Two goals from James McFadden and an impressive return to the side by Stuart Elliott inspired Motherwell to a Scottish Premier League win over Dundee.

Eric Black's side's relegation fears, which had been stoked by a string of poor results and behind the scenes unrest, were lessened by an impressive performance over a Dundee side that once again flattered to deceive.

Motherwell now stand a healthy eight points ahead of bottom club St Johnstone.

McFadden's first strike had been a fortunate one but his second showed he is a youngster of promise on the Scottish scene and an Under-21 call-up could soon be on the cards.

A weekend bust-up between striker David Kelly and assistant manager Terry Butcher had captured most of the pre-match headlines and the former Republic of Ireland international was unsurprisingly omitted from the Motherwell squad.

That allowed Elliott to reclaim a place in the starting line-up and he was involved in most of his side's good play on the night, including the opening goal, in the ninth minute.

Goalkeeper Stevie Woods punted down field and Elliott headed the ball on to strike partner McFadden.

There seemed little danger as the teenager was some 25 yards from goal and faced with a difficult angle.

But Dundee goalkeeper Jamie Langfield, who had himself been recalled following a spell on the bench, somehow allowed the ball to bounce over his body and over the line.

There was nothing fortunate about the home side's second, however, as centre-back Karl Ready's volley past the startled Langfield was as emphatic as you can get.

The Welshman had won a corner in the first place, stayed up to see it half cleared as far as right wing back Yan Soloy, whose cross he met with a thumping volley with not a defender to be seen to stop him.

Dundee had threatened occasionally at the other end, with a deflected Temuri Ketsbaia shot just evading a post and Steven Milne getting goalside of his marker to prod a good chance just wide.

A misplaced Ketsbaia tackle sent Elliott clear but he could only fire wide with a linesman having wrongly raised a flag anyway.

Had he scored it would have put the home side in total control, but just seconds later Juan Sara had pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

Ketsbaia was the architect, latching on to the ball after Stephen Pearson had lost control just outside his own area.

The Georgian pushed the ball forward to Sara, who may have been fortunate not to have been caught offside, and Woods came out to upend him as the striker tried to take the ball round him.

Fan Zhiyi and captain Barry Smith were both booked before the break for heavy challenges on the Motherwell front pair.

With Ivano Bonetti away in Italy looking at yet more foreign transfer targets his brother Dario had taken over team affairs.

And it was the visitors who re-started strongly with Beto Carranza twice firing at Woods, albeit weakly, and Ketsbaia causing problems with his direct style.

But Motherwell were still searching for the killer goal and when Elliott laid the ball back to McFadden a first-time shot might have found it.

But the youngster delayed and was crowded out, and fellow rookie Keith Lasley was to spurn the next excellent chance.

Elliott was again the provider, heading the ball across the six yard box to where the midfielder had moved into a goalscoring position.

But twice his point-blank efforts were blocked and the visitors were able to hack clear.

The reprieve was not long lasting, however, as Elliott decided to take matters into his own hands, lashing a 70th minute effort past Langfield from the edge of the area after Strong had laid the ball back to him.

It was an excellent finish to cap an excellent performance from the Ulsterman but McFadden was not to be outdone.

He showed remarkable skill and control, not to say bottle as well, to take the ball into the box and find the top far corner.

Dundee pulled one back in stoppage time when the debutant Khaled Kemes fired past Woods, but the game was already beyond his team.

Teams:

Motherwell: Woods, Ready, Strong, Deloumeaux, Lasley, Leitch, Soloy (Nicholas 84), Pearson, Hammell, Elliott (Ramsey 90), McFadden.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Forrest, Martinez.

Booked: McFadden.

Goals: McFadden 9, Ready 26, Elliott 70, McFadden 87.

Dundee: Langfield, Smith, Del Rio, Zhiyi, Beghetto, Carranza (Artero 63), Torres, Ketsbaia, Romano (Garrido 76), Milne, Sara (Kemes 76).

Subs Not Used: Speroni, MacKay.

Booked: Zhiyi, Smith.

Goals: Sara 34 pen, Kemes 90.

Att: 3,573

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).