Dundee took a major step towards Premier League safety with a hard-fought win which takes them six points ahead of bottom placed Dunfermline.

Two second half goals inside nine minutes from Willy Falconer and James Grady turned the game Dundee's way after they had trailed from a second minute strike from John Spencer.

The real turning point, though, was the dismissal of Tony Thomas on the stroke of half time which reduced the home side, which had looked in complete control, to 10 men.

Motherwell grabbed the lead with their first move of the match.

Simo Valakari won the ball in midfield and sent a pass into the path of Spencer who raced towards the penalty box before unleashing a tremendous 20 yard drive which rose high beyond the stretching Robert Douglas and into the top corner to make it 1-0.

Motherwell looked likely to add to their score and Spencer should have done better from six yards but his half-hit shot fell into the keeper's arms.

Full-back Stevie McMillan then burst forward to unleash to 20 yard drive which raced just wide of the right hand post as Motherwell took total command.

Then one minute from the break and having already been cautioned, Thomas lunged into a rash challenge on Lee Maddison which fully merited another yellow card and his dismissal.

Despite having the extra man it was Motherwell who again came closest early in the second half and an inviting cross from Spencer set up his fellow striker Don Goodman but his weak shot posed no problem for Douglas.

Then, with 62 minutes played, a well worked free kick from the home side ended with a left foot strike from McMillan forcing Douglas at full length to beat the ball away.

Dundee took heart from that save and two minutes later Gavin Rae burst through the home defence and worked his way to the by-line. From an impossible position he squeezed the ball past Goram and along the goalline where former Motherwell player Willy Falconer had the easiest of tasks to tap the ball over the goalline.

Dundee with the thought of three precious points in their minds pushed for the winner and the substitution of Grady for Hugh Robertson after 71 minutes paid off immediately.

Dundee's other sub Ian Anderson slid the perfect pass towards Grady standing at the edge of the box with his back to goal. The little striker turned and in one movement released a shot which beat Goram and rebounded into the goal from his left hand post to put Dundee in front.

Motherwell, their own position in the Premier League still in jeopardy, looked for an equaliser but by this stage, reduced to 10 men and facing a resilient 11, there was no way back for the home side.

Teams

Motherwell: Goram, Teale, Thomas, McGowan, Nevin (Doesburg 45), Valakari, Gower (Nicholas 82), Brannan, McMillan, Goodman, Spencer.

Subs Not Used: May, McCulloch, Bannister.

Sent Off: Thomas (44).

Goals: Spencer 2.

Dundee: Douglas, Miller (Anderson 54), Irvine, Smith, Maddison, Raeside, Rae, Falconer, Robertson (Grady 71),Annand (McSkimming 88), Boyack.

Subs Not Used: Tweed, Langfield.

Goals: Falconer 65, Grady 73.

Att: 5,717

Ref: E Martindale (Glasgow).