[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee at Fir Park
Motherwell slumped to a painful defeat as they lost 5-1 to Dundee in the Ladbrokes Premiership this afternoon.
A young home defence was cruelly exposed by a clinical Dundee who netted five times from five shots on target in a horrendous first half for ‘Well fans. And although Louis Moult equalised midway through the half, slack defending had the points heading to Tayside before the half-time whistle.
Without Richard Tait and the vastly experienced left sided defensive pairing of Stephen McManus and Stevie Hammell, Zak Jules lined up alongside Ben Heneghan. But it was an unfortunate home start for the Reading defender when within six minutes he back-headed a harmless looking ball over the advancing Craig Samson to give Dundee the lead.
Motherwell’s response was a dipping drive from Scott McDonald and a Chris Cadden cross which just evaded Louis Moult.
However, ‘Well’s leading scorer was on target in the 22nd minute to claim his 13th goal of the season. Joe Chalmer’s floated free kick towards the edge of the box was nodded on by Heneghan’s to Moult, and at the second attempt he steered the ball beyond Scott Bain for the equaliser.
While ‘Well fans anticipated that the home side would build on that goal, a savage seven minutes presented Dundee with three goals and effectively killed the game.
In the 27th minute Marcus Haber was given space to turn six yards from goal and drive the ball home. Three minutes later the ‘Well defence was again exposed on the left as Mark O’Hara steered his angled drive beyond Samson to make it 1-3.
Dundee quickly made it four, when Craig Wighton unmarked eight yards in front of goal, drilled the ball through a packed six yard box.
As the half-time whistle loomed and the Fir Park faithful thought the first half couldn’t get any worse, the Dens men grabbed a fifth.
Wighton’s free kick was aimed to the far post where Haber headed the ball back across Samson and make it 5-1.
Not unexpectedly ‘Well made a determined start to the second half and a slick move played in Craig Clay but his powerful angled drive was forced away by Bain.
Samson produced his first save of the game on the hour to deny former Fir Park favourite Henrik Ojamaa.
Seven minutes later, Clay was denied at the other end, powering his way into the box only to see his parting shot blocked by Bain’s boot.
‘Well’s day was summed up in the 76th minute when Elliot Frear whipped in a low ball across goal which Darren O’Dea sliced off his own post and behind for a corner.
There was not even a consolation goal in the final minute for the hardworking Clay when his goal bound shot was booted off the line by Cammy Kerr.
[tab:As it happened]
Alastair Reilly at Fir Park
FT: Motherwell 1 – 5 Dundee
83′ | 1-5
Dundee sub, Ojamaa off for Hateley
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76′ | 1-5
Frear’s low ball into the box is turned off the woodwork by O’Dea. Corner.
67′ | 1-5
Good chance for Clay as he gets on the end of a lay-off but Bain saves with his feet
63′ | 1-5
Dundee sub, Williams on for O’Hara
61′ | 1-5
Motherwell sub, Chalmers off for Frear
59′ | 1-5
Nice bit of play gets Clay in behind but Bain does well to beat his shot away.
Dundee get the second 45 underway.
HT: Motherwell 1 – 5 Dundee
45′ | 1-5
Goal – Haber rises highest at the back post to head in.
35′ | 1-4
Goal – It’s 1-4. Dundee looking dangerous with every attack and this time Wighton fires home a loose ball.
32′ | 1-3
Ball breaks to Pearson inside the box but his shot deflects to Clay whose shot is also deflected to safety.
31′ | 1-3
Goal – O’Hara makes it 3. Gets too much space down the right and makes no mistake with his finish. ‘Well with a mountain to climb
26′ | 1-2
Goal – Haber puts Dundee 1-2 up. Took the ball on his chest, turned his man and volleyed past Samson.
21′ | 1-1
Free-kick floated into the area which is nodded down by Heneghan to MOULT who fires it past Bain!!!
GGOOOAAALL!!
19′ | 0-1
So close! McDonald plays in Cadden who flashes a great cross along the face of goal but Pearson can’t quite get on the end of it.
6′ | 0-1
Goal – Jules tries to get on the end of a long hopeful ball but ends up heading into his own net.
1′ | 0-0
Chance! Cadden gets down the right but his cross floats inches over the bar.
McDonald gets the game underway. COYW!!
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
Dundee manager Paul Hartley:
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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