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Dundee United consigned Motherwell to their fifth Scottish Premiership defeat in the month of January.

John Sutton thought he had put the Steelmen ahead before half-time but the officials ruled that the striker's effort had not crossed the line.

Charlie Telfer then struck to give United the lead and Jaroslaw Fojut nodded in the Tangerines' second.

Simon Ramsden volleyed Motherwell back into the game but Telfer scored a late third for the hosts.

United stay within two points of third-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle, with second-place Aberdeen a further point ahead.

Motherwell remain two points in front of St Mirren in 10th place.

United had made seven changes, with Motherwell, who had conceded 15 goals in their last four matches, making two alterations from their last outing, against Celtic.

United's Blair Spittal was first to test Dan Twardzik, driving into the box in 38 minutes and forcing the keeper to dive to his right to push away a shot.

Then Josh Law was dispossessed and Stuart Armstrong raced in to the Motherwell area, but Twardzik beat the midfielder's drive down and gathered safely.

Motherwell slumped to a fifth consecutive defeat

Controversy then erupted two minutes from half time when Motherwell thought they had gone in front.

Stephen Pearson broke on the left and squared to Sutton, who was challenged by Sean Dillon as he fired a shot towards goal.

Callum Morris hacked away but it was unclear whether the ball had already crossed the line. Initially, referee Craig Thomson awarded the goal before ad iscussion with assistant David McGeachie resulted in the effort being disallowed.

Motherwell had another opportunity when Pearson latched on to slack defensive play by United, but his shot from 16 yards was parried by Radoslaw Cierznak.

United, though, went ahead just after the hour when Telfer controlled the ball 25 yards out, advanced and cracked a fierce low shot into Twardzik's right-hand corner.

Polish centre-half Fojut doubled the advantage with a header from a corner seven minutes later, with the Motherwell marking at fault.

Ramsden hauled Motherwell back into contention with a neat volley from 14 yards, connecting with Lionel Ainsworth's cross as Well fought back.

But United sealed the win in stoppage time. Ryan Dow made progress down the left and laid the ball into Telfer's path to allow him to pick his spot from 18 yards.