First half blitz sinks reds

This was not the preparation Aberdeen wanted ahead of their UEFA tie with Copenhagen. The Dons will be thankful it is a home tie as today saw them lose their fifth consecutive away match, shipping 15 goals in the process. The Dons slip back to sixth place just when they were looking to close on third spot. All the damage was done in the first half when Byrne conceded a penalty in the 8th minute. McCormack sent Langfield the wrong way and McGarry added a second four minutes later. Aberdeen came back into the game but McCormack added a third in injury time of the first half and it was game over for Aberdeen despite creating a string of chances in the second half.

The home side started well and probed at the Aberdeen defence in the early stages, but the back four held firm. Aberdeen threatened in the 5th minute with a high ball into the penalty area, which was cleared as Miller looked to get on to the end of the cross. A minute later Lovell had a wild effort from 25yards out but placed the ball perfectly into row Z. Richie Byrne then conceded a penalty kick in the 7th minute when he brought Hughes down with an ill advised challenge and McCormack sent Langfield the wrong way to put Motherwell ahead.

Aberdeen were stung into action and pressed forward to try and pull the goal back, but they were almost caught out in the 10th minute when McCormack rounded Langfield and fired the ball into the side netting. Aberdeen were in serious trouble two minutes later when a Motherwell throw in found Quinn and his cross found McGarry at the far post and his diving header gave Langfield no chance. Lovell and Clark had efforts in the 15th minute but the first was blocked and the keeper easily held the second effort.

A minute later Motherwell won the first corner of the match as they kept the pressure on the Dons. Aberdeen then won their first corner in the 20th minute but it was a poor delivery from Nicholson and the danger was easily cleared. Miller should have scored a minute later when he was one-on-one with Smith but the keeper blocked well and Lovell headed the rebound over the bar. Byrne then fired wide in the 25th minute as the Dons started to take control of the match without finding the vital goal that would give them a lift.

A second corner followed a minute later but once again the ball was cleared but as it was fired back into the area Smith flapped at the ball and his namesake blew for some unseen infringement as the ball fell to Miller. Touzani then had to intervene as McCormack looked to pull the trigger at the other end. Motherwell went close again in the 32nd minute when they cut Aberdeen open and Hart was forced to scramble the ball clear. Hughes was shown the first yellow card in the 35th minute when he took Byrne out late but the Dons still couldn’t break down the well organised home defence.

Derek Young then picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Foster as the Dons day went from bad to worse. Foster failed to control a Hart cross in the final minute of the half and the ball went tamely out of play. Then in the dying seconds of the half Motherwell broke and McCormack rounded the keeper and scored a third from a tight angle. A Severin free kick was then swung in to the box but as it was headed back across goal it was comfortably cleared from the danger area.

Aberdeen made a change at the start as Aluko replaced Touzani but it was Motherwell who threatened first before Aluko won the first corner of the half in the 49th minute and Lovell was unlucky as he head flicked the ball inches over the bar. Byrne was lucky not to concede a second penalty two minutes later when he appeared to barge one of the Motherwell players off the ball. Diamond had to make two blocks to keep the home side out as the Dons were pushed back on to the back foot.

Aluko did well again in the 58th minute as he beat two men and swung in a cross but it was cleared by Reynolds. Seconds later Miller fired in a great shot but once again Smith made a terrific save. Aberdeen were piling on the pressure now but nothing appeared to be coming off as the home defence scrambled the ball clear. Another free kick on the hour mark was swung in but once again the ball was booted clear. The Dons were desperate for a goal to give them a sniff of a chance but nothing would break for them inside the Motherwell penalty area.

At the other end Clarkson fired wide before Aluko fired the ball across the goal only to find Miller in an offside position as he looked to turn the ball home. A corner in the 68th minute had Langfield fumbling for the ball and the effort was headed on to the roof of the net. Two minutes later the home side broke again and McCormack was close to clinching his hat trick as he chipped Langfield and watched in agony as the ball landed on the roof of the net. An Aluko free kick in the 72nd minute was comfortably saved by Smith then a minute later Severin squared the ball to Diamond who had a ‘Darcheville’ moment when he missed an open goal from five yards out.

Maguire replaced Severin in the 84th minute and seconds later a Clark shot was blocked and Foster’s follow up failed to find the target. Two minutes from time Maguire drilled a 30 yard shot inches over the bar and at the other end McCormack had a desperate attempt at securing his hat trick but the ball was well off target. Deep in injury time an Aluko corner eventually fell to Diamond but their luck was out as Smith stopped the ball in the line. Seconds later Maguire was unlucky with a fierce shot that went inches wide. It was a poor day at the office but Calderwood can at least take something from the second half performance.