Unhappy Jim Goodwin has insisted Aberdeen's defeat to Motherwel l was a reality check. The Steelmen came up and did a job on their hosts in this five-goal Pittodrie thriller.
Goodwin accepted that his team made it too easy for Motherwell and told broadcast media their defending was below par. He told Sky Sports: "Some of the gaps along the back line were criminal, really."
The Aberdeen boss then said in his post-match press conference.: “This is a reality check for us. We’ve had it all our own way in recent home games and we have to find a way to break teams down. We just didn’t move the ball quickly enough today. Most teams are going to come here and hit us on the break. We didn’t move the ball quickly enough today and we played into Motherwell’s hands a lot. We have to learn from it.”
It now sees Aberdeen under Goodwin having won just three of their last 15 league games. The Dons chief reckons there were too many of his players who weren’t up to scratch and he also took his share of the blame.
He added: “We’ll take the criticism. There’s been a lot of plaudits recently. We had a great League Cup group stage, if you want, and had a good performance last weekend against St Mirren and got plenty pats on the back.
“Today we weren’t at it and too many had below par performances. It was as simple as that. You can afford to carry one or two and still get a result, but I just felt there were too many of it who weren’t at it, myself included.
“There were too many below par performances, but we just need to make sure we don’t have too many days like this. It’s not time for pushing the panic button or anything like that.”
Goodwin knew his team was slow to start and that set the tone. Even after they had gone 2-1 ahead. He acknowledged: “I just think we were really poor on the day and when you have performances like that you have to hold your hands up and say the best team won.
“We started extremely sloppily in terms of our possession, cheap turnovers, passing the ball out of the pitch. I think Motherwell fed off of it and it gave them a lift. We knew they’d sit off the game and try to hit us on the break which they did on a number of occasions.”
The Aberdeen support was frustrated by Motherwell’s time-wasting antics but Goodwin accepted it is part of the game. He admitted: “I’d have done the same. You’re winning and there’s not long left in the game. You do what you have to to win the game.
“Motherwell didn’t win the game because they were time- wasting. I thought their game plan was excellent and Steven Hammell’s approach was spot on. I’ve explained that to the players after the game.
Aberdeen had more bad luck on the injury front with Leighton Clarkson and Matty Kennedy both limping off. Goodwin explained: “We’ve not carried a lot of luck of late. Barron and Mackenzie have had injuries, Callum Roberts has a serious one.
“Coulson won’t be out too long. I haven’t spoken to the physio yet to discuss the diagnosis is for the two players but I’m hopeful it might just be cramp or fatigue.”
