Callum Slattery earns in-form Motherwell late win over Dundee

Callum Slattery was the hero as Motherwell moved back up to third in the William Hill Premiership with a 1-0 win over Dundee.

The midfielder struck late in a game that will not live long in the memories of the 6,659 fans who witnessed it.

However, goalkeeper Calum Ward kept a sixth straight clean sheet as the Lanarkshire side stretched their unbeaten league run to 10 games.

Motherwell dominated the first half without creating too much.

Callum Hendry, Lukas Fadinger, Elliot Watt and Slattery had chances for Motherwell, while Callum Jones and Tony Yogane went close for the visitors.

The second half fell into much the same pattern, with the Steelmen left frustrated, though Dundee substitute Charlie Reilly went close to breaking the deadlock before Slattery struck after 81 minutes.

Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou made two changes to the side that drew at Dundee United last weekend. With Tawanda Maswanhise at the Africa Cup of Nations with Zimbabwe and Stephen O’Donnell dropping to the bench, Emmanuel Longelo and Regan Charles-Cook came into the side.

Steven Pressley made four changes to the Dundee side that drew 2-2 at Livingston. Finlay Robertson, Ashley Hay, Imari Samuels and Jones came in for Ryan Astley, Paul Rigby, Ethan Hamilton and Simon Murray.

Motherwell nearly gifted Dundee the opener inside two minutes when a slack pass in defence gave Yogane a sight of goal, but his shot was blocked.

Motherwell’s Hendry was sent through on goal after 10 minutes but saw his shot well blocked by Jon McCracken.

Jones’ shot from just outside the box was spilled by Ward at the left post as Dundee went close 60 seconds later.

Slattery had a go from distance in the 30th minute, but McCracken parried the shot well from under his bar and the ball was eventually cleared.

Fadinger sent a low shot fizzing just past the left post and another promising Motherwell move ended with Elliot Watt firing past the left post after 34 minutes.

Elijah Just raced through on goal despite being fouled and sent his shot just past the left post shortly before the break.

Slattery sent a shot fizzing over the bar as Motherwell threatened again early in the second half.

Motherwell’s best chance of the game so far fell to Hendry after 64 minutes when he latched on to a pass from substitute Ibrahim Said, only to send his angled shot past the right post.

Said looked to set up Fadinger two minutes later, but he fired over the bar from close range.

Hendry then went close again when his header from a Slattery cross was saved at point-blank range.

Reilly came on for Dundee midway through the second half and nearly made an instant impact when he latched on to Cam Congreve’s pass, but Ward made a good save to deny him.

Instead, Motherwell made the decisive breakthrough when Watt’s cross from the left was headed in at the near post by Slattery to seal victory.