Aberdeen 4 - 1 Motherwell

Aberdeen got here from behind to beat Motherwell 4-1 and and safe a top-six place within the Scottish Premiership.

Jimmy Thelin’s males began brightly solely to fall behind to a Callum Slattery header, however they turned the sport round in an entertaining first half at Pittodrie due to targets from Alfie Dorrington and Leighton Clarkson.

In-form striker Kevin Nisbet netted a second-half brace to present the Dons a well-earned win.

Lacking goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov by way of harm, the Dons made three modifications from their draw with St Johnstone earlier than the worldwide break, whereas Nicely confirmed two alterations from their tie with St Mirren.

The Dons began strongly, with Jeppe Okkels selecting out the run of Topi Keskinen after simply two minutes, however the Finnish winger might solely flash his effort extensive of the close to publish.

The guests had barely ventured ahead within the opening 5 minutes, so it got here as a shock once they took the lead.

Harry Paton stood the ball up for Slattery to move house the opener by way of the underside of the bar.

However that blow appeared to spur Aberdeen on they usually had been quickly stage.

Ellery Balcombe within the Motherwell aim denied Keskinen and from the ensuing nook the Steelmen couldn’t totally clear.

The ball fell to on-loan Tottenham defender Dorrington, who fired house from simply inside the world by way of a deflection off Andy Halliday.

The Dons continued to press, with Balcombe turning a Nisbet effort across the publish earlier than denying the Scotland man once more only a minute later.

Motherwell misplaced defender Liam Gordon to harm halfway by way of the half, changed by Kofi Balmer, and the sport settled a little bit.

Nonetheless, the house aspect nonetheless seemed the extra full of life and Clarkson noticed his whipped ball in from the left evade Pape Habib Gueye however virtually sneak in on the again publish, Balcombe throwing himself throughout aim late to show it behind.

A brief nook routine adopted, with Clarkson this time whipping a shot goalwards, throughout the helpless ‘keeper and contained in the far publish from 20 yards.

And Aberdeen might have been additional forward by the interval as Okkels picked up on a Nisbet flick earlier than seeing a low shot crushed away by Balcombe.

The Dons remained on prime after the break, with Clarkson and Ante Palaversa having pictures blocked quickly after the restart.

Motherwell might have discovered a leveller when Slattery’s intelligent through-ball put Tom Sparrow by way of, however his effort flashed throughout the face of aim.

Again on the different finish Balcombe held effectively from Gueye as Aberdeen sought a 3rd and it lastly arrived after 77 minutes.

Full-back Alexander Jensen swung over a pleasant cross from the suitable and Nisbet rose to energy house a back-post header.

And the Scotland man fired house a stoppage-time strike from distance, the ball entering into off the underside of the bar, to finish an emphatic win for Aberdeen.

What the managers mentioned…

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin mentioned: “It was a very good efficiency, however crucial factor for me is the standard within the squad is rising and we now have wholesome competitors.

“The gamers are taking extra accountability now when it comes to conserving the stability of the staff and exhibiting their high quality when required.

“I used to be actually proud of how we responded to shedding the aim. The response was actually sturdy with no stress and we did the issues we needed to do, with perception.

“We confirmed our supporters what we wish to be when it comes to urgent and transitions. I favored what I noticed at this time.”

Motherwell boss Michael Wimmer mentioned: “I believe we began effectively, the vitality was good after the whistle and we scored, however then we misplaced out to Aberdeen on possession.

“Aberdeen had been higher and for us I believe it was luck to solely be 2-1 down at half-time.

“We spoke about this at half-time, that we’d like extra possession and composure. If we win the ball we have to maintain the ball and I believe we did that actually for 20 minutes. We had a number of possession after half-time, we had two probabilities.

“(At) 3-1 (that) was it for us and I used to be not completely happy after that, I had the sensation that after 3-1 we gave up. The areas between the traces had been an excessive amount of and the response to errors was not OK.

“It is going to be a giant studying for us, we’ll converse concerning the final quarter-hour, however for me Aberdeen had been an excellent staff.”