By Sean Saranczuk
April 15 2002

Dundee United manager Alex Smith has promised to spend the summer months pursuing the big-name signings which he believes could complete the Tannadice puzzle. Dundee United manager Alex Smith has promised to spend the summer months pursuing the big-name signings which he believes could complete the Tannadice puzzle.
Armed with talented youngsters and a genuine match-winner in Charlie Miller, the Tannadice club continue to flatter to deceive, missing out on a top-six spot and huffing their way to victory over Motherwell on Saturday.

Steven Thompson's second Tannadice goal for the club since entering the international plans of Berti Vogts secured the points on an afternoon which was otherwise forgettable.

The craft and guile of Miller created a simple tap- in for Thompson, the former Rangers man turning a defender before cracking a fine left-foot shot which substituted Motherwell keeper Francois Dubourdeau spilled at the feet of the striker.

Unsurprisingly, after an erratic afternoon, the French keeper was replaced by Stevie Woods nine minutes later, rub-bing an apparent groin strain as he left. It was another disappointing away display from Eric Black's side against a United team who, under Smith's guidance, may yet fulfil their potential.

'We took a while getting our goal after having a lot of chances and playing a lot of good football,' said the Tannadice manager. 'We are using these games to blood our younger players.

'However, there are one or two reasonably big names, in the one case one very big name, we are looking to add to the squad.'

Motherwell manager Black added: 'I thought it was going to be a 0-0 but if any team was going to win it in the second half it was United.'