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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Ben Banks

Motherwell 1 Aberdeen 1: Steelmen and Dons share spoils in cagey Fir Park battle

Motherwell and Aberdeen are still waiting for their first Premiership wins of 2022 after a 1-1 draw at Fir Park.

Kevin Van Veen almost had his fifth goal against the Dons this season after away goalkeeper Joe Lewis cannoned a clearance off him in the first half.

Vincente Besuijen put the ball into the net soon after for Aberdeen and Mark O'Hara was on hand to level for 'Well after half-time.

It was also a tale of two managers. 'Well boss Graham Alexander was serving the first of his two-game touchline ban while Jim Goodwin took charge of Aberdeen, just hours after being appointed boss.

The Steelmen are fifth while the Dons sit eighth.

Motherwell named an unchanged line-up after knocking Aberdeen out of the Scottish Cup last weekend, but the visitors made five alterations to the team held by St Johnstone on Tuesday night.

Stephen Glass was sacked as Pittodrie boss following last week's match between these teams and Goodwin arrived on matchday morning from St Mirren to pick this team.

Captain Scott Brown was injured, with winger Matty Kennedy and left-back Jack MacKenzie dropping to the bench. Ross McCrorie was fit to start after an ML1 knock last week and wing-back Adam Montgomery was also involved from the start.

Motherwell conceded after two minutes last week against the Dons and if it weren't for Liam Kelly they would have again. He got a strong hand to an excellent free-kick by Jonny Hayes.

A swift counter-attack on five minutes from Aberdeen almost brought a goal too and Kelly had to tip Calvin Ramsay's header over the bar.

A flurry of home chances followed. Liam Donnelly's good volley on nine minutes was too high and O'Hara's low drive led to confusion in the away backline and a fumble from Dons' keeper Lewis, danger eventually averted.

(SNS Group)

A moment of madness from Lewis then almost handed Van Veen the easies goal of his career. The stopper tried to clear the ball and was fortunate his attempt only rolled past the post after hitting the 'Well forward on 22 minutes.

Christian Ramirez had it in the net for Aberdeen - having scored in this fixture last week - but it was ruled out for offside on 31 minutes. They would soon find the net for real.

Montgomery got some room and got a cross into the box for his Dutch teammate who made no mistake with a finish.

Van Veen almost pulled one back before half-time with a terrific free-kick but he cracked the post. He had another chance on 54 minutes, denied by Lewis.

It hadn't been a half for the purists as long ball after long ball was shelled back and forth between the pair without much end product. Eventually, things turned.

A great piece of play from Kaiyne Woolery allowed Van Veen a shot at goal, which whole blocked, allowed O'Hara to follow in and score on 68 minutes. It perhaps wasn't merited, but Motherwell didn't care.

Crosses were floated into the box with not much luck and the Steelmen were battling another problem too, with talisman Van Veen playing on with a shoulder issue.

There were next to no attacking moves in the final quarter, never mind a shot that would trouble either goalkeeper but Connor Shields blazed a big chance over the Aberdeen bar on 86 minutes.

Motherwell XI: Kelly, Mugabi, Solholm (Lamie, 63), Ojala, Carroll, Goss, O'Hara, Donnelly, Shields, Efford (Woolery, 63), Van Veen.

Subs: Fox, O'Donnell, Slattery, Shaw, Cornelius, Tierney, Roberts.

Booked: Donnelly, Mugabi, Shields, Lamie.

Aberdeen XI: Lewis, Ramsay, Gallagher, Bates, Montgomery, McCrorie, Ferguson, Barron, Hayes, Besuijen, Ramirez.

Subs: Woods, MacKenzie, Emmanuel-Thomas, McGeouch, McLennan, Jenks, Ruth, Kennedy, Milne.

Booked: Gallagher, McCrorie, Ferguson.

Attendance: 5171

Referee: Nick Walsh

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