Motherwell cruise through at Dens Park

Motherwell made easy work of their Scottish Cup Fifth round visit to Dens Park to take on in form Dundee.

Much was made before the game about the current form of both sides with Dundee winning six in a row and Motherwell not winning in six. Even history seemed to be against Motherwell having not beaten Dundee in the Scottish Cup since beating them in the 1952 Final.

Stuart McCall had to start the game with Nick Blackman and Alan Gow as their recent short term deals at the club had come to an end. This saw John Sutton return up front with Jamie Murphy playing more centrally to support him.

This paid off in three minutes when Murphy’s cross from the left set up Sutton to volley home at the front post. There was little else to write home about in the first half apart from a Rab Douglas save from a point blank Sutton header.

We started the second half in perfect style by doubling our lead after only two minutes. Murphy’s chip over the defensive line sent Sutton through to slide the ball past Douglas.

A Leigh Griffiths free kick was deflected off the defensive wall and bounced off the underside of the bar before it was cleared in the 50^th minute, and this proved to be the only real threat from the home side.

The referee was forced to dish out a number of cards half way through the half. Sean Higgins went through Mark Reynolds which incensed Darren Randolph who rushed out of his goal to sort things out. When the dust settled four players were booked including Higgins and Randolph, with the Dundee man lucky to stay on.

The game was over as a contest and Motherwell sealed it with two goals in the closing ten minutes. Jennings headed a Hateley cross past Douglas with nine minutes left, and then Murphy ran on to a Jennings pass to make it four with two minutes left.

There was still time for Dundee to finally be reduced to ten men, Leigh Griffiths committing a stupid wild tackle on Steven Hammell to earn a straight red card.

This was a professional and workmanlike performance for Motherwell who had been struggling in recent weeks.