren into 10th.