Dundee 1 Motherwell2: View from top fails to impress

Sunday 16 September 2012

THEY say it is the mark of champions to play badly and still get a result.

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Scott Mullen

If that is indeed the case, then get your money on Motherwell. The Lanarkshire club sit at the summit of the SPL after a dogged win at Dundee.

Stuart McCall's men were harried, frustrated and at times bullied by a Dens Park side who fully deserved their 1-0 half-time lead which came courtesy of a Colin Nish header.

Michael Higdon overturned that scoreline with two goals in 11 second half minutes, but Fir Park manager McCall wasn't getting carried away over his side's league position. "It's irrelevant to me to be honest," he said. "For me, it's all about getting points."It's nice for the players and their families to look and see us top, but I think we all know where the title is going to end up. I thought Dundee defended well, but I believed if our creative players could come to the fore we could come back and win."Barry Smith made one change to his side, introducing new signing Mark Kerr for David Grassi, while Motherwell replaced Jonathon Paige, Zaine Francis-Angol and Bob McHugh with Shaun Hutchinson, Stevie Hammell and Jamie Murphy respectively.With both teams struggling to get to grips with the blustery conditions, the visitors produced the first chance of the match after seven minutes. Chris Humphrey raced to the bye-line and dinked over a hanging cross to the back post for Higdon. He nodded the ball down for Keith Lasley, but his strike was bravely charged down by Gary Irvine.This seemed to jolt Dundee into action and Lewis Toshney's low drive from 12 yards produced a fabulous one-handed save from Darren Randolph.But the boisterous home crowd didn't have long to wait to see their team's first home goal of the season. New signing Kerr and Ryan Conroy combined to play in John Baird and his cross seemed to deceive Hammell, allowing Nish to nod across Randolph and into the net after 20 minutes.Despite much huffing and puffing, Motherwell struggled to bring any fluency to their game, with the final ball either failing to bypass the defence or sailing safely into Rab Douglas's grasp.However, they were unfortunate not to be level just before the interval when Higdon turned Neil McGregor before slamming the ball off the base of the post.At the start of the second half the Fir Park threatened again and Nicky Law flashing a dangerous shot across the face of Douglas's goal on 55 minutes.At the other end, Nish, who joined Dundee on loan from Hartlepool United last month, went agonisingly close to netting his second of the afternoon after 64 minutes. Baird's good close control allowed him to set up the 31-year-old, who dragged his left-foot shot inches past the far post from close range. Motherwell made them pay 10 minutes later as Higdon netted for the fourth time in two games.Substitute Henrik Ojamaa, who had replaced an ineffectual Murphy, scampered down the right wing before sending in a low cross. Higdon took two touches to control the ball before eventually bundling it over the line.The Englishman then completed Motherwell's comeback five minutes from time. Tom Hateley, who had spent most of the afternoon shooting from set-pieces, this time bulleted his corner kick on to the head of the advancing Higdon, who forced the ball home from five yards out."I thought we played well in the first half, but we had lapses in concentration that cost us," said a deflated Smith. "We're six games into the season and we're still making the same mistakes."

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Dundee 1 Motherwell2: View from top fails to impress

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