Motherwell 1
Dundee 1
League (Premier League)

Match Report

Dundee came away from Motherwell with another valuable point from a ground where they picked up absolutely nothing last season.

In the end Jim Duffy will be happier with a point than Terry Butcher after Motherwell spumed several good scoring opportunities in a second half. Dougie Ramsey's diagonal deliveries allied to the skill of McFadden and the strength and pace of "Well new boy from Spurs, Steve Ferguson along with the battling qualities of Dirk Lehmann had Dundee on the rack at times, but Wilkie, and the ever improving Tom Hutchinson, held firm against the Claret and Amber bombardment and helped by Julian Speroni and a decent chunk of luck held out for a point they deserved over the ninety minutes

Dundee had the better of the first forty-five minutes with excellent first period service from the midfield duo of Barry Smith and Gavin Rae. Indeed it was Smith who was the provider for Lovell's goal with a pinpoint cross from the right, Lovell rising at the back post to head home. Steve Woods pulled off a stunning save from Caballero's 35 yard pile-driver seven minutes before the interval and it was Dundee who went in at the break happier a goal up after playing the neater football. At the start of the second half, Dundee were hit by waves of attacks and Wilkie did brilliantly to deny McFadden, getting the slightest of touches with a diving header with the youngster lurking.

But an equaliser was only temporarily delayed. Sixty seconds later McFadden headed home a lofted ball from Ferguson after Lehmann had caused confusion in the Dundee box.

Six minutes later the home side squandered two golden opportunities to grab all three points. First, Ferguson seemed certain to score until Tom Hutchinson found an extra yard of pace to get in a tackle as the striker shot and Speroni palmed away the effort. Then McFadden picked up the loose ball thirty yards out and raced around Wilkie to slide a shot past Speroni but also past the post.

Dundee came back into the game late on, with Novo on for Lovell, but were over elaborate at vital moments and there was a brief scare in the final moments as 'Well broke but the last ditch shot screamed harmlessly wide.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme