Cup shock as Dundee dump ’Well

Feb 14 2008

MOTHERWELL were left reeling after nine-man Dundee dumped them out of the Scottish Cup fifth round at Fir Park on Monday night.

Paul McHale and Scott Robertson both netted inside six second-half minutes to put the First Division side through, despite Kevin McDonald and Gary McKenzie both being sent off for two bookable offences.

SPL high-fliers Motherwell didn’t offer much.

Dee threatened first in four minutes when good set-up play released Derek Lyle in the box, but the striker blasted over.

Steven McGarry should have done better after collecting a Brian McLean cross in the box after 14 minutes, but he mis-hit his shot.

In 28 minutes Ross McCormack’s corner from the left was headed into the box by McGarry, but McLean nodded over.

Eight minutes later McCormack’s free-kick released David Clarkson, but the striker failed to trouble Dundee keeper Ludovic Roy.

Dundee opened the scoring four minutes into the second half when Bob Davidson released Gavin Swankie down the left and his cross was spilled by Graeme Smith, leaving McHale free to ram it home at the back post.

Three minutes later Davidson was sent through on goal but Smith raced off his line to block with his chest.

Dundee scored what proved ultimately to be their winner on 55 minutes when McDonald’s cross from the left was played on by Lyle for Robertson, who blasted in at the right corner.

Well made a double substitution two minutes later, throwing on Simon Lappin and Darren Smith for McGarry and Keith Lasley.

In 60 minutes Stephen Hughes sent a dangerous ball across goal, but McCormack and Lappin just failed to connect.

But Well pulled a goal back in 62 minutes when Smith bulleted a header into the roof of the net from Stevie Hammell’s corner.

Graeme Smith fluffed a Hammell passback three minutes later, but Lyle blasted over the empty net from a tight angle on the right.

Lyle was sent through in 73 minutes, but Mark Reynolds blocked for a corner.

Motherwell threw everything at Dundee in the closing stages and in injury time McCormack had a header brilliantly tipped over, before Reynolds drove inches past the post.

But Dundee held on to deservedly progress.

MOTHERWELL: G. Smith, McLean, Hammell (J. Murphy, 88), Reynolds, Corrigan, McGarry (Lappin, 57), Hughes, Lasley (D. Smith, 57), McCormack, Clarkson, Fitzpatrick. Subs (not used): Daniels, D. Murphy.