By Dundeefc.net
April 24 2002

SAT 8TH APRIL

DUNDEE 4 (Grady 52, 54, Billio (pen) 81, Luna 86)
Motherwell 1 (Goodman 13)

Attendance: 4701

Douglas Smith, Wilkie, Ireland, Maddison Boyack, Rae, Billio, Robertson Grady, Luna

Subs: Artero (for Boyack), Annand (for Luna), Miller, Bayne, Langfield

"No English, See you Monday, Interpreter, said Francisco Aguilera (That's Luna to you and me) to the press but his broad smile said it all. The first Dundee player to have a nickname on his shirt had just turned in a sensational last half hour in his first game in Dark Blue. That he was largely anonymous up till then (although showing nice touches when involved) hardly mattered - He'd torn Motherwell's defence to pieces and capped it all nicely with a neat header to complete the scoring before being substituted to a standing ovation from fans who chanted his name over and over as the tannoy announced that he was the sponsors man of the match.

He wasn't the only Dundee player to be in red hot form as the Dees already led 2-1 when the Spaniard kicked into top gear. The Dee had fallen behind in 13 minutes when a weak shot from Goodman crawled under Rab' Douglas' body. That they got back into the match was largely thanks to James Grady, who had missed a sitter in an awful first half and heard Dundee fans boo him for the first time in his Dens career.

Rather than hide Jamsie came out for the second period and redoubled his already considerable work rate, "I just wanted to get them cheering again" James said later. He got his reward seven minutes into the half when he fired home a rebound from close range after his first effort had been blocked by Woods. The relief from the striker was obvious as he celebrated big style. Unfortunately the referee decided that the 'wee man' had over indulged and showed him a yellow card. Almost straight from the kick off Grady was involved again when former Dee Jamie McGowan took him out of play as he headed for goal. Jamie was last man and had to go for preventing a clear scoring opportunity.

Jamsie was on fire now and from the resultant free kick had the ball in the net for number two, while making sure that his celebration was slightly more muted.

The arrival of substitute Sasa Curcic gave the Dundee fans someone to heckle as a party atmosphere developed in the home areas of the ground, but it all went flat in the 62nd minute when Grady raced into the box and went down when challenged. The cheers for the award of a penalty died in the throats of the Dundee support as the referee Mr McDonald showed a second yellow to Grady for diving and gave a free kick to 'Well.

The visitors tried to push forward and looked dangerous whenever Curcic had the ball but he was being kept in check by the outstanding play of Pat Billio as the match developed into a delight of quick breaking, passing football.

Luna was very much the man who mattered playing alone up front for Dundee and with nine minutes to go he shrugged off a challenge and wriggled into the box before being pulled over just as he was about to tuck the ball home. Motherwell's Steve McMillan had been injured in the lead up play and Billio had to wait some time before taking the kick. During this period the visiting defence spent some time talking to Pat and I'm sure we can take it as read that they were simply wishing him good luck with the kick - if so they got their wish when he lashed it into the top corner.

Dundee weren't finished though and the game wouldn't have been complete without a Luna strike. That came in the 86th minute when Artero and Smith combined before Barry swung in a cross which the star man headed into the corner of the net despite Woods despairing attempt to tip it round the post.

It set the seal on a sizzling second half and sent the Bobby Cox regulars and a packed South Enclosure home happy.