Deadly Double Dumps Dons

Chris Porter started the game in place of Keith Lasley but apart from that the same players started as against Hearts nearly a fortnight ago.

Players and fans celebrate

The game began well and flowed back and forth. The first real opportunity came from a corner which Hughes headed off the goal line to keep Motherwell level. Within seconds he was shooting just over at the other end. Aberdeen's best early chance produced a wonderful save from Smith though the defence did not cover themselves in glory letting it get that far.

Soutar had to make a good save shortly afterwards as again Stephen Hughes shot from just outside the box. He went for an audacious chip and maybe a shot to the top corner would have been better.

The ten minutes that followed were nervy as Aberdeen began to take a foothold on the game but Smith made a few competent saves and the defence held out well. Just on the half hour Motherwell took the lead. The ball fell to Paul Quinn about twenty five yards from goal and his strike was superb as he drove low into Soutar's bottom right hand corner.

Aberdeen attacked from the restart and Smith made another good save. Within four minutes Motherwell doubled their lead with another goal of exceptional quality. O'Donnell picked the ball up just beyond the centre circle and played a beautiful ball to Clarkson. He then forwarded the ball to Porter whose finish was excellently placed in the same corner as Quinn's earlier effort.

This was one of O'Donnell's last contributions as he hobbled off five minutes later.

The travelling support were delighted and the game edged towards half time with no further major incident.

Steve Lovell should have made it two-one within four minutes of the restart. He found himself one on with Smith and while our goalkeeper did well the finish was disappointing.

Motherwell defended heroically for much of the second half. Starting from the front with Clarkson, McCormack and Porter all contributing. Grabban came on for Clarkson on the hour.

It took five minutes for Motherwell's advantage to be cut to one. A foolish tackle by Paterson was correctly penalised by referee McDonald and Jamie Smith's free kick went into the top right hand corner of Smith's goal. It was the third excellent goal of the game.

A couple of minutes later a similar foul was conceded however this time the free kick went over the top.

McGhee's last change was Lasley for McCormack and from then on the game petered out. Aberdeen worked hard but found it difficult to get through the Motherwell midfield and defence.

In the end Motherwell held firm and on the balance of play Aberdeen might feel hard done to but we travelled down the road with another excellent away result and performance. Can the team make it four out of four at Falkirk next week?