Jim Goodwin’s first game as Aberdeen manager ended in a 1-1 draw with Motherwell at Fir Park, after which he spoke to the press.

“It was always going to be a tough game against a very physical team. We got our noses in front and we should have had another one because the Ramirez one a couple of minutes earlier was onside. It was a poor goal to concede from our point of view to then go back to 1-1.

“All in all, I’ve got to be satisfied with the point if not overly pleased, because this football club expects to win games, that’s the bottom line. But considering the lack of preparation time I’ve had with the players, all the uncertainty that’s been around the club, the fact the boys couldn’t train yesterday with the weather up north, we can be satisfied with the point.

“We’ll never prepare as badly for a game as that again as long as I’m manager. I had the option to go and sit in the stand and let somebody else take the team, but that was never in my mind. As long as we got the deal done quick enough and we could get everything registered, I was adamant I was going to be in the dugout. It’s important that I was there alongside the players, making the decisions as the game went on. It’s not in my make up to do anything else.

“Going forward, my mindset is very positive. I’ve not inherited a team that’s languishing at the bottom, we’re in touching distance of fourth place. A win today would have been great because we’d have gone level with Motherwell, but it wasn’t to be.

“We have a very good squad of players, there’s good energy from the young lads, good experience as well. I asked them to show me they have the commitment and desire to play for Aberdeen, and they did. There’s a lot of things to improve on, but that will come. Considering the lack of preparation, I think a point today was a decent return and probably a fair result.

“It wasn’t a great spectacle, there was a pitch inspection at ten this morning, Motherwell did really well to get the game on, but it looks as if the grass hasn’t been cut in a week because the groundsman couldn’t get on it. It didn’t allow for a lot of football, but it’s a point on the board and a step in the right direction.

“The first job in hand is to get back to the right end of the table. The level of investment made on the playing side, the infrastructure, it demands that. I’m excited about going into Cormack Park to work on Monday and to have a real look around it. Everything is here for Aberdeen to be successful.

“I want my team to show the minimum commitment of 100% every time they go on the pitch, that is an absolute standard and then hopefully we ca have the quality to add to that to win games.

“We need to finish this season as strongly as we can, we’ve got work to do in the recruitment side of things to be ready for the summer. From there, we need to be in third position in the table as a minimum, and going a long way in the cup competitions. That’s what this club has done historically in recent times and it’s what I want to do as manager. I want to win, it’s as simple as that.”