Motherwell 3-3 Dundee: Connor Wilkinson snatches point in stoppage time
- Published
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)
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).