Dundee put in an impressive performance in a 3-3 draw at Motherwell today but threw away two points deep into injury time. After Mika Biereth gave Well an early lead the Dark Blues took charge. Goals from Lyall Cameron and Owen Beck gave the Dee a deserved lead at half time only for Bevis Mugabi to equalise midway through the second half. After Well’s Harry Paton was red carded Dundee took full control and seemed to have tied up the points with a late goal from Zach Robinson. However, the Dark Blues didn’t manage the last couple properly of minutes and Conor Wilkinson snatched an equaliser in further added time after the announced six minutes of injury time.
Well took the lead after six minutes with the first shot of the match. The ball broke to Mika BIERETH on the edge of the penalty area. He connected perfectly to smash an angled drive into the net off the inside of Trevor Carson’s right hand post.
After that we saw little of Motherwell in attack in a first half the Dee went on to dominate. The Steelmen sat back, hoping to hold Dundee off and hit on the break. At first it worked but the Dark Blues gradually turned their relentless possession into control of the match.
Dundee worked the ball around neatly in the Well half, probing for openings. The longer this went on the more confident the Dee looked, but we had to wait till the 30 minutes mark for the equaliser.
Owen Beck’s left wing corner was returned to him. He ran in and tried a shot, which was half cleared. Aaron Donnelly knocked the ball back into the danger area. As the Well defence was running out Lyall CAMERON nipped in and nodded the equaliser past Liam Kelly.
The Dark Blues took the lead four minutes later with a goal that was beautifully crafted and executed. From deep in midfield Lyall Cameron split Motherwell’s defence with a pass that sent Zak Rudden to the byline. He pulled a low cross to near post. Owen BECK was there to drag the ball back into space, losing the last defender, and knock the ball into the net.
Dundee were in complete control and should really have extended their lead befor half time. Motherwell were struggling to build any attacks and Dundee’s midfield was continually driving the Dark Blues forward.
The first 10 minutes of the second half continued in exactly the same vein. Dundee did all the attacking and Well couldn’t get going. After offering no threat Motherwell suddenly created a great chance. Jon Obika was played in on goal and slipped his shot narrowly past the post.
Motherwell put Dundee under some pressure for a few minutes without creating any danger. Dundee seemed to have coped well with that but disappointingly conceded an equaliser after 68 minutes. Bevis Mugabi came forward and hit a fierce drive from 35 yards. Carson pushed the shot over the bar. The corner was cleared as far as Blair Spittal who hit a fine cross into the goalmouth and MUGABI scored with a glancing header.
That was Well’s last serious attack for a long time. The game had hardly restarted after a lengthy VAR review of the goal when there was another VAR review. That resulted in a yellow card for Well’s Harry Paton being changed to a red following a foul on Luke McCowan.
Well had just removed Calum Butcher to send on a striker and the loss of a further midfielder helped Dundee to take charge of the midfield once again. Scott Tiffoney replaced Jordan McGhee. Josh Mulligan and Zach Robinson came on for Lyall Cameron and Zak Rudden.
It was all Dundee as the Dark Blues pushed for a winner. Shortly after coming on Mulligan blasted a decent chance over the bar after the ball broke to him. A minute later, with 88 minutes on the clock, the Dark Blues got the third goal they deserved.
Amadou Bakayoko raced into space down the right, and passed infield to Luke McCowan in the penalty area. The midfielder moved the ball on to Zach ROBINSON who took a touch and shot into the corner from eight yards.
Six minutes of added time were announced and Dundee moved the ball around confidently, with Motherwell looking a beaten side. There was further time added when Malachi Boateng was hit by a bad foul. By the time he had received treatment the six minutes were up. There would clearly be some further added time and Dundee failed to managed the remaining seconds competently.
Instead of holding the ball and running the clock down the Dark Blues tried a further attack. That gave Well a goal kick. The ball was launched downfield. Dundee didn’t win the first header, or the second, didn’t follow the runner chasing a knock on, and suddenly Conor WILKINSON was in the clear to shoot past Carson.
It was not a fightback from Well. Dundee were in control and hogging possession, then switched off against a beaten side right at the death. This was a classic example off two points being thrown away needlessly.
Turning what should have been an impressive win into a frustrating draw is certainly deeply disappointing, but there was plenty to enjoy in an impressive Dee performance. Dundee were dominant for almost the whole game and much of the midfield play was a joy to watch. The Dark Blues played some fine football in midfield and moving into the final third. On this display the Dee are a good Premiership side and will have no problems in this league, provided they can cut out costly slips. Dundee were much the better team, and should unquestionably have taken three points home.
Motherwell FC 3-5-2
Kelly
Casey, Mugabi, Blaney
O’Donnell (Gent 69), Spittal, Butcher (Wilkinson 60), Paton, Spencer
Biereth (Shaw 85), Obika (Bair 69)
Unused subs: Oxborough (gk), Zdravkovski, Wells, Luca Ross, Max Ross.
Goals: Biereth (6), Mugabi (68), Wilkinson (90+7).
Booked: Butcher (foul on McCowan), Casey (foul on Cameron), Wilkinson (foul on Boateng).
Sent off: Paton (foul on McCowan).
Dundee FC 3-5-2
Carson
Portales, Shaughnessy (c), Donnelly
McGhee (Tiffoney 80), Cameron (Mulligan 85), Boateng, McCowan, Beck
Bakayoko, Rudden (Robinson 85)
Unused substitutes: Legzdins (gk), Kerr, Ashcroft, Robertson, Howley, Sylla.
Goals: Cameron (30), Beck (34), Robinson (88).
Booked: Boateng (foul on Bair), McCowan (timewasting).
Referee: Iain Snedden. Assistants: David McGeachie, Gordon Crawford. Fourth Official: David Munro. VAR: Nick Walsh. Assistant VAR: Jonathan Bell.
Attendance: 4,239 (706 Dees).
Report: James Christie.
