Motherwell 0-1 Aberdeen: Dons leave it late to snatch an ugly victory

Motherwell 0

Aberdeen 1

Mulgrew 85

IT WAS far from vintage Aberdeen but, as managers constantly remind us, football is a results business and Charlie Mulgrew's first goal for his new club at least meant that they collected all three points here.

It was a victory they barely deserved, having emerged as an attacking force only in the final quarter of a disappointing contest.

Jimmy Calderwood will not quibble about that but more adventure and flair will be required if they are to seriously challenge for a place in Europe.

Ironically, Motherwell's manager, Mark McGhee, used his programme notes to deny reports that he had rejected a job at Hearts solely because the Lanarkshire club had pipped the Dons to qualify for the UEFA Cup. "I turned my back on Hearts for a number of reasons, one of which was to experience European competition," he said.

Aberdeen, it's fair to say, weren't brimming with inspiration yesterday. With Zander Diamond uncomfortable in an unfamiliar right-back role, McGhee's side moved the ball quickly around opponents who looked ponderous.

Jamie Murphy was handed an early opportunity to claim his first SPL goal at Fir Park when Marc Fitzpatrick's pass released him on the right but, seemingly unsure as to whether he should cross or shoot, the youngster's resulting effort was an unsatisfactory hybrid and Jamie Langfield clutched it with ease.

Diamond's contribution was terminated after only 20 minutes due to a thigh strain. He was replaced by Stuart Duff.

Richard Foster moved to right-back but also endured a torrid afternoon. He collected the game's first caution for barging David Clarkson to the ground as the Scotland striker burst past him.

The visitors finally carved out an opening when Mark Kerr's through-ball picked out Gary McDonald's run and the midfielder's rising shot was turned behind for a corner by Graeme Smith.

Motherwell should have taken the lead six minutes from the interval when Stephen Hughes, Steven Hammell and Chris Porter combined to tee up Fitzpatrick but his mis-hit shot from six yards barely reached Langfield.

It took McGhee's team 48 minutes to earn their first corner. Their second arrived a minute later and Hughes headed narrowly over.

They came closer still in the 54th minute when Quinn bulleted another Hammell corner towards goal only for Langfield to turn the ball away.

Tommy Wright, who at only 23 has already played for Leicester City, Brentford, Blackpool, Barnsley, Walsall and Darlington, made his debut for Aberdeen in the 69th minute and should have scored with his first touch.

Fitzpatrick made a goal-saving block to deny Darren Mackie, Mulgrew produced an inviting cross and Wright inexplicably failed to head home from point-blank range.

Derek Young was booked for a cynical foul on Clarkson but, with what seemed a crushing inevitability, Porter headed the resulting free-kick straight into Langfield's arms.

The breakthrough, when it came, was, unsurprisingly, the result of error.

Aberdeen were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out after Hammell's ill-advised lunge at McDonald. Mulgrew, all left foot, shaped up to take it and must have been as surprised as McGhee to find that the Motherwell wall had left an inviting gap for him to aim at.

Smith compounded that mistake by standing behind the wall and consequently had no chance of reaching the full-back's shot.

There was still time for Wright to pick up what will surely be the first of many cautions. Having escaped without censure after sticking his head into Stephen Craigan's face, he was not so fortunate when he caught Hammell high and late. "I'm not doing an Arsene Wenger: I genuinely missed (the first offence] but I'll look at it again on the video," said Calderwood.

"You can't go about like that in Scottish football but we'll have a wee whisper in his ear. Whether he changes or not is up to him: it depends how big his bank balance is. As for the game, I don't think Mark will be too happy at losing because they were the better side for the first hour."

It was a classic smash-and-grab job and Motherwell, who had run out of ideas by then in any case, had no time left to save the game. After two matches they have six points fewer than at the same stage last year and that must be a concern for McGhee.



MAN OF THE MATCH

Former Wolves full-back Charlie Mulgrew delivered a fine 25-yard free-kick with four minutes remaining on a day when nothing else came off for anyone. Earlier, Mulgrew was the provider when his cross found new signing Tommy Wright unmarked at the far post. However, the Motherwell keeper got down quickly to make an impressive stop.


QUICK FACT

The Motherwell MC's attempt to wind up visiting fans by playing Shaun the Sheep backfired.

TALKING POINT

Tommy Wright's head-butt on Craigan may see him punished retrospectively – and it came just days after he was booked against Inverness reserves in midweek.