Motherwell 0, Aberdeen 2

Match Date: Tuesday, March 13 2007
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 4,530.
Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Graeme Smith, Paterson, Craigan, Reynolds, Murphy, McBride (Molloy 76), Kerr, Vadocz, Fitzpatrick, Clarkson (Keegan 66), McDonald.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, McCormack, McGarry, Kinniburgh, Connolly.

Booked: none.

TOP SIX DREAM BITES THE DUST

Motherwell  0     Aberdeen  2

MOTHERWELL’S Dream of making the top six come the split was finally ended by a far from impressive Aberdeen side at Fir Park in front of the Setanta cameras. The Fir Parkers battled hard and deserved at least a share of the spoils, but a lack of luck in front of goals saw them lose out.

The visitors began in a positive mood, and right from kick off Severin attempted to shoot beyond Smith from all of 40 yards, though the Motherwell keeper easily caught the drifting effort. Motherwell responded and McDonald almost took advantage of a slack Considine header which did find Langfield. Foster made a burst down the wing but his low cross was swept away Vadocz. A neat move almost brought the opener for the Fir Parkers when Paterson, latching onto a Fitzpatrick pass, sent a dangerous cross along the six-yard box, which only just evaded McDonald and Clarkson. Clearing up inside his own box was Reynolds as the visitors attacked, sweeping a Brewster knockdown to safety. Soon after Reynolds again came to the rescue, a Severin ball in coming off the shin of Brewster and, before having time to react, the Motherwell defender knocked the ball behind. Considine then committed the first of many fouls throughout the match, David Clarkson being the recipient, though the free kick was wasted. Aberdeen then broke upfield from a Motherwell corner with Smith breaking, but good, solid defending saw the move break down with Reynolds doing the needful. The away fans rather prematurely celebrated the opening goal when Brewster, quite clearly shoving Paterson, forced the Motherwell man to knock the ball into his own net, Referee McDonald correctly judging it a foul without the need of any advice. Good play from Brian Kerr and Kevin McBride saw the latter win another corner, but the visiting defence held firm. Referee McDonald, who had upset all in claret and amber after a calamitous display at Tannadice just three days previously, further enraged the Fir Park support when gave Anderson a free kick when he appeared to be quite clearly fouling Clarkson. Aberdeen attacked with Brewster setting up Clark, but he failed to control on the edge of the box allowing Paterson to hook the ball away. Murphy and McDonald combined some 18 yards out but the shot was high and wide. Considine again took Clarkson out of the play though the free kick was cleared. Aberdeen were forced into a change when Touzani made way for Diamond. Smith burst down the wing for Aberdeen and, beating Paterson, cut inside but saw Clarkson block at the expense of a corner. Smith came to punch clear but it took two attempts before he succeeded. Brewster was lucky not to be booked when he rather unnecessarily carried through on Smith in goals. Solid defending from Danny Murphy prevented a Hart ball reaching Brewster, though just a minute later the visiting team took the lead with a goal which summed up Motherwell’s fortunes of late. A Considine long ball was knocked-down by Brewster and Fitzpatrick, attempting to clear, saw the ball come off his outstretched foot and loop over Smith and into the net. Murphy won a foul immediately from kick off when Diamond fouled, but again it was a poor take. Paterson ran onto a McBride cross and found Clarkson but the effort was knocked behind. A slip from the normally reliable Reynolds allowed Clark to set up Smith but his namesake made a terrific block to keep the score at the one behind. The visitors claimed penalty when a cross from Smith looked to have struck the arm of Paterson though an award would have been harsh indeed. Slack defending allowed Brewster a free header running onto a Foster cross but Reynolds cleared the danger. Craigan then denied Lovell getting a shot in just before the break.

Half Time     Motherwell  0     Aberdeen  1

The Fir Parkers began the half in positive mood, determined to draw level early. Vadocz and McBride connected but as the Hungarian chased the ball to the by line with Diamond he was adjudged to have fouled the Aberdeen man. Paterson soon joined the attack and his ball to McDonald saw the Aussie twist and turn before sending a fierce shot into the side netting. Last-ditch defending from Hart denied McDonald a certain goal when a flick from McBride entered the danger area soon after. McDonald was well onside moments later as he raced onto a Paterson ball but a wrong call from the Linesman, Motherwell having their unfair share of these recently, stopped him in his tracks. Aberdeen broke out of defence to win a corner though Kerr was there to clear the lines. Graeme Smith got down well to hold a low Hart ball in after he’d beaten Murphy. The Linesman on the East Stand side of the ground was really beginning to test the patience of all in claret and amber as he once again called McDonald wrongly off-side, made more galling as it was an Aberdeen defender who had inadvertently directed the ball back. Good pressing from Jim Paterson won Motherwell a corner but Fitzpatrick’s header on was cleared. McBride returned the ball and the knockdown only just evaded McDonald with Anderson making a goal-saving tackle. Hart saw yellow for a crude tackle on Murphy. And just a minute later only the width of the post kept Motherwell from equalising. Fantastic play from McDonald set up Vadocz and his clever turn and shot struck the inside of the left-hand post before agonisingly zipping across goal and away. Motherwell pressed again and only a superb Considine clearance prevented Fitzpatrick at least testing Langfield. Another visiting change had Lovell make way for Mackie. McDonald was a constant threat all night but as he turned Diamond the Aberdeen man got lucky and was given a soft free kick. Motherwell freshened things up by replacing Clarkson with Keegan. After McDonald had forced yet another corner Langfield dropped but, in keeping with the run of bad luck for Motherwell, he was able to gather. Keegan tried to make headway but he was clearly taken out of the play by Considine who, incredibly, was allowed to play on. A rare foray upfield for Aberdeen saw Smith shoot from outside the box though Smith in goals dealt comfortably with the shot. It was the turn of the Motherwell keeper to get a tad fortunate when he fumbled a cross but was able to clutch before anyone nicked in. A second visiting player saw yellow when Foster was carded after diving over the leg of Craigan on the edge of the box. Keegan raced onto a through ball but he chose to slide in on it and this allowed Langfield time to clear. The hard-working McBride was then taken off as Motherwell brought on Molloy. Considine committed another in his long line of fouls, this time Keegan going down, and he managed to get on the end of the free kick but his header was held. Aberdeen then took off Brewster in place of Miller. A Foster long ball was headed goalwards by Miller though it failed to trouble Smith. With two minutes to go Langfield in the visiting goal made an outstanding block to deny McDonald as the striker turned on a Keegan header. Murphy sent a deep cross in which Diamond rather fortuitously found Langfield with. As so often happens, the visitors took the points on the break, Foster gathering some 30 yards out before unleashing an unstoppable drive beyond Smith.

Full Time     Motherwell  0     Aberdeen  2

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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