The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dark Blues denied at Dens by Tanner strike
Dundee one point off bottom after narrrow loss to cup semi-finalists
DUNDEE 0 MOTHERWELL 1
Dundee suffered their third successive league loss as they were beaten by Betfred Cup finalists Motherwell at Dens last night.
A Craig Tanner strike gave the Steelmen, who saw off Rangers at Hampden on Sunday to book a final place against Celtic, the lead after only five minutes, proving the decisive factor.
The best the Dark Blues could do was a “goal” from striker Sofien Moussa that was controversially chalked off four minutes before half-time.
The defeat means Neil McCann’s men stay down in 10th spot in the Premiership table, just one point better off than bottom sides Kilmarnock and Partick.
The big surprise in the home line-up was the presence of Marcus Haber, with the big Canadian striker not even on the bench as they lost at Firhill at the weekend.
The man to drop out was A-Jay LeitchSmith, who both scored a goal and missed a penalty against Partick.
Roarie Deacon, who came off the bench against the Jags, was also given a start. Paul McGowan had to make do with a sub’s role. It was good to see Australian midfielder Jesse Curran keep his place in the side after a fine display on Saturday.
There was also a surprise in the Motherwell team, with cup semi-final hero Louis Moult passed fit after having stitches put in an eye wound but still listed as a sub.
The Well players, called a team of wrestlers by Rangers player Fabio Cardoso in last night’s Ibrox match programme, had the Dens men on the canvas after just five minutes as they took the lead.
A long ball was played to Ryan Bowman, who nodded it on. It fell for Tanner, who leathered it past keeper Scott Bain with the outside of his left foot after shrugging off a challenge from home skipper Darren O’Dea.
With 10 minutes gone, Bain did well to push away Tanner’s strike from the edge of the box before O’Dea did well to tackle a breaking Alex Fisher as the Steelmen went looking for another goal.
A cross from Elliott Frear clipped the Dundee post and, with 20 minutes played, Bain had to dive to his right to push away a 20-yard strike from Fisher as the claret and amber dominance continued.
There was a break in the Well pressure as O’Dea received treatment for a facial injury but the Irishman was able to resume.
The Dark Blues were just not getting up the park and frustration came out when Roarie Deacon was booked for a high tackle on Tanner, then O’Dea body-checked the same player and was yellow-carded.
That was to be O’Dea’s final contribution as he was replaced by Kerr Waddell after 31 minutes.
Well goalie Trevor Carson handed the hosts a chance when he picked up a passback from Carl McHugh and conceded an indirect free-kick just 12 yards from his own goal. After much hullabaloo, Kevin Holt played the ball to