A glorious free kick from full-back Stephen McMillan 13 minutes from time
gave Motherwell three points which allowed them to swap places with Dundee in
the League table.
In a scrappy affair which was sometimes ill-tempered, the home side played out
the final eight minutes with 10 men after Shaun Teale was ordered off for
elbowing Brian Irvine in an off-the-ball incident.
The home side in the end held out comfortably for another of the home wins
which have marked their revival since Billy Davies took up the manager's post.
It was a solemn start to the game as both sets of players and the fans stood
in silence to mark the tragic death of young reserve player Andy Thomson.
Perhaps not surprisingly aided by swirling wind, the game took a while to
ignite but it eventually did after 25 minutes.
On-loan striker John Spencer threaded a glorious pass for Owen Coyle to move
in on goal, and with the 'keeper advancing, he curled the ball low and hard past
him only to watch his effort rebound from the post.
Dundee faced a similar fate six minutes later when Jim Grady's hook shot
clattered Teale on his raised hands, leaving the referee no option but to point
to the spot.
Iain Anderson looked casual in his run-up, and although he sent the keeper the
wrong way, his clipped shot rebounded from the outside of the post.
Motherwell almost made the most of that lucky break two minutes later when Ged
Brannan unleashed a fierce 25-yard drive which, with the aid of a deflection,
looked to be heading just inside the post, until Robert Douglas at full stretch
brilliantly palmed the ball away.
A minute later, the Dundee 'keeper was beaten when Spencer's cross took a
glancing header from Coyle enough for the ball to bounce just inside the post
and put the home side one up.
The lead was short-lived. Three minutes later a free-kick was awarded against
Simo Valakari just outside the box.
Former Motherwell man Shaun McSkimming thundered in a left-foot shot which
rebounded to Dariusz Adamczuk who from 12 yards hammered the ball home via a
deflection.
Motherwell had most of the possession in a second half where play often broke
down through poor passing from both sides.
Dundee almost snatched the lead with a slick move which found the former
Motherwell jewel of McSkimming and Willie Falconer combining to set up Grady who
shot just over.
Then after 77 minutes, Barry Smith tripped Spencer on the edge of the penalty
area, and McMillan stepped forward with a superb left-foot, curling shot which
left Douglas stranded.
Even reduced to 10 men, Motherwell came closest in the closing minutes with a
Valakari drive from 30 yards which skidded inches wide, but by that stage the
points were safe in the home dressing room.
Teams:
Motherwell: Kaven, McMillan, McGowan, Brannan, Valakari, Coyle,
Thomas (Michels 80), McCulloch (Adams 72), Teale, Nevin, Spencer.
Subs Not Used: May, Ramsey, Bannister.
Sent Off: Teale (82).
Booked: Valakari, Thomas, McCulloch.
Goals: Coyle 34, McMillan 77.
Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Adamczuk, Irvine, Raeside, Anderson,
Grady, Falconer, Sharp (Rogers 78), McSkimming (Coyne 81), Rae.
Subs Not Used: Grant, Slater, Langfield.
Booked: Irvine.
Goals: Adamczuk 37.
Att: 4,000
Ref: E Martindale (Glasgow).
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