IT is not often that Dens Park can be described as looking as pretty as a picture. Yesterday’s stage was bathed in beautiful autumnal sunshine but the football could only be described as incongruously ugly. Yet, having taking three points and watched Rory Loy bag his fifth goals in six games as Dundee maintained their presence in the upper-half of the table, Paul Hartley will not fret.

Indeed, the only thing that irked the Dundee manager from this encounter was the treatment he feels midfielder Greg Stewart is singled out for by opposing teams. The 25-year-old – shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year award last season - did not make it to the half hour of this Dens Park win after he took a sore one from Motherwell’s Louis Moult, a tackle that raised the hackles of Hartley.

“I don’t feel he’s getting much protection - I feel he’s being really targeted week in and week out,” lamented the Dens Park manager. “I don’t mean just today’s game, I’m talking about overall - from the beginning of the season, even last season. We want to protect our better players, our more talented players and I don’t feel he’s getting that.

“In general play he’s getting it every week, because he’s such a talent. He’s nursing a sore one in there. I don’t think it’s an injury that’s going to lead to weeks out of the game, but people are going out to make sure he’s not having an influence on the game.

“It’s probably more this season than last. Everyone knows him know and we’re seeing it week in, week out - the number of challenges going in on him, and late challenges too, to disrupt him. That’s something we have to look at as well because we must look to protect our players. I feel it’s better to speak out about it in the media because then everyone knows we believe Greg needs more protection. “

The enforced substitutions for both teams were the only things worth talking about from a forgettable opening 45 minutes. In a game that was already struggling for cohesion, Dundee losing skipper Kevin Thomson as well as Stewart and Motherwell losing their brightest light, Lionel Ainsworth, disrupted both teams. Yet, the introduction of Dundee’s Gary Harkins did bring some creativity to proceedings and it was the midfielder who had a hand in bringing the opening goal.

His free-kick originally looked to have drifted too deep into the box but Kane Hemmings kept the ball in play and fed Riccardo Calder. He sent a high ball into the box and, Loy, with his back to goal, stuck out a high leg to hook the ball into the net. It was a fair reward for a Dundee side that had enjoyed most of the possession but Motherwell, to their credit, attempted a swift retort.

Had Marvin Johnson been a little more focussed he would have netted a quick leveller but after being teed up by Scott McDonald he completely mis-hit his shot. Encouraged by the let-off, Dundee went on the hunt for a more significant advantage and when Kevin Holt’s free-kick was allowed to take a cheap deflection off the Motherwell wall before nestling in the net, there seemed little way back for Motherwell.

Stephen Pearson did succeed in giving them a lifeline with his late goal that kept the final ten minutes interesting but for caretaker Motherwell manager, Stephen Craigan, the game was a worrying reminder of the surgery required to get the Fir Park side back to the right end of the table. The former Motherwell captain will await discussions this week on what the future is for him as the club sift through the 70 applications that are on the table for the post but on yesterday’s evidence he will have an appreciation of the job that lies in wait should some position be made available to him.

“I haven’t declared an interest to the owner yet because he hasn’t asked me if I want it,” said Craigan. “We said during the week we would deflect away from asking any questions and deal with this game. If they want to do interviews or do what they have to then there will be some sort of contact.

“The game taught me that management is very frustrating. In the Premiership if you score the first goal it gives you the upper hand. It’s always tough chasing a game. We didn’t test the goalkeeper enough in this match. To have four different strikers on the pitch and not test the goalkeeper enough is disappointing.

“It probably sums up where we are, it’s one step forwards and two back. When the new manager comes in he’ll probably have to address getting some sort of consistency.”