Speaking after today's game, Eric Black applauded his players for their strength of chatacter:
"I'm delighted with the response of the players after the equaliser.  I think everybody in the stadium thought the game was starting to turn at that point - except for the 11 players in Motherwell jerseys.  They were the ones who believed the chance was still there to take three points."

Black admitted his players began to struggle after the interval when a number of 'Well players received yellow cards:
"I don't know if it is psychological, I have no idea. Sometimes that happens in games but I thought the players performed exceptionally well and gave 100%.  If they continue to do that I will be happy.  I think there is a lot of belief among the players and they responded exceptionally well. They were hurting after last week when they didn't do well."

5pm

We recorded a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Aberdeen in an entertaining match at Fir Park this afternoon.  It was night and day compared to last week's performance against Kilmarnock, with the players battling for ever ball and running themselves into the ground for the cause.

Eric Black made only one change to the team, with Stevie Nicholas dropping out to be replaced by Stephen Pearson.  We started the game in a 3-5-2 formation with new signing Eric Deloumeaux thankfully reverting to his true position of centre-half, and Derek Adams and Stuart Elliott upfront.

Following a lively start to the match, we went ahead after only 8 mins when Pearson's close range shot appeared to be deflected behind his own goalkeeper by an Aberdeen defender.  Then unbelievably we found ourselves 2-0 up only 10 mins later when Karl Ready headed down a corner into the path of Stuart Elliot and he lashed the ball into the net.  We were coasting at this point but decided to take our foot off the pedal and gradually allowed the Dons back into the match, and it was no real surprise when they pulled a goal back after 39 mins when Winters headed over a rather static looking Mark Brown.

There were chances at both ends in the second half, although probably more so at the Motherwell end as Aberdeen began to have the better of the game.  It looked as though we were going to hold out for narrow win, but with only 10 mins to go the visitors grabbed an equaliser when Zerouali fired into the top corner from the edge of the box.  At this point most fans inside the ground probably expected that if either team was going to win the match it would be the visitors, but it was Motherwell who grabbed the three points when substitute McFadden headed home after 83 mins.

I supposed it could be argued that Aberdeen deserved a point from the game, but who cares?  I think we deserved a bit of luck, especially after the last match at Pittodrie when we were unfortunate to leave empty handed.  The only disappointment is that St Johnstone also picked up three points and so we don't move any further away from the bottom of the league.

John Boyle says:

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