Aberdeen vs Motherwell. Scottish Premiership.
PittodrieAttendance14,714.
Match report as Motherwell win five-goal thriller against Aberdeen at Pittodrie; Sky Sports is the only broadcaster showing live top-flight Scottish football, with up to 48 live games; free highlights available on our website and social media channels
Monday 15 August 2022 10:32, UK
Motherwell manager Steven Hammell insisted there is "a lot to work on" despite his side's impressive 3-2 comeback win at Aberdeen.
Hammell was catapulted into the hotseat after Graeme Alexander's departure on the eve of the league campaign kicking off and is already starting to make his mark at Fir Park.
Well had to come from behind at Pittodrie, with Blair Spittal's 20th-minute opener overturned by goals from Bojan Miovski and Jonny Hayes.
Callum Slattery quickly levelled, before Kevin van Veen netted the winner for the visitors, his fifth goal against the Dons since joining Well in the summer of 2021.
Hammell clearly has no intention of getting carried away by Well's promising start to the campaign.
He said: "I understand it'll be a wee bit up and down. We've taken six points from nine and it could have been seven but for the late goal against St Johnstone last week.
"Next week will be difficult again. It's a good start but that's all it is. We want to, and we need to, be better.
"There's a lot to work on, but it's a good start."
The visitors had the better of the opening stages as the Dons looked shaky in defence, and just three minutes in, Sean Goss' 20-yard strike had Kelle Roos at full stretch to punch over the bar.
The Dons should have been in front when Miovski took advantage of a Sondre Solholm slip to race in on goal from halfway, only to shoot over the bar with just Liam Kelly to beat.
But it was the Steelmen who took the lead as Connor Shields' low cross from the right was steered home by Spittal, with Dons skipper Anthony Stewart slipping as he tried to cut the ball out.
The home side lost Matty Kennedy to injury, leading to a debut for Shayden Morris.
Aberdeen drew level three minutes before the break as a superb Liam Scales cross from the left found Miovski, who stretched to head into the top-right corner.
And the Dons were in front barely a minute into the second half. Morris saw his deflected pass fall kindly for Jayden Richardson who cut back to the near post where Hayes, at the second attempt, fired past Kelly from close range.
The lead would be short-lived as Slattery tapped home at the back post after the home side completely failed to deal with a Goss corner from the right.
And the visitors were back in front three minutes later. Spittal was unlucky not to double his tally as he smashed an effort off the crossbar with Roos beaten all ends up, but Van Veen was on hand to head home the rebound from close range.
The game opened up as both sides turned to their benches, and Aberdeen even sent goalkeeper Roos up for a couple of corners deep into injury time, but Motherwell did enough to hold onto the point.
Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin admits the defeat was a reality check for his side after the plaudits they have taken in recent weeks.
"We've (had) it all our way in terms of the recent home games, the St Mirren game and the League Cup games," he said.
"We have to find a way to break the opposition down. Most teams are going to come here, be compact and try to hit us on the break, and we just didn't move the ball quick enough today.
"I thought we were really poor on the day, we started the game in the wrong way with cheap turnovers in possession and were very sloppy with some of our passing. I think Motherwell fed off that and that gave them a little bit of a lift.
"I can't stand here and dress it up in any way, we didn't play well enough. Motherwell's game plan was very good, very well executed and they deserved to win the game.
"I never felt comfortable all afternoon. Even when we went 2-1 in front, I didn't celebrate either goal too much because I just felt we looked a little bit disjointed in every department.
"Some of the gaps along the back line were criminal really and that's what led to the first two goals. We didn't anticipate the danger and didn't read the game well enough in key moments.
"I think the result and some of the other results in the league shows how competitive the Scottish Premiership is again this season, there are no easy games."
Motherwell are at home to Livingston in their next Scottish Premiership match on 20th August.
Aberdeen are away to St Johnstone the same day. Both games kick-off at 3pm.
