Neil McCann 'thoroughly enjoyed' managerial debut as Dundee beat Motherwell

Neil McCann revelled in his managerial debut after leading Dundee to a vital 3-2 win over Motherwell at Fir Park.

McCann was brought in to stem a seven-game losing run which cost Paul Hartley his job, and the change had an instant impact as Dundee climbed two places out of the Premiership bottom two.

Dundee sat very deep for virtually all of the first half as McCann set about trying to stop the rot, but Motherwell could not take advantage of their possession and territory and were stunned on the stroke of half-time when Mark O'Hara netted from close range.

Marcus Haber added two more after the break - the second a deflection from O'Hara's header - as Motherwell again failed to deal with balls from out wide.

Louis Moult and Chris Cadden each pulled goals back and Dundee got a stroke of luck when Tom Hateley cleared Ben Heneghan's header from inside his goal when the score was 3-1.

McCann, who swapped the Sky Sports studio for the dugout, said: "I thoroughly enjoyed it. You do get caught up sometimes but it's important you keep an element of control.

"Yes, there's things that we need to work on. Motherwell probably bossed the game in terms of possession but I'm not going to be hard on the players. I know they can improve on that but that's a natural element because we have been on such a bad run.

"But they were magnificent. It is three points but it's a huge three points because it just changes momentum for us."

The former Dundee, Hearts and Rangers winger even felt calm after Cadden reduced the deficit to one in the 80th minute.

"I was all right because I trust them," he said.

"It's nervous, you are hoping that Motherwell don't get a break. (Scott) Bain came up with some great saves and Tom cleared one off the line when it looked like it could have been another goal.

"But I was actually remarkably calm. And that was down to the fact I knew what we worked on during the week would stand us in good stead, and they delivered."

Motherwell slipped into the relegation play-off place but there was no panic from manager Stephen Robinson, who bemoaned the match officials' failure to award Heneghan a goal.

With defenders Richard Tait and Stephen McManus looking set to miss the rest of the season following groin surgery, Robinson has been hamstrung in his tactical approach but feels they will pick up enough points if they keep their standards up.

"The performance itself I am happy with," said Robinson, who also missed Stephen Pearson and Jacob Blyth through injury.

"I haven't got loads of options on the bench, I haven't got loads of strikers I can bring on and off.

"Moulty is still hobbling through it and he still produces a performance and a goal like that.

"But we have got it in our hands. We play Ross County next week and it becomes an even bigger game.

"We were well aware we wouldn't go down this weekend and we wouldn't stay up whether we won or lost and that hasn't changed."

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