The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
MCPAKE RUES DEE’S LACK OF CUTTING EDGE
Motherwell 1
Dundee 0
Dundee are still searching for their first Premiership win of the season after a frustrating 1-0 defeat against 10-man Motherwell.
The Dark Blues dominated much of the play at Fir Park but lacked the cutting edge to take advantage of their approach play.
Paul McMullan’s firsthalf strike that crashed off the underside of the bar was the closest they came.
In the end, Tony Watt’s 34th-minute header saw all three points go to Graham Alexander’s hard-working Steelmen.
The hosts had to see out the final 12 minutes with 10 men after Jake Carroll saw red.
Dundee boss James McPake made just one change from last week’s 2-2 draw at home to Hibs as Cammy Kerr returned from a knee injury.
He replaced Christie Elliott at right-back after he picked up an injury in training.
Motherwell stuck with the team that beat Livingston in their last outing, though their starting XI had four changes from the side that lost at Dens Park two weeks ago. That saw former Dee Mark O’Hara start in midfield while Watt led the line.
The Dark Blues dominated the opening stages and pinned Motherwell into their own half for the opening 10 minutes.
There were no real chances to speak of, however, until the 17th minute when McMullan rattled the crossbar.
A slick counterattack saw Luke McCowan set free down the left. His smart cut-back picked out the winger who beat Liam Kelly with the curled effort but not the woodwork.
On 29 minutes, Dundee captain Charlie Adam was forced off through injury with Paul McGowan taking his place in the centre of the park.
Despite their positive start the Dark Blues fell behind on 34 minutes.
A simple goal it was, too, as Carroll swung in a freekick from the right wing for Watt to flick a header inside the far post.
Dundee had lost some of their drive with Adam missing from the middle of the park and weren’t able to test Kelly before the break.
The start of the second period followed the same pattern as the first – Dundee dominating the ball but unable to find a way through the home defence.
Finally an effort on goal came after 58 minutes as Jordan McGhee rose at the far post to head a Kerr cross over the bar.
The Dark Blues had been the better side but trailed and had yet to manage a shot on target.
That prompted James McPake to change tactic as he sent on returning striker Cillian Sheridan for midfielder Shaun Byrne.
Eventually they did test Kelly as Cummings spun expertly on the edge of the area but fired straight at the Well goalie on 70 minutes.
With 12 minutes to go, the home side were incensed by referee Willie Collum as he showed a straight red card to Carroll.
The left-back went in hard on Dundee’s Max Anderson to give the Dark Blues a man advantage for the remainder of the contest.
With 10 men, Motherwell sat even deeper in a bid to see out the game.
And the Dark Blues were frustrated further with only a Liam Fontaine header and tame McGhee shot to show for their work.
In stoppage time a poked Lee Ashcroft effort landed in the arms of a grateful Kelly before Cummings saw a late effort palmed behind by Kelly.
With that, the 785 travelling Dundee supporters headed home disappointed.
Afterwards McPake said the “better team lost”.
Despite the Dark Blues dominating much of the contest, the defeat leaves McPake’s men still searching for their first league victory of the season.
“We should have won the game,” said the Dens gaffer.
“We created enough chances and were very fluent, particularly in the first half, causing them lots of problems.
“Before the game, we did say their biggest threat is set-pieces and that was proved today.
“I’m really disappointed with the goal but I’m extremely proud of what the players gave. On another day we could have won that game pretty comfortably.
“The better team lost that game but it doesn’t matter, Motherwell have the points. Fair play to them.”
Dundee lost Charlie Adam to a groin injury in the opening period – but McPake insisted it wasn’t losing his influential skipper that led to conceding the goal.
“Charlie going off wasn’t the reason they scored but I think the break helped them,” he added.
“At that point it was attack after attack. Charlie wouldn’t have stopped the goal. It was a poor goal for us to lose. We did a lot of work on set-plays but I think the break let them get their breath back.
“What I will say, the players left nothing out there again.
“I’ve been booed off this pitch after losing but the fans showed appreciation to the players.
“We will get a couple of niggles back with Jordan Marshall and Alex Jakubiak to come back into the group – those are two players who would have made a big difference to us.
McPake confirmed the club are looking to make additions to their squad before the end of the transfer window tomorrow night.
The Dark Blues have been heavily linked with a return for Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths.
Asked about Griffiths, McPake replied: “I’ve been linked with a move for a lot of players.
“I’ll be linked with a move for three or four others.”