Houston's Dundee United are guaranteed to a Europa League slot next season

Dundee United manager Peter Houston was delighted to see his side clinch a Europa League qualifying place after beating Motherwell 3-2 at Fir Park.

It's been three and a half years of hard work to get to Europe, which is where myself and Craig Levein wanted to go," Houston told BBC Scotland.

"The icing on the cake is that we're in a cup final as well.

"But, if we finished third, it's a huge achievement. It's a big honour to take the team into Europe as well."

United's Jon Daly found the net twice in the win over Craig Brown's Motherwell, the first arriving inside the first five minutes of the match thanks to an error by goalkeeper Michael Fraser.

We're winning games and they're all trying to get into a cup final side as well, but we've still got a few games to go in the league, so we want to win as many games as we can and finish as high as we can Dundee United manager Peter Houston

John Sutton scored for the hosts before Craig Conway made it three to United then the Englishman doubled his tally to take the score to 3-2 and provide a thrilling finish.

Houston commended the performances of both sides on the patchy Fir Park surface and praised his own players' determination, singling out the contribution of Daly to the win.

"Both teams served up a thriller, considering the pitch conditions," said Houston, who took over from Levein when the former United manager became Scotland coach.

"Jon is a threat - he's been on fantastic goalscoring form - and for him to score another couple of goals today was great for him and great for the team.

"The players are everything. We can try and organise them and work on set-plays and tell them how to do this, that and the next thing - but they've got to show a commitment, desire and attitude as well as play good football as well.

"But we've got that in abundance, we've got a fantastic dressing-room. It's a fantastic place to be just now and confidence comes from winning games.

"We're winning games and they're all trying to get into a cup final side as well, but we've still got a few games to go in the league, so we want to win as many games as we can and finish as high as we can."

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