Aberdeen show who they truly are as Motherwell flattened in swashbuckling Dons demolition job
Motherwell and Aberdeen came to blows in the Premiership on Tuesday.
Aberdeen stormed to an outstanding 4-0 away win at Motherwell as building Dons pressure was burst emphatically.
Gavin Molloy rocketed the visitors managed by Stephen Robinson into a half-time lead. A botched build-out from the back allowed Conor Ronan to double the lead inside 60 seconds of the restart. Substitute Ayoub Mouloua finished things off competitively and Kevin Nisbet found the winner on a huge night for those in red. The fifth-placed hosts take on Dundee at Dens Park this weekend before an extended three-week international break while Aberdeen in eighth travel to Hibs.
It’d been a major day at Pittodrie already as CEO Alan Burrows - who joined the club from Motherwell - departed the north-east outfit. What comes next off the pitch remains to be seen, but on it, positive league results are needed. Progress to the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals with a spot-kick win over Kilmarnock last time out was a boost as heading into this one in 10th had sections of the Dons support miffed.
What happened during Motherwell vs Aberdeen?
Playing 120 minutes with 10 men following Dan Happe’s red card wasn’t the best preparation for facing a Motherwell side who had 10 days off following defeat to Rangers, with this fixture rearranged due to their Conference League endeavours last month. They’d impressed against HB Torshavn and HJK Helsinki before elimination to current German Bundesliga leaders Freiburg, who they showed up well against despite a 7-2 elimination, and elements of their possession-based style was on show inside 30 cagey minutes.
They’d played some nice stuff but the sturdy Dons backline hadn’t been threatened and the most dangerous first half efforts came from range. Nisbet fizzed one effort by the post and Afeez Aremu had also gone close from outside the box. Eventually one of them found the net, as amid mounting pressure from those in red, Molloy rocketed a brilliant low effort into the bottom corner.
Motherwell captain Tom Sparrow’s angry reaction in a duel with Nesta Guinness-Walker spoke to the instant frustration those in claret and amber felt after failing to the make the most of time on the ball. Robinson was out to prove against his former club that it wasn’t about how much possession you had, but what you did with it, and Molloy’s blast had left the Steelmen rocking.
Alfred Johansson’s half-time team talk was blown up after mere seconds as poor play out from the back allowed Ronan to nip in and fire home. It was dreamland stuff for the hardy bunch of travelling support who yearned for a much-needed league win. Motherwell had lost to just Celtic and Falkirk in ML1 last season so coasting to three points here would be relieving lingering pressure around Pittodrie in some style.
They looked every bit like Robinson’s battling sides who’d performed admirably at Fir Park and St Mirren previously with clinical attacking quality thrown in for good measure. Johansson’s team meanwhile failed to trouble Marius Muller in the Aberdeen net, who had as comfortable a night he’s had in his short time in Scotland so far.
Following on from his Panenka penalty at Rugby Park, Mouloua came off the bench to light up a breakaway as ‘Well sought to revive the contest, blasting home to make it a hugely enjoyable return journey north. Nisbet found the fourth to make it a rout, sparking an exodus of home fans, left stunned by their side’s collapse.
The Scottish Football Social Club is presented by BetSBK.com | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.