Bonetti enters with a swift exit

Dundee look set for some eventful times ahead after their new player-manager, Ivano Bonetti, announced his arrival in Scottish football in no uncertain terms by getting himself sent off during his side's victory at Motherwell yesterday.

Dundee look set for some eventful times ahead after their new player-manager, Ivano Bonetti, announced his arrival in Scottish football in no uncertain terms by getting himself sent off during his side's victory at Motherwell yesterday.

The Dens Park supporters had wondered how the summer influx of foreign players signed by their new Italian manager would affect the team. But Bonetti orchestrated a magnificently entertaining first half which saw his side take the lead through Patricio Billio in the ninth minute.

Five minutes after the break, however, the course of events took a dramatic turn when Bonetti collected his second yellow card, both for fouls, and was promptly dismissed.

Incredibly, instead of losing their composure, Dundee's 10 men actually added to their lead with a brilliant goal from Javier Artero near the end to complete a 2-0 victory.

Afterwards Bonetti played down his sending off. "I was very naïve but it was not a bad tackle," he argued. "I will probably offer to buy dinner for the lads. I was worried for the team at that point, but Motherwell had less chances in the second half than in the first and we had more chances after the sending off than before it. Football is very strange that way."

The St Mirren manager, Tom Hendrie, insisted his side's narrow defeat against Kilmarnock showed they can hold their own in the top flight. Hendrie's men were sunk by a late Gary Holt goal in their return to the top division after eight years' absence.

"We weren't disappointed by the performance, only the result," Hendrie said. "There was nothing between ourselves and Kilmarnock and the players' confidence is certainly not shattered."

Kilmarnock's manager, Bobby Williamson, paid tribute to his opponents. "It wasn't an easy three points," he said.

The young goalkeeper Ryan Esson was Aberdeen's hero as his team hung on for a goalless draw against Dunfermline, despite having Derek Young dismissed for kicking out at Jason Dair.