Watt about that! Steelman Tony gets back in the swing
Watt (34)
Motherwell boss Graham Alexander believes Tony Watt is on the way to becoming a more complete striker.
The former Celtic man is now 27-years-old but remains one of those players who never seems to have fulfilled his potential.
He proved to be the matchwinner for the Steelmen as he made it three league goals in four games. In doing that, he equalled his Premiership total for last season.
Having him hit the net on a regular basis could really help push Motherwell up the table.
They don’t want another season where they’re clawing their way out of the relegation issue.
Alexander revealed that special training sessions have been held to help increase Watt’s predatory instincts.
He said: “We are working hard on the training pitch with him and the other strikers. It is paying off.
“He has to continue on those improvements and I don’t want to set any targets for him other than to beat last year’s total.
“We expect our front three to get into goalscoring areas. Tony has quality and he has shown it in other areas, but we want him in those dangerous areas.
“All of the boys can improve and none of them are the finished article.
“They have to put in the work and take what we are saying on board. Then they have to do it in games.”
Watt’s contribution was the difference between the sides.
Dundee had a bright start to the game and Paul Mcmullan came agonisingly close to putting them ahead when his shot crashed down off the bar.
Things temporarily swung the way of the boys in claret and amber when Charlie Adam limped off. With the Steelmen reinvigorated following his substitution just before the halfhour mark, they took the lead.
Watt opened his side’s account shortly after passing up a decent opening.
Some neat inter-passing had put the striker in on goal but he couldn’t beat the keeper and there were weak appeals for a penalty as he fell.
Carroll then sent a free-kick deep into the Dundee box and Watt came up with a backheader that sailed inside the right-hand post.
Dundee had Paul Mcgowan taking over Adam’s role, but his presence didn’t give the home side as many worries.
The Dark Blues did eventually get going again and created a number of chances.
Fontaine sent a couple of headers wide and Mcghee did likewise.
Jason Cummings wriggled clear of defenders to make space for a shot but it was too straight and Kelly saved well.
Motherwell looked to be seeing out the game quite comfortably, despite Cillian Sheridan coming on to form a two-man attack for the visitors.
That was put in doubt when Willie Collum stepped in to send Jake Carrol for an early bath with just over 10 minutes to play.
The defender signalled that he’d taken the ball while tackling Anderson, but Collum didn’t hesitate in thrusting the red card skywards.
To the credit of Graham Alexander’s men, they defended bravely and held on for the win.
Dundee pressed hard for an equaliser but the closest they came was Lee Ashcroft stabbing a shot through a ruck of players and into the grateful arms of Liam Kelly.
Alexander wasn’t convinced that Carroll should have been dismissed.
He said: “I thought it was a yellow card at most at the time.
“When I watch the millions of slowed-down replays that will be shown, when it gets taken out
of context, I might change my mind.”