A never say die ten-man Motherwell conjured up another injury time goal for a share of the points in a six goal thriller.
It looked like a disappointing defeat until the sixth minute of added on time.
As ‘Well chased a long overdue winning goal, the Tayside men snatched what looked like the winner two minutes from time when Zach Robinson was given time to pick his spot beyond Liam Kelly from 12 yards.
However, with almost the last kick of the game, Conor Wilkinson slammed a left foot drive high past Trevor Carson, allowing the Fir Fans to celebrate a hard fought point that looked beyond them
When Mika Biereth claimed his fifth goal of the season after only six minutes, the Steelmen looked on course to end their winless run.
However, they only held the advantage for 20 minutes or so, when a quickly taken double from Lyle Cameron and Owen Beck had Dundee ahead at the interval, as the Fir Park fans aired their disapproval.
When Bevis Mugabi nodded home the equaliser in the 67th minute, ‘Well seemed set for another grandstand finish until Harry Paton’s red card reduced them to ten men for the final 20 minutes.
Calum Slattery’s one match suspension was an easy fix for Stuart Kettlewell. After coming off the bench and grabbing the equaliser at Celtic Park last week, Jon Obika made his first league start supporting Mika Biereth in the home attack.
The Fir Park pitch was a green oasis in a snow covered town, encouraging both sets of players to quickly warm to the perfect playing surface, which produced end to end action.
And after both defences were given an early test with curling free kicks, ‘Well made the breakthrough.
Blair Spittal tried to play a 1-2 at the edge of the Dundee box. But when his path was blocked the ball broke to Biereth, who immediately smacked it low and in off Trevor Carson’s right-hand post.
Incredibly, that strike provided Motherwell with the opening goal for the first time since September.
With Callum Butcher and Obika offering an assured first touch, Motherwell players looked to have restored some confidence in possession.
A quick exchange between Biereth and Spittal sent the Arsenal loanee racing down the right touchline. With Obika waiting beyond the six-yard box, though, his cross was easily cut-out by former ‘Well ‘keeper Carson.
As the half progressed, though, Dundee pressed the home side deep into their own half and two quick goals from the Taysider’s around the half hour mark, changed the game.
After 29 minutes the Fir Park men had two attempts to clear Beck’s corner. When the visitor’s fired a third ball towards goal it deflected high into the air, sailing over the defensive line leaving Cameron a simple task of heading the ball down and beyond the helpless Liam Kelly.
Worse was to follow five minutes later. Zak Rudden chased a long ball to the byeline before cutting it back to Beck, allowing the Liverpool loanee time to switch the ball to his left foot before smashing it past Kelly from eight yards.
From then until half-time the Fir Park men looked increasingly nervous as the Dens Park side threatened to extend its lead, as the ‘Well fans loudly aired their disapproval.
The interval allowed the ‘Well boss time to instil some much needed confidence and organisation into his players.
However, Dundee remained the livelier and after Dan Casey was booked for holding back Cameron, Kelly was asked to produce the first save of the game, getting his body firmly behind |Luke McCowan’s 20 yard drive.
In the 59th minute and out of nowhere Motherwell had a great chance to level. Paton and Spittal combined at the edge of the box to send Obika through on goal but from an angle he dragged his left foot shot beyond Carson and a foot outside his far post.
A couple of corners from Spittal kept some pressure on the Dundee defence and in a packed goalmouth Carson was grateful to grab a deflected effort on his line.
Conor Wilkinson was then given the last half hour to make his presence felt in the home attack.
But it was Bevis Mugabi who almost levelled the game. Striding forward unchallenged the Uganda international unleashed a terrific drive from 35 yards which Carson palmed over his cross bar.
The central defender was not to be denied and when Spittal slung a cross towards the six-yard area Mugabi’s header powered the ball beyond the ‘keeper to make it 2-2.
Motherwell had no sooner sent on Theo Bair and Georgie Gent when they were reduced to 10 men for the closing 20 minutes.
Harry Paton was initially shown a yellow card for a tackle McCowan, but after a VAR review, referee Iain Sneddon decided it was worthy of a red card.
After that Motherwell seemed more determined to find a winner.
A poor clearance gave Wilkinson a half chance but his effort sailed high and wide of goal.
The ‘Well substitute was much closer four minutes later when his measured low drive from 20 yards sped just beyond Carson’s left hand post with the ‘keeper sliding across his goal to make sure it wouldn’t sneak inside the post.
With five minutes of regulation time remaining Oli Shaw replaced Biereth as Kettlewell made one final push for a winner.
A minute later, though, it was Dundee who found the decisive third goal.
Robinson found himself unmarked 12 yards from goal and he calmly stroked the ball into Kelly’s left hand corner to leave the home side staring at another home defeat.
But in the sixth minute of additional time, Motherwell fought back once again. Oli Shaw brilliantly leaped and subsequently flicked on a Liam Kelly goal kick, Georgie Gent knocked the ball back to Shaw who dipped eloquently past the onrushing defender before finding Wilkinson with a inch perfect pass, the number 99 rattled the ball into the near post to earn a vital point.
