Motherwell 3-3 Dundee: Connor Wilkinson snatches point in stoppage time - BBC Sport
Scottish Premiership
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Motherwell 3-3 Dundee: Connor Wilkinson snatches point in stoppage time

By Thomas DuncanBBC Scotland
Conor Wilkinson celebrates scoring to make it 3-3 during a cinch Premiership match between Motherwell and Dundee at Fir Park,
Connor Wilkinson scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time

Struggling 10-man Motherwell scored a dramatic goal in stoppage time to grab a much-needed point against Dundee in a Scottish Premiership thriller.

Connor Wilkinson fired into the bottom corner in the seventh minute of added time for Stuart Kettlewell's side, who looked on course for an eighth defeat in 11 games after Zach Robinson's 88th-minute strike for Dundee, which came after Harry Paton's sending off.

The red card for the Motherwell midfielder followed an on-field review of his tackle on Luke McCowan just four minutes after Bevis Mugabi had headed in an equaliser.

It set up a frantic finish which swung from end-to-end, with Dundee eventually denied victory having themselves battled back from a goal down.

After Mika Biereth smashed Motherwell in front on six minutes, Lyall Cameron latched on to Aaron Donnelly's hooked ball to nod Dundee level before the break, and just four minutes later Owen Beck showed composure to collect Zak Rudden's cross and plant the ball past goalkeeper Liam Kelly.

Both sides had chances before Paton's dismissal, with Jon Obika inexplicably firing wide from close range before Mugabi's header restored parity and set up struggling Motherwell to claim at least a point.

The video assistant referee's intervention seemed to have changed that after Paton was dismissed and Robinson finished a fine Dundee move.

But their boss Tony Docherty will be frustrated his failed to deal with a long ball forward, which fell to Georgie Gent and then Oli Shaw, who teed up Wilkinson to snatch a brilliant point for Motherwell.

Kettlewell's side are still winless in 11 league games and sit eighth but will almost feel like they won the game, while Dundee are sixth behind Hibernian on goal difference.

Player of the match - Lyall Cameron (Dundee)

Dundee's Lyall Cameron and Brodie Spencer in action during a cinch Premiership match between Motherwell and Dundee at Fir Park
The midfielder (right) put in an outstanding performance that included a goal

Motherwell dig out big point despite frailties - analysis

After last week's draw at Celtic Park, this felt like a game Motherwell could attack and break their winless run. Biereth again showed his quality with a magnificent opener to give them the perfect start, but what came after was firmly in the script.

No side has conceded more goals than Motherwell in the Premiership and they have kept just one clean sheet all season. They defended poorly again and were dominated in midfield for large spells. However, their character and recent ability to score goals at home recently cannot be questioned, having also netted in stoppage time to rescue a 3-3 draw against Ross County this season.

Dundee will be frustrated they did not hold on for a win having scored a brilliant goal late on through Robinson and having played some neat football. Cameron was outstanding in the middle of the pitch alongside McCowan and Malachi Boateng.

Beck is having a wonderful season on loan from Liverpool and was excellent again. It's still just one defeat in nine for Dundee so there is plenty to be pleased about for Docherty and the club's fans.

What they said

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "Dundee manage to get the third goal, but it doesn't surprise me we show character to come back. Even though there is a lot of doubt and people us with the run we're on.

"But I said to the players the first goal should be massive in the Premiership but it wasn't for us today. It had the opposite effect."

Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "Hugely disappointed to draw a game in which we were so dominant and the level of performance was so high.

"I thought we were outstanding and I should be talking about how good my team were. But we don't manage the last 90 seconds of the game properly and we end up dropping two points."

What's next?

Motherwell travel to Dingwall to take on Ross County on Tuesday (19:45 GMT), while Dundee do not play until next Saturday, when they face Rangers at Ibrox (15:00).

Line-ups

Motherwell

Formation 3-1-4-2

  • 1Kelly
  • 15CaseyBooked at 49mins
  • 5Mugabi
  • 20Blaney
  • 66ButcherBooked at 44minsSubstituted forWilkinsonat 61'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 2O'DonnellSubstituted forGentat 70'minutes
  • 12PatonBooked at 72mins
  • 7Spittal
  • 22Spencer
  • 9ObikaSubstituted forBairat 70'minutes
  • 24BierethSubstituted forShawat 86'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Gent
  • 13Oxborough
  • 14Bair
  • 17Zdravkovski
  • 18Shaw
  • 37Wells
  • 39Ross
  • 46Ross
  • 99Wilkinson

Dundee

Formation 3-5-2

  • 31Carson
  • 29Portales
  • 5Shaughnessy
  • 25Donnelly
  • 6McGheeSubstituted forTiffoneyat 81'minutes
  • 10CameronSubstituted forMulliganat 86'minutes
  • 23BoatengBooked at 80mins
  • 17McCowanBooked at 90mins
  • 3Beck
  • 9Bakayoko
  • 20RuddenSubstituted forRobinsonat 86'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Legzdins
  • 2Kerr
  • 7Tiffoney
  • 14Ashcroft
  • 15Mulligan
  • 16Robinson
  • 19Robertson
  • 21Howley
  • 28Sylla
Referee:
Iain Snedden
Attendance:
4,491

Match Stats

Home TeamMotherwellAway TeamDundee
Possession
Home38%
Away62%
Shots
Home9
Away16
Shots on Target
Home4
Away4
Corners
Home4
Away4
Fouls
Home6
Away9

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Motherwell 3, Dundee 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Motherwell 3, Dundee 3.

  3. Goal!

    Goal! Motherwell 3, Dundee 3. Conor Wilkinson (Motherwell) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Oli Shaw.

  4. Booking

    Luke McCowan (Dundee) is shown the yellow card.

  5. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  6. Post update

    Delay in match because of an injury Malachi Boateng (Dundee).

  7. Booking

    Conor Wilkinson (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  8. Post update

    Malachi Boateng (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Conor Wilkinson (Motherwell).

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Amadou Bakayoko (Dundee) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Antonio Portales (Dundee) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Owen Beck with a cross following a set piece situation.

  12. Post update

    Scott Tiffoney (Dundee) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Brodie Spencer (Motherwell).

  14. Goal!

    Goal! Motherwell 2, Dundee 3. Zach Robinson (Dundee) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Josh Mulligan (Dundee) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Scott Tiffoney.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Motherwell. Oli Shaw replaces Mika Biereth.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Dundee. Zach Robinson replaces Zak Rudden.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Dundee. Josh Mulligan replaces Lyall Cameron.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Conor Wilkinson (Motherwell) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Zak Rudden (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Antonio Portales.

Player of the match

RobinsonZach Robinson

with an average of 8.67

Motherwell

  1. Squad number24Player nameBiereth
    Average rating

    6.15

  2. Squad number20Player nameBlaney
    Average rating

    5.30

  3. Squad number2Player nameO'Donnell
    Average rating

    5.22

  4. Squad number7Player nameSpittal
    Average rating

    5.00

  5. Squad number66Player nameButcher
    Average rating

    5.00

  6. Squad number22Player nameSpencer
    Average rating

    4.80

  7. Squad number15Player nameCasey
    Average rating

    4.55

  8. Squad number1Player nameKelly
    Average rating

    4.44

  9. Squad number18Player nameShaw
    Average rating

    4.43

  10. Squad number12Player namePaton
    Average rating

    4.40

  11. Squad number9Player nameObika
    Average rating

    4.36

  12. Squad number3Player nameGent
    Average rating

    4.30

  13. Squad number14Player nameBair
    Average rating

    4.14

  14. Squad number5Player nameMugabi
    Average rating

    4.00

  15. Squad number99Player nameWilkinson
    Average rating

    4.00

Dundee

  1. Squad number16Player nameRobinson
    Average rating

    8.67

  2. Squad number7Player nameTiffoney
    Average rating

    8.60

  3. Squad number3Player nameBeck
    Average rating

    8.36

  4. Squad number17Player nameMcCowan
    Average rating

    8.31

  5. Squad number10Player nameCameron
    Average rating

    8.00

  6. Squad number20Player nameRudden
    Average rating

    7.85

  7. Squad number9Player nameBakayoko
    Average rating

    7.85

  8. Squad number23Player nameBoateng
    Average rating

    7.85

  9. Squad number25Player nameDonnelly
    Average rating

    7.64

  10. Squad number15Player nameMulligan
    Average rating

    7.56

  11. Squad number29Player namePortales
    Average rating

    7.54

  12. Squad number6Player nameMcGhee
    Average rating

    7.46

  13. Squad number5Player nameShaughnessy
    Average rating

    7.12

  14. Squad number31Player nameCarson
    Average rating

    6.63

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Celtic1411303582736
2Rangers139132772028
3Hearts147251412223
4St Mirren146441919022
5Hibernian144642021-118
6Dundee144641820-218
7Kilmarnock154561516-117
8Motherwell153571925-614
9Ross County143561221-914
10Aberdeen123451521-613
11St Johnstone13256819-1111
12Livingston14248922-1310
View full Scottish Premiership table

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