Dundee 4
Motherwell 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier .

Dundee's team trooped off Dens Park at 3.45 on Saturday in an atmosphere that could be described as almost hostile. Their first half goalless show against Motherwell hadn't gone down kindly with the fans (writes a Special Correspondent).

Just 10 minutes later, transformation. The players returned to a welcome fit for heroes and in far different mood.

That 0-0 scoreline soon turned into a comfortable and vital win for Dundee. Did Archie Knox's words of wisdom at the interval change the scene so- dramatically? No. The Dundee boss wasn't required to blow his top. St Mirren, I am sure, did the job for him.

The Paisley half-time score, 2-0 for St Mirren, galvanised Dundee players and their supporters at the interval. In contrast to the previous week at Easter Road, the Dens Parkers didn't let their big half-time opportunity slip by. This 4-0 victory opens the door to Europe.

Before Saturday, Dundee's U.E.F.A. chance depended on Rangers dropping points. Now the Dens Parkers' fate is in their own hands or feet.

They are now a point ahead of Rangers with two games to play-tough games, certainly, against Celtic at Parkhead next Saturday and a finale at Dens against Hearts. They have to keep at least a point ahead, for the Ibrox club's goal difference is still much superior.

But it can be done and is well worth going for.

Archie Knox admitted Saturday's game was generally scrappy, but emphasised the importance of the result. No manager is going to quibble over a 4-0 victory.

But the result and the goals were better than the over-all performance. There was no comparison between Dundee's efforts the first-half and the way they took their chances in the second.

The first three goals went in during a great 13-minute spell soon after the start of the second-half.

First Bobby Glennie slammed in a beauty after a Stuart Rafferty corner kick. Then Rafferty headed home in brilliant fashion from a Connor cross. Stewart Forsyth scored number three, finishing off a Brown-Stephen move with a low shot.

Poor Motherwell, who had started off this game in control, didn't know what had hit them. They lost a fourth goal just before the final whistle when Vince Mennie cashed in on a Stephen rebound off the post.

The 3763 fans (lowest crowd of the season) went home happy and hopeful. Many could also feel a bit chastened, for the lesson was obvious in the second half-cheers, not jeers, bring out the best in a team.

Certainly Dundee can do better, and will probably have to, in the remaining games. They seemed to feel the pressure of the day far more than Motherwell, who have now no relegation worries.

Although the Fir Parkers looked good early on they never seriously troubled Bobby Geddes during the 90 minutes.

Two Dundee defenders were on the score sheet, but a third, Tosh McKinlay, took the man of the day tag and only a super save by Motherwell's deputy keeper Alistair Maxwell kept his name off the list of scorers.

Archie Knox reports no fresh injuries. He should have a full pool available for Parkhead next Saturday.