Dundee United squandered the chance to increase their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership after slumping to defeat against Motherwell.
A victory would have seen the Tannadice team record their best start to a league campaign since the 1986/7 season, and would have moved them four points clear of second-placed Hamilton ahead of the weekend fixtures.
However, it wasn’t to be as an Iain Vigurs strike early in the second half separated the sides and earned managerless Motherwell a priceless victory at Fir Park.
Ahead of the game, United boss Jackie McNamara admitted his team selection might pose him a few headaches but he proved once more he isn’t afraid to change things around, making six changes from the team that beat St Mirren last time out.
John Souttar, Blair Spittal, John Rankin, Stuart Armstrong, Chris Erskine and Ryan Dow were all handed starts, with Sean Dillon, Callum Morris, Charlie Telfer, Calum Butcher, Nadir Ciftci and Mario Bilate all dropping out of the first 11.
United certainly looked the more dangerous in what was a pretty open first half, although they had an early scare when Lionel Ainsworth’s driven ball into the box was eventually cleared off the line by Paul Paton.
Despite that chance though, the visitors were by far the more threatening and Motherwell had Dan Twardzik to thank for keeping the scoreline 0-0 at the break.
The ‘Well keeper first saved from Erskine who had a decent drive from the edge of the area, before he did brilliantly to tip over Aidan Connolly’s effort which took a wicked deflection off Keith Lasley.
There were also a couple of borderline offside decisions which United boss Jackie McNamara would have been unhappy about.
However, the visitors started the second half strongly and, although they were unlucky to see Ainsworth strike the inside of the post in 49 minutes, they managed to seize the advantage two minutes later.
Keith Lasley played in Vigurs and the former Ross County man sent a low drive beyond Rado Cierzniak in the United goal.
It could have been worse for United as Henrik Ojamaa sent a rasping drive inches wide of the post, Ainsworth had a goal wrongly chalked off, and a last-ditch touch by Conor Townsend prevented Lionel Ainsworth from doubling Motherwell’s advantage.
As one might expect, United poured forward in search of an equaliser and had chances through Paul Paton and Townsend among others but were unable to find one in the closing stages.