Aberdeen’s dismal winless run was prolonged to 10 matches after they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Fir Park.
Jimmy Thelin’s males have now misplaced their final 5 Premiership encounters and picked up simply three factors throughout a torrid run of outcomes which have all however extinguished the reminiscences of their surge to the highest of the desk throughout a sensational begin for the Swedish boss.
The hosts took the lead 11 minute earlier than half-time courtesy of Ewan Wilson’s first skilled objective, earlier than a disastrous 60 seconds simply earlier than the interval would show expensive for the Dons.
Slobodan Rubezic was despatched off after a conflict with Tony Watt, then straight from the restart, Tawanda Maswanhise drilled house to double Motherwell’s benefit.
The Dons have been improved within the second half, however have been unable to discover a method again into the match.
Each managers made 4 adjustments as they aimed to finish their respective winless runs.
Nick Walsh consulted VAR within the eighth minute after Davor Zdravkovski was punished for a late problem on Sivert Nilsen, although a yellow card was deemed an appropriate punishment for the North Macedonia worldwide.
The primary likelihood of notice got here for the guests when Kevin Nisbet headed over from Ante Palaversa’s nook.
Motherwell responded positively. Maswanhise examined Ross Doohan within the Aberdeen objective with a fizzing effort from the sting of the field, then Dan Casey spurned a superb likelihood when he headed large after he was picked out by Andy Halliday.
Motherwell’s Ewan Wilson celebrates opening the scoring
Many of the Dons’ menace was coming from set-piece conditions and Aston Oxborough was pressured into an excellent cease when Nicky Devlin rose highest to fulfill Palaversa’s nook.
Simply after the half-hour mark, a promising Nicely assault involving Maswanhise and Moses Ebiye ended with Watt delaying too lengthy earlier than pulling the set off – permitting Palaversa to get again and make the block.
The impasse was damaged within the thirty fourth minute. The away defence was opened up all too simply and Watt’s cutback fell to Wilson, who slammed the ball house.
As the sport moved in direction of half-time, a loopy 60 seconds would depart Aberdeen dealing with a mountain to climb.
Following a coming along with Watt, Rubezic was adjudged to have headbutted the Nicely man – receiving a straight purple card because of this.
Issues bought even worse for the guests when play resumed, a easy lengthy ball from Liam Gordon despatched Maswanhise in on objective and he made no mistake as he despatched an angled drive past Doohan.
Motherwell’s Tawanda Maswinhise (R) celebrates scoring to make it 2-0
Devlin got here agonisingly near dragging Aberdeen again into the sport when his goalbound effort was beautifully diverted behind by Gordon.
Time was operating out for the guests, a thunderous effort from Palaversa clattered the underside of the bar with 18 minutes left, although they might then survive an escape of their very own as Maswanhise’s shot skimmed simply large.
Stuart Kettlewell launched Callum Slattery late on for his first look in additional than a yr in the course of the closing levels, whereas skipper Paul McGinn additionally made his comeback from harm.
The ultimate likelihood of the sport fell to Sam Nicholson, who took a heavy contact as he raced by on objective.
