Johnson stakes claim for spot
Striker’s brace fires‘well to emphatic Dons win
Ben Ramage
Striker Danny Johnson made the perfect case for a starting place after his excellent double helped seal three points for Motherwell.
Alongside another goal from Wishaw teenager David Turnbull, the former Gateshead striker struck twice to help down the Dons at Fir Park.
That win made it three from four for the Steelmen, and helped erase the pain of the hosts mauling at Ibrox before the international break.
And fired-up 25-year-old Johnson thanked the Aberdeen defence for an early Christmas present to help him open the scoring on Saturday.
“It’s a perfect response really following the Rangers defeat,” Johnson said.
“The first one was a Christmas present really from the defenders.
“I had a lot to do, waiting f or the defender to gamble.
“I bided my time to get that little chance to cut back inside and then finish it off.
“The second one I got inside the box and, like I’ve said - if I get the ball I’ll score the goals and I did.”
Johnson has had to bide his time with Curtis Main and Ryan Bowman gaffer Stephen Robinson’s preferred front two.
He has never thrown his toys out the pram though, instead focusing on taking his chance when it came. He said: “I’ve been working hard when I’m not playing. “A lot goes on behind the scenes that people don’t see. I’ve been working hard and being patient, waiting for my chance again and I’ve taken it. “For ourselves that’s us won three of the last four now so that’s a good turnaround from the start of the season and we’re moving up that table.” The game offered little in the way of excitement until the 25th minute when the Fir Park hitman nicked the opening goal. Niall Mcginn’s intended pass back found Johnson getting in front of Logan in the centre circle. The ‘Well striker held off the Dons defender all the way into the box before cutting inside and driving the ball beyond Lewis for a terrific solo effort. Four minutes later, ‘Well doubled their lead after Gael Bigirimana’s disguised free kick was pushed round the post by the Dons ‘keeper. From the resultant corner Lewis was beaten again. Bigirimana’s flag kick was nudged on by Main and from a couple of yards out Johnson nodded the ball high into the net to make it 2-0. Former Coltness High pupil Davidturnbull, still just 19, notched his third goal in four games for Motherwell.the midfielder is now a key player. Despite missing key players, Mbulu, Gillespie and Johnson all injected a freshness that fired on‘well. Following the massive Gers defeat, it’s hard to find any negatives for this gutsy performance.
The Dons’ only reply came six minutes from time in the half, when Max Lowe’s drive from 18 yards was pushed away by Gillespie at full stretch.
While a response was expected from the Dons in the second half, it was ‘Well who tied up the points with a third within 10 minutes of the restart.
Johnson was again at the heart of it and when his cut back deflected off Main, the ball fell kindly for Turnbull, who took a touch before drilling the ball into the corner of the net to claim his third goal in four games.
Motherwell took complete control of the game and could have added to their tally ten minutes from time. A sweeping move finished with Liam Grimshaw cutting in from the right and his 20-yard effort forced a full length save from Lewis to prevent a heavier defeat. Celtic Rangers Hearts Kilmarnock St Johnstone Aberdeen Hibernian Livingston MOTHERWELL Hamilton St Mirren Dundee PWDL 13 9 2 2 13 8 3 2 14 8 2 4 14 7 4 3 14 7 3 4 13 6 3 4 13 5 4 4 13 5 4 4 13 3 2 7 14 3 1 10 14 2 2 10 14 1 2 11 PTS 29 27 26 25 24 21 19 19 14 10 8 5
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