Dundee's new player manager Ivano Bonetti had a dramatic introduction to Scottish football, being ordered off and seeing his team play magnificently and a 2-0 win over Motherwell at Fir Park.

The Italian was dismissed early in the second half for his second bookable offence, a foul on Motherwell substitute Martin Wood.

Bonetti then watched Javier Artero seal the victory with an 85th-minute goal which added to Patrizio Billio's ninth-minute opener.

Much of the interest in this opening day fixture centred on Dundee and the influx of foreign signings.

The visitors started the game with only three Scotsmen in the team and six players making their SPL debuts.

But it took Dundee only nine minutes to force themselves into the lead.

After good work from Fabian Caballero on the right, the ball broke to Juan Sara, whose shot on goal was blocked by Greg Strong.

But Billio was handily placed to rifle past Motherwell keeper Andy Goram from 16 yards.

The goal rattled the home side and Dundee were looking dangerous whenever they crossed the halfway line.

And to add to Motherwell's troubles Kevin Twaddle was substituted in 16 minutes after injuring himself in a clash with Dundee defender Marco de Marchi.

Two minutes later Sara came close with a header from six yards after a nice run and cross by Artero.

Then, Caballero outstripped Strong and beat Goram only to see his shot from close range hit the post and rebound to safety.

Motherwell's first attempt on goal didn't come until the half-hour mark but Ged Brannan's header from eight yards was easily saved by Dundee keeper Rab Douglas.

Minutes later the home side were twice unlucky when defender Stephen McMillan hit the post with a header and then minutes later saw keeper Douglas pull off a great save from his 20-yard shot.

As the first half came to an end the home side had Dundee pinned back into their own box.

But still Dundee were looking dangerous on the break with Artero in particular showing great skill and pace down the right hand side.

Five minutes from the break Dundee nearly doubled their lead. Cabellero broke down the left and passed across the box to Artero but the Italian's shot from 18 yards rebounded off the post with Goram well beaten.

Then Goram did well to save from Cabellero from 10 yards out as Motherwell's defence seemed to fold.

Five minutes into the second half Dundee player-manager Bonetti was sensationally sent off.

Booked in the first half for a foul on Martyn Corrigan the Italian lunged in at substitute Martin Wood and left referee John Rowbotham with little option but to dismiss him.

It was a dramatic moment for Bonetti, who had played a major part in Dundee's excellent first-half performance.

Not surprisingly the home side gained the ascendancy when Dundee were forced to defend deep in their own half.

However Motherwell were struggling to create any clear-cut chances and the visitors soon regained their composure and went looking to add to the lead.

Despite being down to 10 men the visitors were creating the better chances and in 65 minutes Cabellero came close with a shot from 18 yards which hit the side netting, much to the relief of the home fans.

Well continued to press for the equaliser but with five minutes left Dundee sealed the victory.

Artero picked the ball up and ran straight through the centre of the home defence and toe-poked the ball past Goram and in off the post.

It was a fitting end to a tremendous team display by the visitors, who thoroughly deserved their win.