Dundee 0
Motherwell 1
League (Premier League)
DundeeDundee |
0 - 10 - 1 |
MotherwellMotherwell |
 |
League (Premier League) |
 |
| Goalscorers | |
| None. | Lee McCulloch (45) |
| Team Managers | |
|
Jocky Scott |
Billy Davies |
| Starting Eleven | |
|
1. Robert Douglas 34. Craig Ireland 2. Barry Smith 5. Steven Tweed 17. Frank van Eijs 19. Patrizio Billio 7. Steven Boyack 12. Shaun McSkimming 8. Gavin Rae 9. Eddie Annand 11. Willie Falconer |
Stephen Woods .17 Michel Doesburg. 2 Ben Kemble .40 Shaun Teale .5 Stephen McMillan .3 Pat Nevin .13 Simo Valakari .8 Ged Brannan .5 Kevin Twaddle .28 John Spencer .7 Lee McCulloch .9 |
| Bench | |
|
13. Jamie Langfield 21. Mark Slater 35. Nicky Banger 22. Graham Bayne 10. James Grady |
Trialist (GK) Jamie McGowan .4 Stephen Nicholas .11 Paul Harvey .21 DerekTownsley .27 |
| Substitutions | |
|
Nicky Banger for Willie Falconer James Grady for Frank van Eijs |
Derek Townsley for Pat Nevin (63) Paul Harvey for Kevin Twaddle (78) Stephen Nicholas for John Spencer (88) |
| Cautions | |
|
Barry Smith Steven Boyack |
None. |
| Red Cards | |
|
Nicky Banger (81) |
None. |
| Match Officials | |
|
M. A. Clark (Referee) |
Match Report
Motherwell striker Lee McCulloch was surely in the mind of Scotland boss Craig Brown last week when he pointed to our younger. element as the way to success.
McCulloch's undoubted talent at finding the net has already made him the scourge of Premier League defences, and judging by his progress this season his future appears brighter than ever.
It was no secret that Hearts, Leeds United and Spurs were more than interested spectators in recent weeks, and they were joined by the likes of Middlesbrough, Manchester City and Portsmouth yesterday.
And they cannot but have been impressed with the former under-21 marksman as he helped his Fir Parkers' winning sequence in the Premier League stretch to four games.
McCulloch was a constant thorn in the home defence with his physique, strength and pace producing problems from minute one to Jocky Scott's team.
And the 21-year-old's reward for his afternoon graft arrived during injury time at the interval when he settled the contest.
A corner from the right was deflected into the path of McCulloch and he required no further encouragement to power in a perfect finish from around
the penalty spot. The second half saw a similar story of McCulloch's danger, twice rounding home keeper Robert Douglas only to fail to find his target.
Dundee, who had matched the visitors early on, were dealt a body blow close to half-time. Top scorer Willie Falconer, who had earlier suffered a head knock, was led off suffering from concussion being replaced by new signing Nicky Banger.
And the afternoon proved less than kind to the home debut man, Banger being red-carded for a late off-the-ball incident with Well's Michael Doezburg.
During that first-half spell, Douglas excelled with a great save from a Spencer 18-yarder, but the second half plaudits were earned at the other end.
Steve Woods pulled off a magnificent diving save to deny substitute Banger before finger-tipping away a net-bound 25-yarder from Patrizio Billio. In the end the points went west and deservedly so in terms of possession.
Match report written by The Sunday Post
Squad Statistics (as at November 20th, 1999)
| 1999-00 | All Time | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Nat |  |
 |
|
|
|
| Robert Douglas (GK) | 27 |
|
16 | - | 97 | - |
| Craig Ireland | 23 |
|
3 | - | 3 | - |
| Barry Smith | 25 |
|
13 | - | 155 | 1 |
| Steven Tweed | 27 |
|
16 | 1 | 27 | 2 |
| Frank van Eijs | 28 |
|
10 | - | 10 | - |
| Patrizio Billio | 25 |
|
3 | - | 3 | - |
| Steven Boyack | 23 |
|
16 | 3 | 24 | 5 |
| Shaun McSkimming | 29 |
|
15 | 2 | 76 | 7 |
| Gavin Rae | 21 |
|
16 | 1 | 80 | 4 |
| Eddie Annand | 26 |
|
15 | 3 | 93 | 29 |
| Willie Falconer | 33 |
|
15 | 10 | 50 | 14 |
| Nicky Banger (sub) | 27 |
|
1 | - | 1 | - |
| James Grady (sub) | 28 |
|
13 | 1 | 85 | 22 |
League Table (as at November 20th, 1999)
No league table has been added for this season.
Manager's Programme Notes
After our entertaining friendly against Greek side Aris last week, it is back to the serious business of trying to collect league points this afternoon.
And having won our last two games, we are obviously looking to make it a hat-trick of SPL wins after victories over Hearts and St Johnstone.
Whilst both of these were excellent results, I am the first to concede that we have played more attractively this season. More importantly though, we did get back to working very hard against both Hearts and St Johnstone and making it difficult for our opponents to overcome us.
No matter what else happens, that is something we must continue to do for the rest of the season.
And that is very much the case as we take on Motherwell this afternoon.
The Fir Park side are on a good run of late having chalked up impressive wins away to Dundee United and Celtic before making it a hat-trick of wins within the space of a week by beating St Johnstone at home. Then two weeks ago, they held Hearts to a draw at Tynecastle, which indicates that we are in for a very difficult game this afternoon.
However, we also go into this match. with the confidence gained from our recent victories which should make. for a very entertaining game.
Over the last few weeks, we have, as you know, acquired three new faces.
Craig Ireland, who made his debut in our last home match, is on loan from Dunfermline, whilst Patritzio Billio and Nicky Banger are on contract which I think demonstrates our ambition and shows that we are not content to stand still.
This trio of additions to the squad, I believe, will not only strength the squad in the short term, but will in time improve the team and the quality of our play in the longer period.
For the moment though, the priority is getting maximum points this afternoon's encounter with Motherwell.
Hope you enjoy the game.