Last updated on .From the section Football

Dundee rekindled their top-six hopes by convincingly sweeping aside struggling Motherwell to end a run of six games without a victory.

The Dark Blues got off to a flyer through a deflected shot from Alex Harris after only three minutes.

Greg Stewart headed in after his shot struck the bar five minutes later.

John Sutton stabbed a reply, but Gary Irvine restored the lead before Well's Henrik Ojamaa was sent off and, after the break, Luka Tankulic made it 4-1.

It means that, after a promising start as Well manager, Ian Baraclough, has now suffered three straight defeats, although his side remain six points clear of bottom sides Ross County and St Mirren.

Dundee edge to within two points of seventh-placed Kilmarnock, with St Johnstone, whose game against Celtic was postponed, two points further ahead.

It was a dream start for Dundee as Harris scored his first goal for the club since arriving on loan from Hibernian.

The effort was from range and took a hefty deflection off Motherwell defender Stephen McManus.

It got even better for Dundee soon after as Stewart cracked another shot off the frame of the goal and followed up to put the home side two ahead.

The Dark Blues went close to a third within the opening 10 minutes when a tremendous drive from Stewart was heading to the top corner but goalkeeper Dan Twardzik produced a stunning save to tip the ball over the bar.

Motherwell's Henrik Ojamaa was sent off for an elbow before half-time

Motherwell pulled a goal back after good play down the right from Josh Law and his cut back into the box was swept home at close range in customary fashion by Sutton.

Dundee were the more dominant side and Twardzik was the busier of the two goalkeepers, but he was at fault as Dundee extended their lead.

From a corner, Twardzik fumbled his catch and Irvine pounced to make it 3-1.

Motherwell's task became even more difficult when Ojamaa was shown a straight red for an apparent elbow on Kevin Thomson.

Dundee were still the better side in the second-half.

A looping shot from David Clarkson from the edge of the box had Twardzik scrambling, but the ball went just wide of the post.

But soon it was 4-1, Tankulic claiming the goal after coming off the bench following a mix-up between the goalkeeper and defender Mark O'Brien.

Clarkson thought he had made it 5-1, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Greg Stewart (right) scored Dundee's second goal at Dens Park

John Sutton gave Motherwell some hope by scoring to make the score 2-1

Gary Irvine fires Dundee into a 3-1 lead after a mistake from goalkeeper Dan Twardzik

Motherwell's Marc O'Brien and Dundee's Luka Tankulic were involved in the fourth home goal