IT’S advantage Motherwell in the race for third spot and with it European football next season.
With this victory, built on stifling an unimaginative Aberdeen, the Steelmen now sit four points ahead of the Dons in the standings. No doubt there will be many more twists and turns to come. Yet in the final reckoning, these three points could be decisive. Stephen Robinson was delighted with his side’s determination in defence.
He said: “To come here and be as disciplined and perform like that, credit to the players they put their bodies on the line when they needed to. We’ve been better on the ball if I’m being highly critical, which is difficult after a performance like that.
“When we had to defend and put our bodies on the line that, and stay organised and disciplined that was probably one of our best away performances in my time here.”
After a flat opening the game, goalmouth action eventually arrived in the 19th minute. Motherwell’s Mark O’Hara rolled a pass to Christopher Long, whose low shot was met by the outstretched hand of Dons keeper Joe Lewis. That crucial touch slowed down the ball enough for Shay Logan to hack it away from the home goal.
That scare roused Aberdeen as they quickly retaliated. Logan’s cross was flicked on by Sam Cosgrove to Andrew Considine, whose effort at the back post was cleared by the well-placed boot of Motherwell goalie Mark Gillespie.
The visitors suffered a blow in the 32nd minute. In-form striker Long, who had scored six goals in his previous five games, suffered an ankle injury in a tackle with Dylan McGeouch. Just as it looked like the fans would enter the break with little to talk about, the visitors took the lead in first-half injury-time. Liam Polworth’s long free-kick into the penalty area evaded everyone in the Dons defence and Liam Donnelly gleefully nodded the ball into the net at the back post for his 10th goal of the season. It was the 200th strike of Robinson’s tenure at the club.
Donnelly has been linked with Celtic, although Robinson hopes no bid is forthcoming. He said: “Nobody has come in for my players in any shape or form. Long may that continue.”
Aberdeen’s main avenue of attack in the second half was corners from the right. Three times the ball arrived invitingly in the Motherwell box, but efforts from Ash Taylor and Considine were cleared before Cosgrove’s header was comfortably held.
Motherwell rode their luck next when Considine appeared to be fouled by Declan Gallagher in the box and referee Willie Collum chose to award a corner when a spot-kick looked more likely. Yet, the away defence deserved their clean sheet.
Derek McInnes was convinced his side should have had a spot-kick. But he bemoaned his team’s profligacy.
He said: “I thought we should have had a penalty kick. Andy Considine got wiped out. I’ve seen it again and there’s no touch on the ball.
“That lack of quality, cutting edge, quality of pass or cross and composure in the final third meant we haven’t scored and Motherwell went away with the three points.
“I’m looking for more. We’re too reliant on Cosgrove.
“I said it before the window, I’ve said it throughout the window and I’m still saying it, hopefully, we can get the necessary players in that can help us in the department.”
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