It was another difficult afternoon for Motherwell as the Steelmen struggled to overcome bottom club Dundee and had to settle for a point in their bid to climb back into the top six in the cinch Premiership.
Mark McGhee’s relegation-threatened side might have been weakened by injury and illness but they made life difficult for a Well side now 10 league games without a win.
For the ninth game since the winter break, ‘Well found themselves a goal behind, this time as early as six minutes when Paul McMullan gave Dundee a shock lead.
Joe Efford’s first goal for ‘Well levelled the scores after 18 minutes. But despite a late push for a winner it never arrived as Motherwell’s miserable run continued.
After the disappointment of the midweek defeat, Graham Alexander made two changes. Jake Carroll and Connor Shields made way for Juhani Ojala to come back into the centre of the defence, with Ricki Lamie moving across to the left back berth. Joe Efford got the nod to form a front three with Kevin van Veen and Kaiyne Woolery, tasked with finding goals to end their winless run league games.
It wasn’t looking like a case of happy returns for McGhee on his first visit to Fir Park since vacating the manager’s seat. Injuries and Covid restrictions forced the new Dens boss into making five changes including a debut for 20-year-old ‘keeper Harry Sharp.
Clearly Motherwell set out to test the young goalkeeper but it was the Fir Park men who once again found themselves a goal behind.
A high ball from the right floated over the ‘Well goal face and there seemed no danger when Stephen O’Donnell had the time to clear the ball. A slip by the Scotland full back gifted the ball to McMullan who wasted no time in whipping the ball beyond Liam Kelly and put Dundee ahead after less than six minutes.
Recognising nervousness in the home defence, Dundee almost punished further slack play three minutes later when Max Anderson drove narrowly wide of Kelly’s right hand post.
Motherwell’s play lacked cohesion and failed to exert any pressure on the visitor’s defence until they snatched an 18th-minute equaliser. It owed a lot to Van Veen’s determination who kept possession from the middle of the penalty box to the byline, before pulling the ball back to Efford. From the corner of the six-yard box the American’s first effort was blocked but he reacted quickly to smash the loose ball past Sharp to make it 1-1.
That injected some much need life into the home side and within a couple of minutes, Woolery had headed wide before Efford tried to claim a second goal but his drive sailed over the crossbar.
Once the Dens defence regained its composure, though, ‘Well were restricted to very few openings.
Seven minutes from half-time O’Donnell’s weighted ball towards goal found Woolery racing into the six-yard box but his swipe at the ball failed to direct it towards goal.
Woolery was involved again when he was barged to the ground by Ryan Sweeney at the corner of the box. Despite decent claims for a penalty, referee Andrew Dallas waved play on denying ‘Well the chance to take a lead into thehalf-time break. That left the game finely balanced but Motherwell started the second half looking more determined to take all three points.
Despite forcing a couple of early corners, young Sharp remained untested in the Dundee goal as the game approached the hour mark.
Indeed, it was Kelly’s goal that came under threat when McMullan found space to cross into the six-yard box and Declan McDaid hooked the ball over the bar. A minute later McDaid’s shot took a deflection off Shaun Byrne forcing Kelly to pounce on the ball low to his left.
With 15 minutes remaining and ‘Well fans airing their frustrations, Alexander made a double substitution with the introduction of Callum Slattery and Ross Tierney.
Tierney was immediately involved in a three-man move on the right which ended with the ball at Van Veen but from a very tight angle, his powerful drive was palmed behind by Sharp.
Seven minutes from time Van Veen reciprocated when his neat flick set up Tierney but his shot on the run was blocked making it an easy save for Sharp.
As ‘Well desperately pressed for a winner in the closing minutes the young Dundee ‘keeper was finally the centre of the action.
Sharp did well to hold Slattery’s 20-yard drive but did better diving full length to push away Woolery’s low drive which looked destined for the corner of the net and a late winner.
However, it wasn’t to be as Motherwell had to settle for a solitary point from back to back home games.
