Motherwell suffered 4-2 defeat to Aberdeen on Wednesday night at Fir Park.
Another poor first half cost ’Well dearly. Two down at the interval to goals from James McGrath and Nicky Devlin, there was no dramatic comeback on this occasion for Stuart Kettlewell’s men.
Even the introduction of Calum Butcher and Mika Biereth at the start of the second half failed to lift the Fir Parkers as they slumped to a miserable defeat.
Two quick goals from McGrath and Luis Duk midway through the second 45 settled any doubts where the points were heading. Theo Bair scored a with 12 minutes remaining and although Beireth claimed his third goal of the season in added on time, it did little to disguise ‘Well’s failings.
The crisp passing and swift attacks that have been the hallmark of their play this season was missing as the no-nonsense Dons defence was rarely threatened.
Reverting to their more familiar formation, ‘Well made two changes from Saturday. Lennon Miller resumed in the midfield after his one match suspension and, after coming off the bench and scoring against Ross County, Conor Wilkinson retained the role of leading the home attack.
After six minutes Bojan Miovski thought he had nipped between Bevis Mugabi and Paul McGinn as they headed towards the ‘Well penalty area but an outstretched toe from the Uganda international squeezed the ball safely back to Liam Kelly.
A couple of quick breaks from the Steelmen towards the visitor’s goal showed promise but too often a poor final ball left Kelle Roos untroubled.
Out of nothing Dons grabbed the lead after 26 minutes.
Nicky Devlin’s hopeful cross into the box should have posed little threat, But after Dan Casey missed it, McGrath nipped in behind Paul McGinn to stoop and calmly nod the ball past a bewildered Kelly.
And with the Fir Park men looking ragged and incapable of retaining possession, relieving the pressure around Kelly’s area, Barry Robson’s men grabbed a second goal minutes before the interval.
McGinn stepped across Miovski to prevent him getting a shot on goal but the ball broke favourably to Devlin who steered it low past Kelly to put the Dons firmly in the driving seat.
The second half was delayed and the players recalled from the pitch as referee Colin Steven required seven minutes to sort out his faulty communication system.
It gave Kettlewell some additional time to work out how the introduction of Butcher and Biereth, at the expense of Bevis Mugabi and Calum Slattery, could change ‘Well’s fortunes.
Butcher’s arrival and charged with shackling Miovski, momentarily tightened up the home rearguard. Although five minutes into his first game since May, the former Dundee United defender picked up a yellow card after using a hand to prevent the Dons striker breaking from the halfway line.
At the other end of the pitch Roos was largely inactive as the game approached the hour mark.
As the referee threatened to lose control of the game, Biereth picked up his first yellow card north of the border. More importantly the official’s inconsistent decisions, served to produce some response in the ‘Well players.
Wilkinson’s lobbed pass through the middle sent Biereth racing towards goal as Roos raced from his line to smother the ball for this first save of the game.
Any thoughts of a ‘Well comeback were erased after 68 minutes when Aberdeen grabbed a decisive third goal. A terrific tackle from Casey prevented Miovski from firing a shot on goal. But as the ball trundled back towards Kelly, McGrath nipped in to squeeze it beyond Butcher protecting the goal line.
Things got worse five minutes later when Duk got his head to Ryan Duncan’s corner to nod the ball past a stranded Kelly and make it 0-4.
Throwing caution to the wind Kettlewell added strikers Theo Bair and Oli Shaw to the action. And with 12 minutes remaining Bair pulled a goal back when his left foot shot from the edge of the box bounced past a diving Roos.
In added time, Biereth collected Harry Paton’s deep cross before sliding the ball across the Dons’ ‘keeper and put a better perspective on the scoreline.
Although the Steelmen showed a bit of fight until the final whistle it was too little, too late on a night to forget.
