| 3 | Rangers | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 23 |
| 4 | Dundee United | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 20 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 19 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | -4 | 18 |
| 7 | Dundee | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 15 |
Gaël Bigirimana, Peter Hartley and Trevor Carson spoke of their delight as Motherwell made it two wins from two in a week.
The Steelmen followed up their victory at St Mirren by overturning Dundee 1-0 at Fir Park, with David Turnbull netting a sensational strike.
Stephen Robinson says his team have shown their character as they stepped up to secure back-to-back league victories.
The manager saw his side pick up a 1-0 win over Dundee, after the midweek result at St Mirren.
Motherwell made it a perfect four days with a hard-fought win over Dundee.
Although it took a superb David Turnbull goal midway through the second half to separate the sides, the Steelmen generally dominated the proceedings to thoroughly deserve their second win of the week.
And while it was a great week for the team, it was a personal achievement for the impressive Turnbull, who capped a mature performance with his second goal in only his third start this season.
Nor surprisingly Stephen Robinson stood by the same team who dominated the game in Paisley in midweek.
Searching for their first home league win of the season, the Fir Park men took the game to a Dens side who, rooted at the bottom of Ladbrokes Premiership, were equally desperate for a win.
That meant it was end to end stuff in the early part of the game. Inside 90 seconds, Peter Hartley blocked in front of Trevor Carson and as play raced towards the other end Gaël Bigirimana’s thumping drive was palmed out by Jack Hamilton.
In their next attack Dundee came within inches of opening the scoring, but Darren O’Dea’s powerful header crashed against the crossbar, before the ball was scrambled out of the home six yard area.
Most of the play, though, was towards the visitor’s goal.
In a packed box, Ryan Bowman could only force his effort wide of goal, before his pass inside set up Liam Grimshaw but his strike was blocked on its way to goal.
After an exchange of passes with Richard Tait, Turnbull cleverly dragged the ball back from the byline, before driving an angled shot just over the bar.
On the half hour Bigirimana’s cross fell for Carl McHugh near the corner of the box and his left foot dragged the ball across goal and beyond the far post.
The final chance of the half came in injury time but – straining to get his head to Turnbull’s corner – Tom Aldred could only direct the ball beyond the back post.
‘Well started the second half on the front foot and within minutes had penalty appeals turned away when Grimshaw was felled in the box. Turnbull then threaded a measured pass for Main and his cut back intended for the waiting Bowman was almost turned over his own goal line by O’Dea.
Another cross from the influential Turnbull was cleared in the direction of Bowman and his superbly executed overhead kick was blocked in front of goal.
The pressure on the Dundee goal was incessant and Chris Cadden provided Bowman with a more orthodox opportunity but his glancing header drifted beyond Hamilton but on the wrong side of the ‘keeper’s post.
After 65 minutes, Danny Johnson got his chance to find a way through the Dens defence.
However, before he could find his feet Turnbull found the back of the net with an absolute screamer of a goal.
Collecting the ball some 35 yards out the 19-year-old took aim before unleashing a sensational strike which sent the ball high into Hamilton’s right hand corner.
With five minutes remaining, Cadden had a chance to claim his second goal of the week but after racing into the box he powered Grimshaw’s pass over the bar.
After being pressed into their own half for almost the entire second half, Dundee made a late bid to take something from the game.
Despite launching a series of set pieces into the “Well box, the Peter Hartley and Aldred stood firm protecting Carson who finished the game without having to make a single save.
Stephen Robinson hopes the win over St Mirren will boost his side going into the match with Dundee.
Motherwell ended a run without a victory in the match, with David Turnbull and Chris Cadden netting in a confident and controlled performance.
“I’m hoping those who play on Saturday go in with renewed confidence and belief,” he said.
The majority of Motherwell’s first team games are available to watch live online outside of the UK and Ireland.
For just £12 a month, every home match and a selection of away fixtures can be streamed wherever you are, on your computer or mobile device.
To subscribe, just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk, scroll down and choose your subscription package.
| Saturday, 3 November | Dundee (H) |
| Saturday, 24 November | Aberdeen (H) |
| Wednesday, 5 December | Celtic (H) |
| Saturday, 8 December | Hearts (A) |
| Saturday, 15 December | St Johnstone (H) |
| Wednesday, 19 December | Celtic (A) |
| Saturday, 22 December | St Mirren (H) |
| Wednesday, 26 December | Kilmarnock (H) |
Dundee are bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership but will provide a significant threat to a Motherwell team looking to record back-to-back victories in the same week.
Here’s our weekend opponents profiled.
In their last four games, Dundee have let in 14 goals.
Having let in two to Kilmarnock, they then lost four at Livingston, three at home to Hearts and then five against Celtic in their last match.
Having trained with the club for several weeks, former Ross County midfielder Martin Woods has been reunited with his old boss Jim McIntyre.
Signing a short-term deal on Friday, he will go straight into the squad for Saturday’s match.
The 32-year-old was previously with Partick Thistle and Ross County, and scored his first Staggies goal back in 2015 against the Steelmen.
Manager McIntyre has been in the dugout for three matches since replacing Neil McCann on 17 October.
His three results so far have ended in defeat, with his team yet to find the net under his stewardship.
Trevor Carson is aiming to build on Wednesday’s win ahead of Saturday’s clash with Dundee.
The ‘Well stopper picked up a first clean sheet in the Ladbrokes Premiership, and believes there is much more to come.
He said: “Now that we’ve got that taste for clean sheets back, we’re just desperate for more.
“Wednesday night felt like we were back to what made us successful last season, and we know what we have to do this weekend.”
Dundee head to Fir Park on Saturday for the second encounter between the two sides in the 2018/19 Ladbrokes Premiership season.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match. Kick off is at 3pm.
The Steelmen won the first match at Dens Park back at the start of September, running out 3-1 winners at Dens Park.
Allan Campbell, Gaël Bigirimana and Danny Johnson were on target as Motherwell got their first league win of the season.
Motherwell have played six league games since the win at Dens, winning one, drawing one and losing four.
The victory came on Wednesday night in a confident and controlled performance away at St Mirren.
Dundee have changed their manager since then, with Jim McIntyre replacing Neil McCann. They’ve played seven since the last time we met, winning one and losing six, conceding 21 goals in those matches.
You can buy your tickets online right now. You can print your tickets at home and bring them straight to the gate, or choose to collect at the ticket office.
A pay gate is also available. Our cheapest ticket for this Saturday’s game is just £20 for adults. Children aged 15 and under can get in to the stadium for just £3 in every stand.
Dundee supporters will be seated in the north end of the Phil O’Donnell main stand.
Motherwell made the trip to Paisley looking for three points to get their Ladbrokes Premiership campaign back on track.
They delivered. This is the Story of the Match from the midweek win over St Mirren.
Motherwell go in the hunt of another big three points as Dundee come to Fir Park on Saturday afternoon.
Here’s the game previewed in numbers.
The number of 0-0 draws between the two sides in all competitions in the 39 games since the turn of the millennium.
That one solitary shutout for both teams came at Fir Park in August 2016.
The number of goals Dundee have conceded in the seven Premiership matches since they last faced Motherwell.
Conceding two to Kilmarnock, they also shipped three against both Hearts and Hibernian, four against Livingston and Rangers, and five against Celtic on Wednesday night.
The number of goals supporters have been treated to at Fir Park in 2018 from 19 games.
The Steelmen have scored 28 of those goals, conceding 20.
