Motherwell’s hopes of gatecrashing the Scottish Premiership title race suffered a blow when they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Dundee.
Finlay Robertson’s 84th-minute winner consigned Well to their fourth Premiership defeat of the season and only their second since October. It was the first time in 21 matches they had conceded two goals in the league.
Callum Slattery had equalised for the visitors six minutes earlier from a 30-yard free-kick after Tony Yogane gave Dundee a first-half lead against the run of play.
Jens Berthel Askou’s side had two-thirds of possession and got nine of their 21 shots on target but they found Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken in excellent form as they failed to take advantage of their game in hand on the top three.
Victory would have given them the chance to move second at Celtic Park next weekend but they remain 10 points adrift of leaders Hearts and are closer to Hibernian in fifth.
Motherwell got control of possession after the early stages and created a steady stream of decent chances.
Tawanda Maswanhise got in behind and forced a good block from McCracken, who soon held Elliot Watt’s long-range strike at the second attempt.
The visitors were forcing Dundee back and Lukas Fadinger was denied by McCracken before firing wide.
But the home side scored from their first effort of note in the 32nd minute. Crosses from either wing put Motherwell in trouble and Yogane knocked the ball over the line from close range following Drey Wright’s delivery.
Motherwell had only conceded three goals in their previous 16 league games but they almost let in another a minute later when Yogane headed wide from Cameron Congreve’s cross with goalkeeper Calum Ward stranded.
Motherwell’s Callum Slattery celebrates scoring the equaliser at Dundee
Motherwell lost Fadinger to a head knock, with Oscar Priestman coming on, before McCracken pulled off another impressive save from Maswanhise’s curling effort.
Askou brought on right-back Tom Sparrow and striker Eythor Bjorgolfsson at half-time and a greater degree of urgency was immediately evident in Motherwell’s play.
But they also needed some composure and Slattery and Watt snatched at shooting chances from the edge of the box before Elijah Just shot over from a free-kick.
The Steelmen were saved by an offside flag when Dundee substitute Ashley Hay converted Congreve’s low cross after loose play from Ward.
Askou made a bold change midway through the half by bringing on winger Regan Charles-Cook for left-back Emmanuel Longelo.
The former Ross County player had a good chance from Just’s cross but headed straight at McCracken and Dundee immediately exploited the space he had vacated. Congreve hit the bar with a dipping effort.
Motherwell continued to take risks and they finally got some reward when Slattery produced his moment of magic moments after being denied by McCracken from another free-kick.
The visitors had little time to build any momentum before Joe Westley got in behind their defence and squared for fellow sub Robertson to finish.
McCracken made further saves from Slattery and Maswanhise to complete Motherwell’s frustrating afternoon.
