McDonald and Moult may grab the headlines with their goals but Ripley’s fine display between the sticks was just as important. It was a stunning come-from-behind triumph to stretch our winning streak to four and moves us up to fifth in the table.
Injuries and illness forced the manager to make three changes as Kennedy, Leitch and Gomis stood in for Hall, Lasley and Pearson. Aberdeen kicked off facing the Cooper Stand end and few could have forecast what would happen in the ensuing 90 minutes.
The pattern of the game was soon established. Both defences were intent of clearing their lines rather than building play and much of the action remained in midfield where smothering tactics played their part.
Cadden reminded us of his pace with an 80 burst that switched defence into attack and he earned a corner for his effort. Moult connected to a Johnson cross but the ball was off target. A Kennedy free kick from halfway picked out Moult at the angle of the box and the striker collected the return from McDonald. A fierce shot followed and Brown was happy to see the ball strike the post.
It seemed that the teams would be level at the break but when the referee ignored a foul on Johnson in front of the dugouts the visitors took advantage. Hayes found his way into the box and Kennedy brought him down. McLean scored from the spot. Only a fine block by Ripley prevented a two goal deficit in the added time.
Cadden was replaced by Ainsworth early in the second half buy Aberdeen had already wasted a fine opportunity when jack missed an easy target.
Our ‘keeper produced his best save of the game when McLean unloaded a ferocious long range shot shortly before the explosive final 20 minutes.
A Motherwell attack resulted in the ball bobbing around Brown’s six yard box but it ended when McDonald beaded over the ‘keeper to level the game. The home crowd rose to back the team and within two minutes we were ahead.
Uncertainty in defence allowed Moult a touch to a bouncing ball and our top scorer was able to lob Brown to give us an unexpected lead. In the blink of an eye we were in control and Aberdeen had to react. Robson was sent on to recover the game but he hadn’t broken sweat before he was ordered off. A raised elbow had blocked McDonald’s run and referee Robinson had no hesitation in producing the red card.
With the crowd in full voice we saw the game out with no late slip up. A well earned break now awaits and with two games left before the split the target has to be securing a top half berth for the final five games.
Motherwell 2 Aberdeen 1
Attendance 6,251 (2,489)
Team: Ripley, Hammell, McManus, Kennedy, law, Johnson, Leitch, Gomis, Cadden (Ainsworth 48), McDonald, Moult (Fletcher 86)