Motherwell manager Jim Gannon laid down the gaunlet to his players to prove their top-four credentials when they face in-form Dundee United. The Tannadice side's win over Celtic on Sunday ensured there are just three points separating the SPL's leading four teams, with Motherwell a further three behind. Gannon, manager of the only side to have taken three points off United this season, is eager to see his team split the foursome by repeating the feat at Fir Park on Saturday. Well then face a trip to third-placed Hibs before playing both sides of the Old Firm. 

Gannon said: "It will really be a defining period in the season, whether we are serious contenders or not. It's okay having a good start but now we get into the tough part of the season when, if we want to be considered contenders, then we have to be winning these games. If we don't, then we are going to have to work really hard just to be the best of the rest. We're ambitious enough as a team and a management staff to strive to compete in the top four and that will start with trying to get results against Dundee United and Hibs." Gannon appreciates Motherwell will have to work hard just to stay where they are. He said: "For all we can look up and see how close we are to the top four, you look behind and you know there are teams who are starting to get some form and have fixtures that are winnable. St Mirren, Aberdeen and St Johnstone are all pushing to stake a claim for the top six."

Dundee United their strength at set-pieces againts Celtic when Jon Daly and Darren Dods headed home late corners to secure the winc. However, Gannon, whose team won 1-0 at Tannadice in September, believes his players can cope better in the air than Celtic. The former Stockport manager said: "They do have strengths from set-plays but I would like to think we would be stronger than Celtic and more organised than Celtic when it comes to set-plays. But we do have to be mindful of the threat they have, not just the delivery but the presence they have in the box. We are going to have to be manful. We did that at their place and kept a clean sheet. If we do that again, we give ourselves a chance of winning the game."

Motherwell are unbeaten in six SPL games but have drawn most of them, including the most recent two games when Hamilton and Aberdeen both finished with 10 men. Gannon said: "We need to be more efficient. There are players who are not consistently at the top of their game. We are going to need, over the next four games, to have everybody at their best or approaching their best."