Motherwell moved a point behind third-placed Celtic in the Scottish Premiership with a comfortable win at home to Dundee United.

The impressive Fir Park club, in front of a bumper home crowd, extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with their victory at home, while United are winless in their last three.

Motherwell’s breakthrough came when Vicko Sevelj gave away a penalty for an off-the-ball altercation with Tawanda Maswanhise where the Dundee United defender appeared to elbow the Motherwell striker in the chest.

Referee Nick Walsh initially waved play on but was called over to the monitor to check for violent conduct. He deemed Sevelj’s challenge reckless, therefore not enough for a red card, booked the defender and awarded a spot kick to the hosts.

Maswanhise stepped up to send Ashley Maynard-Brewer the wrong way and rolled the ball into the back of the net.

The in-form striker doubled Motherwell’s advantage a minute into the second half.

Elijah Just launched a free-kick deep into the Dundee United half and Maswanhise picked up, under pressure from Sevelj, with the defender’s deflection sending the shot into the near corner.

Jens Berthel Askou’s side remain 10 points behind league leaders Hearts after they beat Aberdeen but narrowed the gap to Celtic before they play Rangers at Ibrox tomorrow.

After this weekend, Motherwell hold a game in hand over both Hearts and Rangers.

United remain seventh but are now 12 points behind Falkirk in sixth after their big win against Kilmarnock.