Midweek flu victim Steven Tweed's first goal for Dundee after just two minutes was enough to earn the Dark Blues three invaluable points.

Even being forced to play the last four minutes with ten men after Brian Irvine was ordered off for a second booking, proved no handicap for Dundee who, despite being under almost continual second half pressure, still had the better chances to increase their lead.

Motherwell never recovered from that early setback and, coupled with the absence of John Spencer, saw their recent good run crumbling to an end.

Despite their flu worries Dundee were able to field an almost full-strength side and they showed no sign of any illness when they went ahead.

Iain Anderson swung in a corner from the left and with the visiting defence routed to the spot, Tweed had no difficulty in heading into the corner of the net from close range.

Lee Sharp then fired a 25-yarder straight at comeback-man Andy Goram, then Tommy Coyne should have done better when he had time to advance but elected to shoot unsuccessfully.

Well at last came into the game and ex-Everton winger Pat Nevin provided a half-chance for Ged Brannan before Simo Valakari fired a 25-yarder straight at Robert Douglas.

Anderson then almost took advantage of James Grady's poor control when he thundered in a shot which was blocked by the visiting defence before a tackle by Derek Adams on Grady saw Dundee have a penalty claim waved aside.

Nevin played a dangerous ball across the goal and with Lee McCulloch on the point of scoring, Dariusz Adamczuk did well to get in a last-gasp clearance.

Motherwell came close in the 34th minute when Owen Coyle swerved a 25-yard free-kick round the wall but the ball hit the junction of the bar and post before bouncing to safety.

Goal hero Tweed was missing when the teams reappeared after the interval but substitute Barry Smith was soon in action when he headed clear after Brannan lobbed Douglas.

The resultant corner was cleared only as far as Adams whose 22-yard half-volley went inches over.

Motherwell were on top now and a superb McCulloch cross gave Nevin the chance to send a close-range header past the post when he should have done better.

Adamczuk was short with a pass-back but Douglas saved his embarrassment by superbly blocking Coyle's angled effort.

Irvine was then booked for pulling back McCulloch but in a breakaway Adamczuk had two good chances and with the second forced Goram into a fine save at his near post.

Well kept up the pressure without really testing Douglas and, even after Irvine was ordered off for a second yellow card after a challenge on Adams, Motherwell never looked like the team which has swept all before them in recent weeks.

Teams:

Dundee: Douglas, Rogers, Adamczuk, Irvine, Anderson, Grady, Strachan, Sharp, Coyne (Annand 82), Robertson (Rae 49), Tweed (Smith 46).

Subs Not Used: Maddison, Langfield.

Sent Off: Irvine (86).

Booked: Irvine.

Goals: Tweed 3.

Motherwell: Goram, McGowan, Brannan, Valakari, Coyle, McCulloch (Bacque 62), Doesburg, Craigen, Teale, Nevin (Ramsey 68), Adams.

Subs Not Used: Woods, Matthaei, Doherty.

Att: 4,187

Ref: I Fyfe (Linlithgow).