A glorious Hugh Robertson goal inspired Dundee to a convincing 3-0 win over Motherwell at Firth park.

After a dull and uninspiring first half the game exploded into action when Robertson put the visitors into a 49th-minute lead with a tremendous 35-yard shot.

Gavin Rae made it two on 65 minutes and when substitute James Grady made it three from the penalty spot with a minute to go the visitors were on the way out of the relegation danger area.

Motherwell however, had the chance to go into third position in the League but turned in a shockingly inept performance and were jeered off the pitch by their fans at the end.

It was the home team who threatened first in the third minute when Kevin Twaddle found some space down the Dundee left but his cross was easily cut out by keeper Rab Douglas.

As the game settled down both sides struggled to get their passing together and play was littered with unforced errors and misplaced passes.

However, after 11 minutes Dundee nearly took the lead when Rae's shot from 25 yards had Motherwell keeper Andy Goram diving down to his left to push the ball past the post for a corner.

In the next attack Dundee midfielder Robertson latched onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and blazed well over the bar.

The home side were struggling to create any openings and although Lee McCulloch and John Spencer were working hard they were finding it tough going against a sturdy Dundee defence.

In the 33rd minute Twaddle again found himself clear in the box but his pass was easily intersected by Dundee defender Lee Wilkie.

Two minutes later Spencer set up Martin Corrigan but the Motherwell defender blasted the ball over from 16 yards.

Motherwell had the first shot on target after only 20 seconds of the second half when Twaddle burst into the visitors' box but his weak effort was easily saved by Douglas.

But it was Dundee who took the lead in a sensational fashion in 49 minutes.

Robertson picked up a pass from Rae and the midfielder, with no danger imminent, thundered home a glorious 35-yard shot which gave Goram no chance.

The home side's confidence seemed to drain away and the visitors went looking for a second.

Robertson had a good chance to put Willie Falconer through on goal but his header fell short and was cleared by Corrigan.

Motherwell brought on Pat Nevin and Don Goodman for McCulloch and Townsley in a bid to get back into the game.

However, despite the change in personnel the home side continued to struggle and were left shattered in 65 minutes when Dundee went two up.

Graham Bayne and Rae worked well together at the edge of the box which allowed Rae to slot the ball past Goram and in off the post.

This spurred Motherwell into action and Douglas had a great save a minute later when a Don Goodman shot looked goalbound.

The home crowd began to drift out of the stadium seemingly sure the contest was over and the team was doing little to suggest otherwise.

In the 89th minute Dundee got a penalty when defender Barry Smith was pulled down by Motherwell stopper Benito Kemble.

Substitute Grady, just on the park a few minutes, stepped up and hammered the ball past Goram to make it 3-0 and seal the Dundee victory.

Teams

Motherwell: Goram, Corrigan, Kemble, Denham, McMillan, Twaddle, Valakari, Brannan, Townsley (Nevin 62), Spencer, McCulloch (Goodman 62).

Subs Not Used: Nicholas, Woods, Davies.

Booked: Kemble.

Dundee: Douglas, Smith (Van Eijs 90), Tweed, Wilkie, Ireland, McSkimming, Boyack, Rae, Robertson, Bayne (Grady 87), Falconer.

Subs Not Used: Annand, Langfield, Sharp.

Booked: Falconer.

Goals: Robertson 49, Rae 66, Grady 89 pen.

Att: 5,865

Ref: Willie Young (Scotland).