Match ends, Motherwell 0, Aberdeen 2.
MotherwellMotherwell0AberdeenAberdeen2
Two goals in three minutes helped Aberdeen move clear in second place in the Premiership after a dominant display against Motherwell at Fir Park.
The visitors had the better of the first half, with Greg Stewart going close to an opener.
Motherwell showed much more at the start of the second half but Kari Arnason headed Aberdeen in front.
Then Kenny McLean played a delightful one-two with Greg Stewart and coolly slotted into the far corner.
The result put Aberdeen three points clear of third-placed Rangers and ended Motherwell hopes of reaching the top six.
Defending champions Celtic are nine points above Aberdeen with a game in hand.
On Monday assistant manager Tony Docherty urged Aberdeen to "grab the opportunity", and, despite a sticky 10-minute period after the break, that is exactly what the Dons did.
The first half was an entertaining watch despite the lack of goals.
Stewart showed signs of the enterprise and skill down the right-hand side that helped his stock rise so much at Dundee. On one occasion he dribbled past a couple of challenges before cutting inside and shooting over.
Stephen Hendrie - the former Hamilton defender on loan at Motherwell from League One Southend United - had the job of shackling Stewart and it was not an easy assignment. But the left-back did react well to block a McLean header after the midfielder had been set up well by Stewart.
McLean would see another deflected effort go wide and Stevie May had a shot that sailed over the crossbar.
A reminder of the Steelmen's threat, though, was offered by Elliott Frear just before the break. The Englishman leaped to connect with a deep Richard Tait cross and forced Joe Lewis into a one-handed save that, luckily for the visitors, did not drop to the feet of Ryan Bowman or Curtis Main.
Main came to prominence after half-time. The former Middlesbrough and Portsmouth man has determination in bucket-loads and serious strength to match.
Tom Aldred had already watched a diving header go past the post before Main outmuscled Arnason and took a pot-shot at goal from 20 yards. The wet conditions meant Lewis could not gather at the first attempt but he recovered in time.
Main then combined wonderfully with Frear down the left and the latter's cross was desperately headed clear, another sign of the home side starting to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Ivory Coast call-up Cedric Kipre halted the hosts' increasing momentum when he was dispossessed by May on the edge of the box, again the wet conditions not helping the Motherwell defender.
May's shot was blocked on that occasion, but two quick Aberdeen hammer blows were coming.
The Dons' first goal was all about the timing of Arnason's leap as he rose to head in McLean's corner for his third of the season. The Icelandic defender's goal was in front of the busy away end and no sooner had those travelling fans sat down, than they were up cheering again.
This time a clever pass by Stewart near the bye-line teed up McLean for a lovely, low, left-footed curler into the far corner.
It was a massive three minutes for Aberdeen, who had looked under real pressure in the opening period of the second half, yet stayed resolute to make it six games unbeaten.
Line-ups
Motherwell
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Carson
- 2TaitBooked at 80mins
- 21Kipre
- 19Aldred
- 3Hendrie
- 7Cadden
- 8McHughSubstituted forNewellat 78'minutes
- 22CampbellSubstituted forBigirimanaat 45'minutes
- 11FrearSubstituted forMacLeanat 63'minutes
- 9Main
- 12Bowman
Substitutes
- 4Grimshaw
- 5Bigirimana
- 13Griffiths
- 24Newell
- 26MacLean
- 34Maguire
- 38Scott
Aberdeen
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Lewis
- 2Logan
- 14ArnasonSubstituted forBallat 88'minutes
- 19McKenna
- 4Considine
- 5O'Connor
- 3Shinnie
- 8StewartSubstituted forRooneyat 90+2'minutes
- 7McLean
- 22ChristieSubstituted forWrightat 90+2'minutes
- 83May
Substitutes
- 6Reynolds
- 9Rooney
- 11Mackay-Steven
- 15Wright
- 18Ball
- 27Cosgrove
- 30Woodman
- Referee:
- Don Robertson
- Attendance:
- 4,127
Match Stats
Home TeamMotherwellAway TeamAberdeen
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Motherwell 0, Aberdeen 2.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Scott Wright replaces Ryan Christie.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Adam Rooney replaces Greg Stewart.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Dominic Ball replaces Kári Arnason because of an injury.
Post update
Delay in match Kári Arnason (Aberdeen) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt blocked. George Newell (Motherwell) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt saved. Greg Stewart (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Shaleum Logan (Aberdeen) right footed shot from long range on the right is blocked.
Booking
Richard Tait (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Richard Tait (Motherwell).
Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Richard Tait.
Post update
Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Gael Bigirimana (Motherwell).
Substitution
Substitution, Motherwell. George Newell replaces Carl McHugh.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Christie (Aberdeen).
Post update
Curtis Main (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Cedric Kipre.
Post update
Attempt missed. Stevie May (Aberdeen) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
