The two goal half-time lead hardly reflected our domination. The goals from McDonald and Moult should have been enough to earn the points but when Dundee scored with over twenty minutes remaining there was a nervous spell before the win was secured.
Ben Hall - a fine debut
The manager gave a debut to Ben Hall and the 18 year old should be delighted at this opening performance for the first team. McGhee thought he was “fantastic” and the 3,000 ‘Well fans cheered as he was awarded the Man of the match award. McManus was given credit for talking him through the game.
We opened the scoring early. A silly foul on Johnson on the touchline allowed Law to deliver a ball into the Dundee box. Pearson nudged the ball forward for McDonald to finish with a first time placement beyond Bain.
We then took total control and pushed for the second. Most forward traffic came via Hammell, Pearson and Johnson on the left and chances started to flow. Pearson came close, forcing a decent save, and Moult beat the ‘keeper only to see his effort hit the post.
The striker got his goal, the ninth of the season, on the half hour. Law’s corner found him at the near post and the glancing header put us two up.
The dominance was evident when we were treated to a first save of the game from Ripley ten minutes from the break.
Grimshaw came close with an ambitious 30 yard effort that skimmed the bar and in added time we were treated to him bursting along the right wing and hurdling a couple of desperate tackles before reaching the dead ball line to deliver a cut back that Bain caught.
There was no sense that the game was won as the home crowd chomped their half time pies. A goal from the visitors would put the game back into the melting pot and so it proved.
The second period saw Dundee push up but we seemed to cope. Harkins replaced Loy just before the hour and in under ten minutes they scored when the substitute converted a low cross from the right.
We survived the inevitable pressure that followed and scored the winner with 90 minutes on the clock. Clarkson had replaced Johnson and our ‘old boy’ took station on the right. He delivered a well placed low drive across the face of the goal and the onrushing Pearson was on hand to bundle the ball into the net and secure the thoroughly deserved win.
Motherwell move off the play-off position but the realisation that our next fixture is at Parkhead soon ends any hint of over-placed optimism.
Motherwell 3 Dundee 1
Attendance 3,512 (397)
Team: Ripley, Hammell, McManus, Hall, Law, Grimshaw, Lasley, Pearson, Johnson (Clarkson 82), Moult (Mackin 92), McDonald (Ainsworth 62)