Dundee United manager Peter Houston praised his side's all-round display after they kept their third-place hopes alive with a 4-0 win over Motherwell.
Jon Daly scored a hat-trick in just over 13 minutes either side of half-time to put United five points behind Hearts with two Clydesdale Bank Premier League matches left. United bounced back from last week's 4-1 defeat to Celtic to give themselves a chance of overhauling Hearts, who visit Tannadice on the final day.
United need to beat Rangers at Ibrox on Tuesday but they did that last month and Houston was encouraged by his team's display, saying: "We got rid of some silly mistakes, defensively we were solid."
He added: "In the middle of the park I thought Scott Robertson and Morgaro Gomis bossed it, and Jon Daly scored the perfect hat-trick with left foot, right foot and header.
"So we got four goals and a clean sheet against a good Motherwell, although not the strongest Motherwell side."
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall rested Keith Lasley, John Sutton and Stevie Hammell with the final in mind while Stephen Craigan started on the bench.
But the young centre-back pairing of Shaun Hutchinson and Gavin Gunning looked vulnerable and Motherwell struggled throughout the team.
McCall said: "No matter what team we put out and what team we play, we cannot defend like that.
"I said last week after the Rangers defeat, three of their goals were outstanding and sometimes you have to hold your hands up.
"I'm not taking anything away from Dundee United but not one of their goals was a clinical goal, it was all down to defensive lapses. That was the disappointing factor."
Source: PA
