First win in eight was job well done by new gaffer

wanted. In some ways they were radical. The back three that’s been used for much of the season was scrapped as, for Motherwell at least, he employed a 4-2-3-1 formation.

On the surface that seemed a huge gamble. Such a major alteration during a campaign looked risky — Mixu Paatelainen tried something similar at United last season and it was a disaster.

Dig a little deeper and you suspect maybe what McCann did was not as dramatic a throw of the dice as it appeared. Many of Dundee’s best performance in the past two years saw them line up this way, so Saturday’s system was familiar to most of the players.

It worked because every player ran out with clear instructions of what was expected of them.

In a first half that ’Well dominated in terms of possession, attacking wide men Craig Wighton and Mark O’Hara were quick to cover the forward runs of the home wing-backs, while holding midfielders James Vincent and Nick Ross sat deep. That meant the back four was never exposed and, one Louis Moult chance apart, were able to deal with everything that came their way.

And the defending started high up the pitch. As well as grabbing two goals, Marcus Haber put in a lungbusting shift to make sure the ’Well back line didn’t get time on the ball.

LUCK

Luck played a part, both with a couple of the goals and one Motherwell should have had but didn’t get.

That couldn’t change the fact this was a good start. More work lies ahead but at least there is hope at Dens Park.

Neil McCann congratulates Mark O’Hara (left) and Tom Hateley following the win at Motherwell.