Scott Severin had a day to forget at Fir Park on Saturday, starting and finishing the move that gifted Motherwell a goal after only 45 seconds.
However, not even a nasty head cut, wrapped up in an oversized bandage, could erase the miserable memory for the Dundee United defender.
With the spectators still settling into their seats, Severin came racing out to the halfway line to try to intercept a Tom Hateley clearance but the ball flew past him and straight to Alan Gow.
Gow fed Nick Blackman, who played in Jamie Murphy inside the left-hand corner of the box. Murphy’s shot was well struck but keeper Dusan Pernis was equal to it and made the save but the ball struck Severin, who had been rushing back to help, and trundled into the net.
The Tangerines struck back five minutes into the second half with a helping hand from Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan and when David Goodwillie converted the penalty, he became the first United player to score in five successive matches since Kevin Gallacher in 1987.
But they hit the self-destruct button yet again 15 minutes from time when the impressive Chris Humphrey was allowed to drive the ball over from the right and his cross was fired into his own net by Tannadice defender Sean Dillon as he tried to clear.
It was a tale of woe and an unwelcome display and result ahead of Tuesday’s return trip to Lanarkshire for the Co-operative Cup quarter-final.
The first half was dreadful from United’s point of view error-ridden and bereft of chances apart from a Jon Daly volley. They improved after the break, but the home side still deserved the three points.
There have been a few sluggish starts from Peter Houston’s men this term notably against Celtic the previous Sunday and another one could send them spinning out of the cup.
Severin showed bottle to face the media after his match from hell and he expressed a firm belief United can do better in the second part of the Fir Park double-header.
“It was a horrible game, to be honest,” said Severin. “It was my mistake to start with. I thought I wasn’t going to get to the ball but I ended up getting there too quickly. I misjudged it and tried to get back. Dusan made a good save but the ball hit me on the chest.”
“I just don’t think we performed at all it was probably the worst we have played this season (Severin was signed after the 4-0 home hammering from Inverness). We didn’t create many chances they were few and far between so we need to do more as a team.
“It was just so disappointing but we will be training hard and will be prepared for the quarter-final. We will be addressing everything that went wrong when we meet the manager on Monday morning.
“We know Motherwell are a good team and what to expect from them but hopefully things will go for us. It is a great chance to get into a cup semi-final and we know we need to do better.
“The boys had a taste of success last season when they won the Scottish Cup and everyone at the club would love to be heading for Hampden again. In order to make progress, though, we have to start games better.”
United boss Houston made the point that it was not only Severin, or even Dillon, who was to blame for the defeat. With the notable exception of Pernis, it was a team effort.
Motherwell cut through the defence too easily, the midfield only started to play in the second half and the frontline did not do enough to hurt their opponents.
“I have no complaints,” said Houston. “Motherwell were the better team and they created more chances.
“There were 27 minutes on the clock when we had our first shot at goal. We had a poor first half last week and we had a poor first half again. We have to find out why we are giving teams the initiative.
“It doesn’t help when a catalogue of errors from Scotty costs us the first goal. The first ball up he could have cleared and he mistimed it. But we didn’t play well.”
Houstone added, “The performance was not like United. We didn’t win headers; we didn’t win the second ball in the middle of the park. Motherwell were hungrier, sharper and better.”
It was the second consecutive home match Well had won late on after losing the lead, St Mirren being the previous visitors to Fir Park. Boss Craig Brown handed assistant manager Archie Knox the credit for driving his players on to consolidate third place in the SPL.
“I gave the man-of-the-match award to my colleague Archie Knox,” said Brown. “He plays every position and lifts every player. That voice booms out.”
Meanwhile, United winger Craig Conway is a major doubt for the cup tie.
He was playing only his second match after recovering from a knee injury but limped off after only 35 minutes to be replaced by Barry Douglas.
Motherwell also lost a player to injury after Keith Lasley damaged his hamstring but Brown is hopeful the midfielder will be fit for Tuesday night.