A brace from Steve Lovell handed Dundee victory over Motherwell to put eight precious Bank of Scotland Premier League points between them and bottom club Livingston.

The Dark Blues were forced to come from behind though after losing a 40th-minute goal to Well striker Scott McDonald.

Lovell, who was the subject of transfer window attention from Plymouth and Aberdeen, hit his eighth and ninth strikes of the season to boost Dens Park hopes of SPL survival.

But the result never looked completely clear cut from the outset.

Motherwell carved Dundee wide open and McDonald forced Derek Soutar into a reflex save on his six-yard line.

His block rolled into the path of Kevin McBride but the former Celtic youngster's shot was blocked by Barry Smith as it edged towards the net.

Dundee broke to the other end caused Gordon Marshall some concern with Tom McManus' cross.

The veteran goalkeeper dealt with the cross well, but petulantly swung a foot at Neil Barrett, who had bolted in to contest for the ball, and was lucky to escape referee Craig MacKay's eye.

Marshall thought he was beaten in the 16th minute, however, when McManus gathered Wilkie's long ball on the right channel and turned his marker.

The ex-Hibernian forward had time to steady himself and dinked a lob over Marshall's head, but it caught the swirling wind and blew over.

Dundee had Soutar to thank for ensuring Dundee remained on level terms.

In the 32nd minute, he produced the kind of save which has propelled him to the fringes of the Scotland squad.

The impressive McBride dispossessed Smith on the right-hand side before bouncing the ball off Jim Hamilton to create space in front of goal.

He had plenty of time to pick a spot in the bottom corner, but the goalkeeper got down as quick as a flash and turned his effort round the post.

He bettered that two minutes later with a double save to deny Phil O'Donnell and Hamilton after Scott Leitch had beaten the home defence.

But the 24-year-old was helpless to prevent McDonald taking the lead in the 40th minute.

Leitch once again sliced through Dundee with an excellent angled chip, which neutralised Sancho and Wilkie, leaving space for the young Australian in behind.

Soutar raced to challenge him, but was a fraction too slow and could only turn and watch the ball roll away from him into the empty net.

Dundee burst into life and threw everything forward to get the vital equaliser.

When it came, on the stroke of half-time, it was fortunate but Lovell deserved the goal for the intelligence he showed in continuing to run onto the ball despite Stephen Craigan's foul on Fabian Caballero.

While the other players seemed to stop, Lovell ran on and was through one-on-one with Marshall before the others realised the official had waved play on.

He picked his spot and sent his shot flying beyond the goalkeeper's right hand.

Lovell added his second of the afternoon 10 minutes after the break.

The forward left Paul Quinn in his tracks on the left channel, leaving the Scotland Under-21 international reliant on a last-gasp challenge to halt his progress.

But the ball was still there to be won while the pair were on the floor and the Dundee man reacted quickest, but Craigan stepped in to block.

Fortuitously for the Dens striker, he got another opportunity and capitalised on it, rolling the ball past Marshall from beside the penalty spot.

Motherwell claimed a penalty in the 61st minute, but the referee saw nothing wrong with Sancho's challenge on McDonald.

They mustered a late flurry of attacking play, especially after David Clarkson replaced the tired Hamilton, but Dundee held firm for a crucial win.

Teams:

Dundee: Soutar, McDonald, Sancho, Wilkie, Robb, Barrett, Fotheringham, Smith, McManus, Lovell, Caballero.

Subs Not Used: Jack, Mann, Larsen, Sutton, Brady, Robertson, Kitamirike.

Goals: Lovell 45, 55.

Motherwell: Marshall, Paul Quinn, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, McBride, O'Donnell, Leitch, Paterson (Foran 70), Scott McDonald, Hamilton (Clarkson 87).

Subs Not Used: Ewings, Wright, Fagan, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick.

Goals: Scott McDonald 40.

Att: 5,746

Ref: C MacKay (Scotland).