DUNDEE....................2 (Loy, 60, Holt 68)
MOTHERWELL........1 (Pearson 80)
Second-half goals from Rory Loy and Kevin Holt gave Paul Hartley's Dundee side a 2-1 win at Dens Park as Motherwell's struggles continued.
Caretaker manager Stephen Craigan had overseen a 2-1 victory over Partick Thistle last weekend but the revival came to a sudden stop this afternoon with the Fir Park side still firmly mired at the bottom half of the table.
In what was a tame opening half, it took until the cusp of the interval before there was any significant goal-mouth action.
Thomas Konrad had a header just wide of the target while Gary Harkins also had a free-kick palmed away by Connor Ripley in Motherwell’s goal.
The first 45 minutes had been interrupted by a series of injuries with both teams forced into substitutions.
Dundee captain Kevin Thomson was on the wrong end of a hefty tackle from Stephen Pearson and although he attempted to play on after extensive treatment, he was forced off just a few minutes later, joining Greg Stewart whose afternoon had already been cut short by then.
His loss was keenly felt by Dundee, although Motherwell too had been forced into a re-jig when Lionel Ainsworth was forced to hobble off on the half hour mark. The winger had produced a couple of decent runs from the flank, albeit that they did not bear fruit.
It was Dundee who reacted more brightly after the break and on the hour mark Loy gave them a lead they just about merited. Harkins’ free-kick looked to have gone too deep but Kane Hemmings kept the ball in play and fed Riccardo Calder. He sent a high ball into the box and, Loy, with his back to goal, stuck out a high leg to hook the ball into the net.
It allowed the game to open up and Motherwell should quickly have found themselves on level terms.
Scott McDonald eluded the attentions of Harkins to tee up Marvin Johnson but the Motherwell player mis-hit his shot and the chance was lost.
It was Dundee who looked sharper and more clinical going forward
Loy had another snapshot saved by Ripley but it simply delayed the inevitable as Dundee added to their tally shortly afterwards. Calder was upended on the edge of the box and from the resultant Holt free-kick Dundee doubled their advantage when the ball broke through the wall and was deflected into the net.
Craigan responded by taking off old heads Keith Lasley and Scott McDonald and throwing on Theo Robinson and Wes Fletcher as he sought a route back into the game. It almost brought him some joy when Josh Law’s cross was headed over by Louis Molt.
At the other end Harkins had an effort deflected wide as Dundee tried to turn the screw.
Pearson, though, gave the visitors a lifeline when he pulled a goal back with ten minutes of time remaining to ensure an entertaining finale.
DUNDEE: Bain; McGinn, Etxabeguren, Konrad, Holt; Stewart (Harkins 28), Ross, Thomson (Curran 42), Calder; Loy (Healey 74), Hemmings. Subs: Gourlay, Irvine, Meggatt, Healey, Dryden, Harkins.
MOTHERWELLL: Ripley; Law, Kennedy, McManus, Chalmers; Ainsworth (Johnson 30), Lasley (Robinson 70), Grimshaw, Pearson, Moult; McDonald (Fletcher 69). Subs: Samson, Taylor, Laing, Robinson, Clarkson.
REFEREE: Don Robertson
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