Motherwell 2-0 Aberdeen

01/05/2025 12:34 PM

Two first-half goals were enough to see off 10-man Aberdeen for a hard-fought win, which takes Motherwell back up to fifth and only four points behind the Dons.

Aberdeen, on a miserable run of nine games without a win, competed well for the first half hour before Ewan Wilson powered 'Well into the lead. A double blow for the Dons came just before the half-time whistle when Slobodan Rubezic was red carded after an altercation with Tony Watt. Tawanda Maswanhise immediately made the most of the missing defender and 'Well's extra man by stroking home a second goal for the Fir Park men before the interval.

The game should have been over, but the Steelmen failed to take full advantage and kill off the gutsy visitors with a decisive third goal.

After the disappointing performance at Tynecastle, Stuart Kettlewell made four changes to his starting line-up.

At the back, Kofi Balmer swapped places with Shane Blaney, while Davor Zdravkovski came into the midfield with Marvin Kaleta recalled to the wide right berth.

Without the injured Apostolos Stamatelopoulos in attack, Moses Ebiye was given a rare start with Tawanda Maswanhise and Tony Watt on either side of him.

In the knowledge that they have a good record at Fir Park, Dons made a positive start, and within a minute, Aston Oxborough was a full stretch to cut out Topi Keskinen's cutback across goal.

The first yellow card and VAR check for serious foul play arrived after only eight minutes when Zdravkovski was booked for a challenge on Graeme Shinnie.

With the visitors looking sharp and 'well guilty of being careless in possession, Maswanhise was the next player in referee Nick Walsh's book.

Following Oxborough's comfortable save from Luis Lopes, Maswanhise prompted Ross Doohan into his first stop after 16 minutes, but his left-foot drive was comfortably taken by the Don's 'keeper.

A couple of minutes later, the Aberdeen goal had a narrow escape.

Long throw Balmer, instead, threw the ball to Halliday, who picked out Casey, who ran a header across the face of the goal and beyond the back post.

Aberdeen's response was a thumping header from Slobodan Rubezic, which Oxborough did well to parry.

After a spell of the game being stopped in a packed middle, the Steelmen conjured up a couple of chances.

In the 32nd minute a quick break in the Dons' box gave Ebiye a shooting opportunity, but when the ball found its way across the box to Watt, his drive was blocked.

A minute later Halliday was annoyed at the Nigerian striker when he intercepted Maleta’s ball across the box when the 'Well midfield man was better paced to get a shot on goal.

The pressure on Doohan's goal finally earned the home side the opener after 34 minutes.

This time Watt was the provider, firing the ball across the goal face. And after it was missed in front of goal, Wilson raced in at the back of the area to slam a fabulous left-foot finish high past Doohan to put the Steelmen in front.

Dons had a lot of possession around the home penalty area, with little threat on Oxborough, as 'Well looked to comfortably hold onto their single goal lead until the interval.

Until a minute before the break, when Dons suffered a double whammy.

Watt and Rubezic tangled after the ball rolled out of play near the halfway line. But after the Dons defender reacted by facing up to Watt, he was shown a red card for violent conduct.

Before the Aberdeen defence could reorganise, Jimmy Thelin's side were immediately hit with a second goal.

From that well-placed throw-in, Kaleta lofted the ball over the visitor's rearguard, allowing Maswanhise to run through on goal before calmly sliding the ball past Doohan for his fifth goal of the season.

Two goals ahead at half-time for the second consecutive home game and with a man advantage, 'Well fans were hoping that Dons couldn't stage a second half fightback.

With two halftime changes and the backing of their encouraging 1400 fans, the Pittodrie side made a spirited start to the second half, giving Oxborough a few anxious moments.

After 68 minutes and needing some composure in holding the ball up front, Jack Vale replaced Ebiye to make his first Fir Park appearance this season.

However, Motherwell failed to kill off Dons' thoughts of a fightback, and after 71 minutes it was almost on until Oxborough palmed Leighton Clarkson’s net-bound piledriver onto the crossbar and away to safety.

Vale then fed the ball to Maswanhise at the edge of the box, who created some space before curling his low shot on the outside of Doohan's left-hand post.

Vale, full of running on his return, then sped towards the box before picking out the unmarked Nicholson on the penalty spot. After dragging his shot wide, he was relieved to see a flag raised for offside.

With five minutes remaining, Paul McGinn and Callum Slattery were warmly welcomed back after long-term injuries and see out the closing stages of the game as 'Well extended their impressive home form.

Motherwell Team: Oxborough, Kaleta, Casey, Gordon, Balmer, Wilson, Zdravkovski, Halliday, Watt, Ebiye, Maswanhise.

Motherwell Bench: Hegyi, O’Donnell, Koutroumbis, Blaney, McGinn, Sparrow, Slattery, Nicholson, Vale. 

The post Motherwell 2-0 Aberdeen appeared first on Motherwell Football Club.