Match ends, Dundee 0, Motherwell 2.
DundeeDundee0MotherwellMotherwell2
Motherwell progressed to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals by knocking out Premiership rivals Dundee.
Craig Tanner's shot squirmed past goalkeeper Elliot Parish to give the visitors the lead.
Dundee's Kevin Holt was credited with Well's second after he and Curtis Main chased a long ball that the defender headed into the net.
Sofien Moussa was Dundee's main threat, off target twice in the first half and forcing a save in the second.
League Cup finalists Motherwell will find out who their last-eight opponents are when the draw is made on Sunday evening.
Stephen Robinson's side had the ball in the net in the opening minutes but Tom Aldred's volley was ruled offside.
Moussa threatened twice in quick succession for the hosts - a header and a shot - but neither troubled goalkeeper Trevor Carson.
A goal looked on the cards when Nadir Ciftci found himself unmarked to head at Parish's goal but the on-loan Celtic forward contrived to glance the ball just past.
The Steelmen were ahead by half-time, though, as the ball bounced up invitingly for Tanner outside the box and the shot seemed to deceive Parish as it came off the keeper and into the net.
Dundee debutant Genseric Kusunga and fellow defender Darren O'Dea threatened before the interval but neither could find the target.
Well had some defending to do at the start of the second period as Dundee tried to force an equaliser.
Moussa worked the space to get away a shot that Carson saved and within seconds Motherwell were further in front.
Main and Holt challenged for Carl McHugh's pass and Holt nodded the ball past Parish, who was well off his line.
A-Jay Leitch-Smith came close with a late shot for Dundee, whose focus will be on league business for the rest of the season.
Post-match reaction
Dundee manager Neil McCann: "You don't deserve anything if you don't work the goalkeeper. I counted seven chances, but we didn't work the goalkeeper once, which was absolutely criminal.
"I'm really disappointed, I felt Motherwell huffed and puffed. The two goals that we gave them today were a joke. How can you expect to go through in the Scottish Cup when you give teams such easy chances to score?
"We take them out on the training field and they score, but when the big lights are on, there's pressure there, that's when you're looking for cool heads.
"As a football manager I want to try and win things and I think we've gone out on a whimper."
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "We don't mind a battle, but we also showed a lot of good composure on the ball.
"Nadir Ciftci is not associated with being a big strong boy who puts himself about but he did today. When we got the second goal we controlled the game, we managed it really well.
"We had a poor run in December, we had a lot of injuries. We've got them boys back now and we've added to the squad.
"I think ourselves and Dundee are the youngest squads in the league. The boys are still learning their trade."
Line-ups
Dundee
Formation 3-5-2
- 12Parish
- 5Kusunga
- 15Aurtenetxe
- 6O'Dea
- 2Kerr
- 18McGowanBooked at 32minsSubstituted forLambertat 80'minutes
- 8Kamara
- 14O'Hara
- 3HoltSubstituted forDeaconat 66'minutes
- 9Moussa
- 7Leitch-Smith
Substitutes
- 20El Bakhtaoui
- 21Deacon
- 27Curran
- 28Spence
- 34Waddell
- 47Lambert
- 67Malherbe
Motherwell
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Carson
- 21Kipre
- 19Aldred
- 18Dunne
- 7Cadden
- 8McHughBooked at 28minsSubstituted forTurnbullat 90+1'minutes
- 2Tait
- 27TannerSubstituted forBigirimanaat 70'minutes
- 15Rose
- 23CiftciBooked at 31minsSubstituted forPetraviciusat 82'minutes
- 9Main
Substitutes
- 3Hendrie
- 4Grimshaw
- 5Bigirimana
- 11Frear
- 13Griffiths
- 20Petravicius
- 31Turnbull
- Referee:
- Bobby Madden
- Attendance:
- 4,663
Match Stats
Home TeamDundeeAway TeamMotherwell
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away2
- Corners
- Home7
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away19
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Dundee 0, Motherwell 2.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Roarie Deacon (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Glen Kamara (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Curtis Main (Motherwell).
Substitution
Substitution, Motherwell. David Turnbull replaces Carl McHugh.
Post update
Darren O'Dea (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Curtis Main (Motherwell).
Post update
Attempt missed. A-Jay Leitch-Smith (Dundee) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Post update
Roarie Deacon (Dundee) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Chris Cadden (Motherwell).
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Attempt missed. Sofien Moussa (Dundee) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Tom Aldred.
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Roarie Deacon (Dundee) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Gael Bigirimana (Motherwell).
Substitution
Substitution, Motherwell. Deimantas Petravicius replaces Nadir Ciftci.
Post update
Roarie Deacon (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Cadden (Motherwell).
Post update
Foul by Darren O'Dea (Dundee).
Post update
Chris Cadden (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the right wing.
