Dundee 2 Motherwell 0

Cammy Kerr and Marcus Haber netted their first goals for Dundee to get them off the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership, but they owed the match officials a major thanks for failing to spot a Motherwell opener.

Dundee goalkeeper David Mitchell back-pedalled over his line when catching Scott McDonald's 21st-minute cross, but referee John Beaton and assistant Ross Haswell played on. The whole of Mitchell's body was inside the goal, but he recovered quickly enough to escape with an extraordinary let-off.

A furious Motherwell were subjected to further misery five minutes before the break when Craig Wighton and Kerr linked up to put Dundee ahead.

The home side were comfortable throughout the second half and Wighton set up Haber to seal a 2-0 victory as Paul Hartley's side recorded a second consecutive win to leapfrog Ross County, who play Rangers on Sunday.

Wighton was a constant threat and the 19-year-old showed great skill to set up an early chance for Kerr, who drove wide of the far post.

Lionel Ainsworth's corner bounced off the top of the bar as Motherwell found their feet and they should have been ahead soon after when Mitchell drifted into the net.

With the visitors still bristling with a sense of injustice, McDonald almost put the issue to bed when he met Chris Cadden's cross, but his header was saved at the second attempt by Mitchell, who continued in goal with Scott Bain out with a groin injury.

Kevin Gomis, one of three Dundee centre-backs, then brilliantly blocked Ainsworth's shot as the winger looked set to bury Cadden's low delivery.

Motherwell were looking comfortable but found themselves in trouble as McDonald dallied in possession on the halfway line. Kerr dispossessed the striker and drove forward and played in Wighton, whose shot was blocked. But the rebound fell for the wing-back, who finished high into the net.

Dundee started the second half on top and Craig Samson stopped Wighton's 18-yard strike and Haber's header.

The hosts lost Gomis to an arm injury after he landed heavily following a foul which earned Stephen McManus a booking. But they remained in command and Motherwell made all their changes before the hour mark, with Dom Thomas and Ross MacLean joining Jack McMillan, who had come on for Steven Hammell at half-time.

Kevin Holt drove just wide after Wighton's lay-off and the teenager then jinked his way to the bye-line before setting up Haber to slot home in the 80th minute.

McManus and McDonald failed to convert half-chances and Wighton came close to a deserved goal when he wriggled into a shooting position, but Craig Samson made a good stop.