Motherwell winger Stuart Elliott brought the Claudio Caniggia bandwagon careering to a halt after just five minutes at Dens Park.

The Northern Ireland international ruined the Argentinian's home debut after just 28 seconds before making it a miserable day for everyone at Dundee with a second four minutes later.

But the big crowd which had emerged at Dens for the first Tayside glimpse of the one-time pin-up boy of South America were rewarded with a brilliant 22nd minute strike by Caniggia.

It was the visitors who earned some revenge for their opening day defeat by the Dark Blues at Fir Park as they held firm against the intelligent probing of both Caniggia and Dundee player-manager Ivano Bonetti.

Such was the disbelief among the Dens fans over the signing of Caniggia that they were unsure of how to greet the Argentinian's name when it was announced.

Indeed, neither did the players as Elliott rose after just 28 seconds to head home for the visitors as the home team marvelled at their new team-mate.

It was a goal of the simplest quality but enough to teach the cosmopolitan Dundee side a valuable lesson. The Northern Ireland youngster guided his header from Derek Adams' cross beyond James Langfield.

It was also the worst start Scotland Under-21 international Langfield would have wanted or expected as he began his campaign to become the regular number one at Dens Park following the departure of Rob Douglas.

But the home side had not learned the lessons of their opening jolt and Elliott produced a second in similar fashion.

Midfielder Adams crossed from the right and again Elliott rose unmarked to head home past Langfield.

Dundee needed to settle and player-manager Ivano Bonetti attempted to assert some control on the game as he put his foot on the ball at every given opportunity.

But it was still Motherwell who looked the more threatening with Elliott blazing a trail of his own down the left flank and tormenting Barry Smith.

And again Elliott went for glory with a header which went just wide from Adams' cross.

Caniggia might not be the force he once was and his chances of a recall to the international side are probably as likely as Paul Gascoigne's.

But the 33-year-old still shone and his 22nd minute goal had a quality seldom seen at Dens in recent years.

Caniggia turned brilliantly around Ange Oueifio before lifting the ball over the previously untroubled Stephen Woods in the visitors' goal.

It was stunning and simple in equal terms in its execution but, more importantly for Dundee, it was a lifeline.

Caniggia should have been celebrating an equaliser three minutes after the break when Marcello Marrocco was felled by Oueifio on the edge of the area.

Bonetti floated the free-kick into the area but the Argentinian powered his header over the bar from just six yards out.

Langfield boosted his own confidence when he pushed away a point-blank Spencer drive after a good link with Lee McCulloch.

At the other end though, Sara was guilty of missing a gilt-edged opportunity following a fumble by Woods.

The ball dropped to Caniggia on the edge of the box and he found Sara in space in the area, but the striker's shot was weak and the chance disappeared.

Woods produced a fine save from Caniggia after the forward had jinked his way to the edge of the box to fire goalwards.

Woods was again the hero in the dying moments as he tipped over a powerful Alessandro Romano drive as Dundee piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.