Ref’s blunder sets Dee on way to pulsating win
DUNDEE dragged themselves off the foot of the table with their first league victory at Dens since condemning neighbours United to relegation at the beginning of May, all of nine games ago.
They produced a pulsating performance that totally belied their lowly position and thoroughly deserved all three points.
Paul Hartley’s team took full advantage of an enormous break when neither referee John Beaton nor his assistant Ross Hasswell realised Scott McDonald’s cross-cum-shot had been carried over the line by Dundee keeper David Mitchell with the game still goal-less.
After that there was only one team in it as Motherwell wilted badly under Dundee’s second- half domination with teenager Craig Wighton quite superb.
After the game Motherwell manager Mark McGhee was surprisingly philosophical.
“It was clearly a goal but not being given it didn’t cause us to lose the game. It caused us not to win,” he said. “We lost the game ourselves.”
McGhee refused to say this was the worst decision he’s been involved in.
“There was a worse one at Dens last season with the same ref when he gave a penalty against Chris Cadden,” he added.
Dundee boss Hartley agreed it should have been a goal.
“It looked like a goal to me.
However we were due a break,” he said.
“We had to mix things but we also produced a bit of style. I thought Craig Wighton was excellent.
“There’ s a lot of expectation on his shoulders and he’s had to be patient.
“However, it’s his time now and it’s been good to find a partner he can play off in Marcus Haber.
“Craig is an outstanding talent and he can only get better.”
Playing a 3-5-2 formation Dundee were far tighter at the back dropping to a 5-3-2 when required.
However, they attacked at pace on the break, scoring both goals in this fashion.
The opener arrived when Cammy Kerr dispossessed McDonald and played in Wighton.
Motherwell goalie Craig Samson blocked the shot with his legs but Kerr had continued his run and was on hand to blast the rebound into the roof of the net.
In the second half, Wighton tricked Ben Heneghan down the left, raced to the by- line and crossed for Haber to hammer it home.
Wighton, Kostadin Gadzhalov and Kevin Holt also came close, so in the end it was a comfortable win for Dundee.
“It was good to get the monkey off our back with such a good performance,” added Hartley.
“It’s a good way to go into the international break. The players have been warned there is plenty hard work ahead, though.”
Dundee’s only setback was a shoulder injury sustained by central defender Kevin Gomis. They won’t know if there is a dislocation until tomorrow.
Ironically Gomis wasn’t due to play until Julien Etxabeguren called off at lunch time with a stomach bug.