Dundee 4, Motherwell 1

Match Date: Saturday, April 8 2000
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 4,701

Motherwell Team:

Woods, Corrigan (Craigan), Kemble, McGowan, McMillan, Twaddle, Davies (Nicholas), Brannan, Adams, Goodman (Curcic), McCulloch.
Subs not used: Brown, Nevin.

Motherwell scorer: Goodman (15).

DESPITE TAKING AN EARLY LEAD Motherwell turned in a desperately poor performance to concede four goals for the second game running. A win would have kept the pressure on Hearts, but on this display Motherwell won't be in the hat for the UEFA Cup draw.

Dundee keeper, and self-confessed Motherwell fan Robert Douglas, was in action early to cut-out a dangerous cross from Twaddle after Corrigan and McCulloch had played a neat one-two. Soon after Twaddle fired in another cross but this time Wilkie was on hand to clear. A high tackle from Smith left Goodman in some pain though only a free-kick was given. Dundee's first attack saw Grady turn McGowan rather easily in the box and his shot was blocked by Kemble with Corrigan completing the clearance. A late challenge by Benito Kemble on Grady then gave the home side a free-kick some 35 yards out, and although Brannan deflected the ball it fell to Ireland who knocked it just wide. Dundee had another chance minutes later when Luna's cross-ball to Billio but his effort was off target. It proved costly as Motherwell then went ahead with their first real effort on target. McMillan and Davies combined to set up Goodman and his turn and shot from 18 yards slipped under Douglas and into the net. A quick look up by Twaddle soon after could well have seen Motherwell go two ahead but with Goodman clear on the right he chose to attempt to beat Billio but was only able to win a throw. As the ball was played back to Corrigan he was caught late by Grady though play was waved on. A mis-hit clearance by Adams then gave Dundee a corner though Goodman did well to beat Ireland in the air to clear. Good play by Lee McCulloch saw him make space. Passing to Davies his cross fell to Goodman but the goal-bound effort was blocked by Ireland. An opportunity for Motherwell then went a-begging when Davies and Twaddle played a one-two though the return from Twaddle was way too strong otherwise Davies was clear. A close off-side against Grady stopped him going clear on Woods. A deliberate trip by Luna on McGowan should have seen a yellow card but the Argentinean was lucky and as if to add insult to injury Referee McDonald gave Dundee a corner. This one was cleared, but seconds later McMillan conceded another. A climb by Ireland was not spotted by McDonald and Ireland was able to head towards goal though Woods saved well. A free-kick by McMillan was then headed on by McCulloch to Goodman and he was inches away as Ireland cleared. The ball fell back into McCulloch's pass but poor control on the edge of the box saw the ball run away. Slack marking at the back by Motherwell gave Grady the chance to head in but again Woods was there to save. McCulloch then chased a long-ball by McMillan with Wilkie and as the two made it to the box Wilkie appeared to strike McCulloch who was able to recover after treatment to fire a shot just past from 25 yards soon after. Motherwell were given a free-kick inside their own half on 34 minutes and as Kemble and Corrigan debated as to where to take it Grady nipped in and raced towards goal. The free-kick had clearly not been taken but Referee McDonald allowed Grady to carry-on. He beat Woods and then saw his shot headed off the line by an alert McGowan. A late tackle by Rae on Goodman gave Motherwell a free-kick 16 yard from goal. Twaddle slipped it on to Brannan and he saw his shot blocked and kicked away. An error by Corrigan gave Luna the chance to break though Woods did well to tip Grady's shot out to Kemble who hooked away. Luna then went close again seconds later, heading onto the top of the net from Boyack's free-kick. A soft free-kick against Corrigan also saw the defender booked as Billio needed little encouragement to fall. Right on half-time good skill by McGowan saw him pass forward for McMillan. Beating his man he set up McCulloch and the rasping shot fell only just the wrong side of the post.

Half-Time    Dundee  0     Motherwell  1

Smart defending by McMillan prevented Dundee's Rae from racing onto the pass from Ireland right after the break. Motherwell had begun slowly, and some more poor defending allowed Rae to connect with Grady's cross though Woods gathered. A deliberate tug by Billio should have seen him carded but a free-kick was all the punishment the Italian received. McMillan's low shot was well held by Douglas. A great long-ball by Corrigan was picked up by McCulloch but his pass on for Adams saw him fouled by Smith. However, Smith must have smiled as the free-kick was given against Adams. An error by John Davies then led to an equaliser for Dundee, Grady taking full advantage to score at the second attempt after a great Woods save though the Dundee striker was also booked for joining the crowd. It went from bad to worse for Motherwell sixty seconds later. Grady raced forward and was fouled by McGowan near the box. The Referee decided McGowan was the last man, despite the fact Corrigan was inside, and sent the Motherwell defender off. And, as if to compound matters completely, Grady scored seconds later to turn the game on it's head. Referee McDonald was having a busy time and he then booked Derek Adams as he complained bitterly at Rae's over-the-top challenge near the half-way line. Motherwell then substituted full-back Corrigan for central defender Craigan. Good play between Twaddle and McMillan saw the former cross though Douglas was there ahead of Adams. Dundee broke upfield though the final shot from Billio was well over. Grady then turned Kemble and his cross was met by Boyack though the shot went over. Motherwell had an opportunity to level when they were given a free-kick after a clumsy challenge by Wilkie on McCulloch, but a poor take by Brannan saw the chance go. ON the hour mark Sasa Curcic replaced Don Goodman much to the dis-pleasure of the Motherwell support. And seconds later the sides were level in terms of personnel when Grady was sent off for a quite blatant dive in the box as Kemble came across. Grady took some time to go off, smugly staring at the Motherwell fans in a gesture of defiance. A great clearance by Ireland stopped Twaddle's cross being turned in by Adams and soon after it was Billio who had to be sharp to deny Curcic on the run. Dundee burst upfield with Boyack who supplied Robertson, though his shot was blocked. As the ball came back in Luna climbed above Kemble to head into Woods' hands. Dundee were looking far more dangerous than Motherwell with Robertson firing just past from Rae's pass. A brilliant save from Woods kept Motherwell still in the hunt when he turned away a header from Ireland. However, Motherwell came agonisingly close to levelling when Curcic made a great run through the middle to slip the ball wide to McCulloch whose shot rippled the net, though the wrong side of the net for the striker. Another terrific run by Curcic, latching onto McCulloch's pass, ended with a shot which was well held by Douglas. With fifteen minutes left Stevie Nicholas replaced John Davies. Nicholas was almost immediately involved but he was denied by Wilkie's intervention in front of goals. Lee McCulloch's trip on Boyack saw him yellow-carded somewhat harshly, and as the card was being issued Dundee replaced Boyack with Artero. Motherwell won a corner when Smith cut-out Twaddle's attempted cross, though Curcic's take was nicked away near the post by Wilkie. Dundee moved further ahead with another contentious decision with eleven minutes left. Luna left Stevie McMillan in a heap inside the Dundee half and raced forward. Play was allowed to continue and Luna was pulled back in the box by Craigan who was booked for his troubles. McMillan was stretchered off and Billio scored from the spot. Some slack defending by Cragain almost gave Luna the chance to run clear but he recovered in time to win the ball back. However, with four minutes left Luna was on hand to head the cross from Artero behind Woods and complete the misery for Motherwell. Luna left the field soon after to be replaced by Annand. Motherwell did have the last say, though Brannan's header, which fell just past the far post, would have been a mere consolation. Motherwell trooped off a the end with the travelling support voicing their strong displeasure at another poor performance.