Dundee manager Jim McIntyre took some encouragement from the way his players responded to his demands despite falling to another defeat – 1-0 at Motherwell.

The Dark Blues were undone by David Turnbull’s spectacular 69th-minute strike but it represented some form of progress for a side that had conceded 12 goals without reply in McIntyre’s first three matches in charge.

Dundee showed decent attacking intent but struggled to carve out clear chances after Darren O’Dea headed against the crossbar following a corner.

The Ladbrokes Premiership’s bottom club also defended better, although they lost O’Dea (concussion) and centre-back partner Andy Boyle (knee gash) to injury before the end.

However, McIntyre knows they need to start getting results immediately, with second-bottom St Mirren visiting the Kilmac Stadium at Dens Park next Saturday.

“The way we lost the ball before the goal was really disappointing but it was a lot more positive and a lot like I expect us to play in terms of doing our jobs and doing the ugly side of the game,” he said.

“We switched the play very well and that got us into wider areas, but it was just the final bit.

“It’s going to take them a wee while to get used to what I expect, the demands that are going to be placed on them every day, not just at the games. Slowly but surely they are starting to get to grips with that.

“But, having said that, we need to pick up results as well because we don’t want to get detached. It’s important we get a result next week.”

Motherwell moved eight points clear of Dundee after their second win over the bottom two teams in four days.

They can now start looking at closing the gap on the eight teams above them and manager Stephen Robinson believes they will cause Rangers problems next Sunday.

“We knew there was a little gap starting to open up,” he said. “We are still not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination. But we feel can go to Ibrox with confidence.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game, a big atmosphere, but we’ve earned the right to go and really have a go at them.

“And then we have Aberdeen the week after, so that gives you a chance to close the gap.

“If we play like we have done the last two games and defend like we did as well, because let’s not forget that we’re getting back to getting clean sheets like we have in the last two, then we have every chance of climbing the table.”