Aberdeen 2 - Motherwell 1: Dons recover at long last

ADAM ROONEY made the most of some second-half Motherwell madness to keep Aberdeen right in the Premiership title race.

derek mcinnesGETTY

Derek McInnes was pleased with the result

The Dons cashed in two blunders from keeper George Long, with Rooney netting the winner – and his 24th goal of the season – to move the Pittodrie side to just three points behind Celtic.

It was hard work for Derek McInnes’ side as they fell behind to a Scott McDonald goal, but goals from Ash Taylor and Rooney in two second-half minutes was enough to turn this Pittodrie clash on its head.

But McInnes said: “This could be our most important three points.

“We’re now down to a 10-game season. If we can be as consistent as we have, we can finish the season strongly.

“Motherwell were the better team in the first half. We upped our game and were more aggressive. I couldn’t be more pleased with our performance.”

Aberdeen weren’t at their best as the struggling Steelmen failed to put added pressure on fellow relegation candidates St Mirren and Ross County.

Aberdeen were looking to bounce back after their title hopes took a major dent at Celtic Park – although they had been given hope as St Johnstone went on to shock Ronny Deila’s side.

Motherwell went with the same team that had taken four points from the last six to give their survival hopes a boost.

McInnes changed his Dons team, bringing back Ash Taylor and recalling keeper Jamie Langfield after Scott Brown’s blunder in the 4-0 loss to Celtic at the start of the month.

Lee Erwin tested Langfield with a right-footed strike from inside the box on seven minutes.

Ryan Jack also tried his luck from inside the area just 30 seconds later, only to see his effort slip wide.

The midfielder then struck a shot from outside the box on 10 minutes, but it was comfortably saved by Long.

Kenny McLean let fly with a long-range effort on 22 minutes that flew over.

But the Steelmen also started well and a Mark Reynolds mistake let Erwin in on 24 minutes. He fired at goal but his shot was well saved by Langfield as he came off his line, and then Taylor blocked Marvin Johnson’s follow-up.

Aberdeen’s game plan clearly wasn’t working, though – and McInnes replaced the dithering Donervon Daniels with Peter Pawlett on 35 minutes.

But the visitors hit the front in the 37th minute.

Erwin cut in from the left to fire in a shot that McDonald touched to guide the ball past Langfield and into the net.

The Dons had been flat but almost levelled four minutes later with the final attack of note in the first half.

Niall McGinn crossed from the right and McLean got his head on it but his effort was straight down the throat of a relieved Long.

The Dons came back out early for the second half and, levelled on 50 minutes.

McGinn’s corner from the left was met at the back post by Taylor, whose header forced a fine save from Long, but then inadvertently knocked the ball into his net as it fell loose.

Aberdeen then made the most of a horror mix-up between Louis Laing and Long just two minutes later.

Laing looked in control as he ushered the ball back to Long, but the keeper had come well off his line and the defender’s header flew past him for Rooney to slot the ball into the empty net for his easiest goal of the season

Motherwell had a lot of late pressure but it was Aberdeen who looked more like scoring as they held on for the points.

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