A DESPERATE performance by Motherwell in the opening hour brought just reward, as did Dundee's resourcefulness in exploiting the home side's weaknesses.
Paul Hartley's team, who scored twice in the first three minutes, could have won by much more, even if the hosts deserve some credit for their fightback in the last 25 minutes.
Both sides had gone four games without a win before the international break and both were understrength, but Dundee rose above their troubles with a sparkling display that delighted the travelling fans. By contrast many of the home ones had left Fir Park long before the late rally.
Manager Stuart McCall said: "Defensively we were very poor. We talked all week about our poor run and how we wanted a solid start. Then within two and a half minutes we were a goal down, giving a lift to a side who were on a slippery run themselves. The goals we lost were really poor for an experienced side. When you are in our position, first and fore-most you have to be hard to beat."
Hartley, who revealed James McPake had missed the game due to a bereavement, said: "We started really sharply, which was important after the run we'd been on. We scored two really good goals and it could have been more.
"We knew Motherwell would come back into it, but credit to the players because we were down to the bare bones. We can play a lot better, but in terms of picking three points up it was great."
Dundee were forced into a late change when goalkeeper Kyle Letheren twisted his knee in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Scott Bain, but the 22-year-old had a fine game.
Less than three minutes had passed when former Fir Park favourite David Clarkson put Dundee ahead and an excellent finish it was too, Clarkson striking the ball home on the volley from 16 yards.
Motherwell, having survived further early scares, rallied long enough to create chances of their own - notably two good shots from Henrik Ojamaa, which Bain competently saved, and a Simon Ramsden headed off the line by Kevin McBride - but fell further behind on the half-hour.
A Dundee attack down the right led to Greg Stewart firing in a shot which Dan Twardzik blocked only for Gary Harkins to net from the rebound. The home goalkeeper was incensed with his defenders' casualness, especially when he then had to make another save from the goalscorer.
McCall, having listened to his side being booed off the park at half-time, made two changes.
Initially, the difference was negligible. Dundee had the ball in the net again, only to be ruled offside, before Clarkson set up Stewart and the unmarked forward slipped the ball underneath Twardzik.
The third goal finally brought a response. Ojamaa, Motherwell's best player, forced Bain to tip a fierce shot over the bar and although the goalkeeper made another good save from the corner the ball dropped to the instigator, who prodded it over the line. Buoyed by the goal, Motherwell were a different team in the last half hour, but Bain and his defenders held firm.
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