Neil Warnock reflected on a rollercoaster of a game at Pittodrie as the Dons recovered from three goals down to secure a 3-3 draw with Motherwell.

“We lost Richard Jensen to illness this morning, so we changed the defensive shape. We thought we could play that way, but obviously we couldn’t. We won’t be playing a three with two full-backs either side of a centre-half again, put it that way.

“But all credit to the boys, at 3-0 a lot of teams could go under but when we made the changes, we looked like we enjoyed the game, they looked like one of my teams for the first time. I said at half-time that if they carried on like that, I’d be more than happy.

“I thought the fans were brilliant at 3-0 down, they did well to stick with us. Getting the first goal gave everybody a lift and making it 3-2 really gave us a chance. I said to be patient in the second half because like Cloughie used to say, it only takes a second to score a goal. You’ve got to keep going.

“At 3-0 down, I was expecting a call on the bench and to be checking the plane times back to Cornwall tomorrow! But the players gave me everything. The three midfield lads were outstanding, Bojan worked really hard without getting any chances, Jamie and Duk were super, Jack put some great crosses in, and we just looked stronger because we were enjoying it. That’s what we’ve got to do, enjoy it, and that’s what I’m looking for on Saturday.”

The Dons might have won the game but for Bojan Miovski’s disallowed goal. The manger was not in agreement with the VAR technology on that call.

“You can’t tell me Bojan’s goal was offside, I’m sorry. I’ve seen the lines and I don’t know how they decide it, but I don’t believe that’s offside in a million years. Apparently they do it with a computer. I think it’s the Horizon one from the Post Office!”

Neil Warnock also pointed to the difficulties players face in getting match sharp when they are not first team regulars.

“These lads don’t have a reserve team, they don’t get any minutes if they’re not in the first team, it’s impossible. You can’t ask lads to come in and play for the first team and hit their top level if they’ve not played for ages. I thought Angus struggled on Saturday but he was exceptional tonight for having that game behind him. You can train all day, but you have to get minutes in you to play at this level.

“Overall tonight, the effort they put in is the minimum requirement, that’s set the standard. We are thin in certain areas of the team, but we have to keep going and making the best of it. We have to start winning games, and hopefully that’ll be on Saturday.”