The Dons returned to action following the international break against a Motherwell side riding high in second place in the league and it turned out to be a thoroughly disappointing afternoon with very few chances created

. The Steelmen took the lead in 6 minutes thanks to Michael Higdon but Scott Vernon equalised soon after. After the break, Omar Daley struck the crucial blow that leaves the Dons second bottom of the Premier League for another week at least.

With Ryan Jack and Rory Fallon suspended, Dons boss Craig Brown made 2 changes to the side that was defeated in their last match at the end of October against Rangers. Mohammed Chalali started the game in place of Fallon and Scott Vernon also returned after injury, in place of Arnason in a 4-4-2 formation.

Motherwell started the brightest and they were rewarded early on when Michael Higdon’s effort flew in past David Gonzalez in 6 minutes. The Dons gave away a silly free kick way out on the left, almost at the corner flag. Tom Hateley whipped the ball in and Higdon stooped down to get his head on it. Although he did not make clean contact the ball still found a way into the net. A poor poor start from the Dons.

The Dons responded well though and had the better of the next few minutes with some neat passing interchanges and they managed to level the game in 9 minutes when good work down the left side gave Rob Milsom space and he crossed the ball sublimely for Scott Vernon to head into the back of the net, to the delight of the Red Army.

And Aberdeen continued to press without ever creating too much in the way of clear cut opportunities. Chris Clark had a shot from 25 yards out that went well over the cross bar while moments later Ricky Foster made a tremendous surge down the left flank but he was tackled before he could cross the ball. Darren Randolph was in all sorts of bother at the resultant corner but Rob Milsom shot wide of the post.

In 36 minutes, another mazy run by Foster down the left resulted in a free kick to the Dons. Captain Foster took the free kick himself but put the ball straight out of play while trying to catch the Motherwell defence out by playing it low round the defensive wall.

Another foul on Foster resulted in another quick free kick and yet again Randolph looked clumsy in the Motherwell goal under pressure- but Andrew Considine failed to connect properly with the ball and his half volley was eventually cleared by Shaun Hutchinson. Rob Milsom was last to have an effort at goal in the first half but his header went well over the bar.

Ht 1-1

The second half started pretty evenly with neither side really creating anything but it was not too long until Motherwell regained the lead.At one end, Rory McArdle crossed into the box and Mohammed Chalali thundered a header onto the cross bar but Motherwell broke away and when Omar Daley found himself with too much room just inside the box, he lashed the ball past Gonzalez into the back of the net. Poor defending yet again costing the home side with no one making a challenge on the Motherwell attacker.

Moments later the Steelmen nearly had a third goal laid on for them from McArdle’s loose pass but Rob Milsom made an excellent challenge to avert the danger. The Dons then created their only real chance of the second half when, after neat passing, Foster’s shot from just outside the box went wide of Randolph’s right hand post.

Neat passing from the Dons on 59 minutes resulted in Foster having a shot at goal which Randolph had to parry to his right.

Aberdeen made their first substitution of the afternoon on the hour mark when Peter Pawlett replaced Rory McArdle. This meant that Chris Clark moved to right back. Soon after another attacking move broke down just inside the box when Chalali misplaced his pass to Milsom and Motherwell cleared.

With the game becoming more and more bogged down in midfield Chalali did manage to find Clark on the right just outside the Motherwell box but Clark’s cross wasn’t met by anyone in a red shirt and the ball was once again cleared.

Foster’s foul on Chris Humphrey just outside the box gave Motherwell a chance to load the box but Steven Hammell went for goal and placed the ball miles past the post. The Dons then made further changes when Josh Magennis came on to replace Fraser Fyvie on 83 minutes and Darren Mackie replaced Mohammed Chalali on 86 minutes but to no avail.

The referee blew for full time to end a very frustrating afternoon for the Home supporters. In truth it was a poor game and Aberdeen now move on to a vital away match against Dunfermline Athletic, who sit just one place above the Dons in 10th place.