Last-gasp McGinn seals win for Dons
THREE weeks ago, Aberdeen were in seventh heaven after routing Motherwell.
Yesterday, they had to make do with a trip to one-derland.
Niall McGinn’s injury time strike earned the Dons their eighth home win on the spin for the first time since 1986.
The Northern Irishman struck at the end of a game the Reds dominated.
But after turning in a determined defensive display, Motherwell were left cursing their hosts’ persistence. The managerless Steelmen were on course to record their first clean sheet since December 10 until McGinn’s late show.
And interim boss Stephen Robinson, who is set for job talks with the Motherwell board tomorrow, did not shy away from revealing his shattered stars’ heartbreak.
“They are on their knees in the changing room but they have to deal with it,” he said.
“It’s a tough one to take. We matched Aberdeen for 92 minutes. Make no mistake, they’re a good side but you could see how frustrated they were.
“They changed their shape a couple of times and we came with a game plan to be hard to break down and hit them on the counter-attack.
“I can’t ask any more of the boys. They gave the club absolutely everything today.”
Both Robinson and Dons boss Derek McInnes opted to pack the midfield from the kick-off – and the result was a scrappy opening.
Adam Rooney flashed a header just over the bar for the Dons in the eighth minute.
Well defender Ben Heneghan then rose to head Carl McHugh’s launched free kick into the side netting.
It was blood and snotters stuff. McInnes decided enough was enough.
The Dons boss switched from a back three to his traditional back four before half-an-hour had passed. It completely changed the flow of the game.
Motherwell stopper Craig Samson saved his side’s bacon twice as the Dons took control.
First he made a miraculous leap to tip a looping Rooney deflection over the bar. Then, three minutes before the break, he denied McGinn from 18 yards with another terrific full-stretch stop.
The Dons continued to dominate into the second half.
Rooney came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock after Kenny McLean whipped in a dangerous bouncing cross from wide left, only to see his effort deflected past the post.
The home fans were growing frustrated with their team’ s inability to convert their chances – but the Dons players kept their heads. They kept chipping away at Well’s tiring back-line, too.
And, just when it seemed like Aberdeen’s day was done, up stepped McGinn to side-foot Jonny Hayes’ cut back past the previously unbeatable Samson.
Pittodrie assistant Tony Docherty was, predictably, delighted, and praised referee Euan Anderson for adding on five minutes of injury time.
“In football terms the team who deserved to win did win,” he said.
“The opposition were time wasting a lot so credit to the referee for adding on what he did at the end.
“It’s no surprise we got the goal as I know the desire of the players and their hunger for success this season.”