Aberdeen 2 - 1 Motherwell

Match Summary

Aberdeen were forced to battle extremely hard but in the end they won a very important three points with a professional performance. The Dons have now hit the 60 point mark.

Motherwell did not let the home side have it their own way at any point during the 90 minutes and they took the lead after the half hour mark when Erwin's shot was deflected past Langfield, who was recalled to the side on Friday night.

The Dons had started with a back three but the manager made a number of tactical changes during the game. At the start of the second half they went 4-4-2 and came out playing a lot more direct. The change worked as they completely turned the game around in the space of a few minutes. First Ashton Taylor, also recalled to the side, headed a McGinn corner into the net after the keeper Long failed to grab the ball. Another assist for Niall. Then a few minutes later a mix up at the back allowed in Rooney and he rolled the ball home. After that the Dons fought hard and were able to see out the game.

Not pretty but another very good win.

Match Report

Derek McInnes made a number of changes to the side that played Celtic. Jamie Langfield came back into the side in goal. Ashton Taylor and David Goodwillie also returned to the starting XI. So Aberdeen lined up with Langfield between the sticks. Logan at right back, Considine was at left back with Taylor and Reynolds in central defence along with Daniels as part of a back three. McLean, McGinn and Jack were ahead of them with Goodwillie and Rooney upfront.

After a slow start Lee Erwin found space and drove inside before getting in a shot which was straight at Langfield. Erwin scored a screamer with his left foot for the Well U20s against Jamie so the keeper was aware of his ability. Then Jack tired his luck at the other end but his curling effort was always rising before McLean went down in the box, the appeals for a penalty were half hearted. Then Jack hit another powerful shot from the edge of the box and Long was forced to make a save.

The Dons looked sharp in the early stages but you could see the Fir Park team would be difficult to break down.
On 15 minutes the first half chance. After some neat passing around the box the ball was picked up by Goodwillie. He was crowed out but David did not panic, he shielded the ball and played it wide to Rooney. He flashed the ball across the six yard box but failed to pick out a team mate. Motherwell won the first corner on 16 minutes which was well defended.

On 22 minutes Logan down the right played it into feet to Goodwillie who showed good awareness to pick out McLean but his first time effort went over the bar from about 12 yard out. After 25 minutes Ewrin found a lot of space again in behind the Dons right back area. He cut inside but got his shot horribly wrong. A let off for the Dons.

Erwin had an even better chance on 28 minutes. After a through ball he found himself one on one with Langfield. The Dons keeper produced a great save, getting out quickly before the Motherwell player could set himself and he made the block. The ball then fell to Marvin Johnson and Ash Taylor had to get across and he made a great block.

On 31 minutes Aberdeen won their first corner. On 32 minutes great play down the right by McGinn after Rooney had cushioned a header down to him. The ball was half cleared to Kenny McLean at the edge of the area and he caught the ball really well but his shot just went past just past the post with the keeper completely beaten.

On 35 minutes a tactical change from Aberdeen. Daniels coming off and Pawlett coming on. The manager also changed the formation, going to a 4-3-3.

On 36 minutes Erwin was again given far too much room and was able to get a shot away with his left foot. Again he probably did not catch the ball was well as he could but the shot deflected off McDonald and Reynolds past Langfield into the net. The keeper had no chance as the ball flew past him.

The goal stunned Pittodrie but back came the Dons. After 41 minutes their best move so far. Goodwillie laid it off to McGinn and his first time cross was met by McLean who put in a powerful header which produced a good save from Long. The keeper had to get down quickly as the ball was down at his feet. Aberdeen pushed hard for an equaliser before the break but could not create anything although they had a strong penalty appeal right on the stroke of half time when McGinn clashed with Laing but Crawford Allan waved play on.

HT

In their previous two home games Aberdeen started the second half strongly and scored. They did it again tonight.

On 50 minutes a decent ball into the box had to be headed behind as Rooney was lurking. From the resulting corner Niall put over a great ball into a great area. The keeper could not come, Considine's decoy run left space for Ash Taylor to attack. His downward headed produced a very good save from Long but as the ball bounced near the line the keeper tried to grab it one handed but all he ended up doing was palming the ball into his own net. Long was very unfortunate but should have just pushed the ball wide to safety.

The Motherwell keeper though then made a bad error a few minutes later which handed Aberdeen the lead. A ball over the top forced the Well defenders to turn back towards their own goal. Louis Lang headed the ball back looking for Long but the keeper had come rushing out and was caught in no man's land outside his area. Rooney did not need a second invitation, he pounced immediately and rolled the ball into the empty net.

The Dons, who came out in the second half in a 4-4-2 formation, had upped the tempo and had completely turned things around.

On 55 minutes Scott McDonald, who was a pest for the Dons defence all evening, hit a good low shot which was well held by Langfield. Midway through the second half the game became quite bad tempered. Just after the hour mark Lasley was booked for bringing down McGinn. The Dons bench were not impressed with the tackle. On 64 minutes a cross from Logan was flicked on by Rooney but his glancing header went just wide.

Then a minute later Rooney and Goodwillie combined well before McGinn's cross was just too far in front of everybody and the ball drifted wide. Then on 68 minutes a ball over the top set Goodwillie free. The striker bore down on goal but his shot went high and wide.

Motherwell never gave up at any point and on 74 minutes McDonald headed one just wide after getting in between the two centre halves. A reminder that this game was far from won. The visitors were pushing players forward though as they searched for an equaliser which was leaving spaces. On 75 minutes McGinn picked up a loose ball and drove towards the box before unleashing a shot which went across the face of goal and just past the post.

On 78 minutes another tactical change from the Dons as Barry Robson came on for Goodwillie. A minute later a late challenge from Erwin on Logan resulted in another yellow card. On 88 minutes Ainsworth did well to get in behind Considine. He tried a shot from a tight angle but the ball went wide. Apart from that effort though the Lanarkshire side never really looked like getting an equaliser. Pawlett was replaced by Clark Robertson in the final minute, Clark making a welcome return to first team action.