DONS ARE ALL AT SEA WITHOUT McKENNA
Lisbon looks daunting without McKenna as Steelmen stroll it
ABERDEEN face a Europa League date with destiny in Lisbon on Thursday night, but if they defend as badly as this again they won’t have even a Sporting chance.
Their illustrious Portuguese opponents have been forced to promote seven B-team players to their first-team squad just to make up the numbers after a Covid-19 outbreak.
However, there was precious little to trouble any spies watching footage of Derek McInnes’ side going 3-0 down to Motherwell on their own patch within 22 minutes.
The dismal Dons could not point to their exertions in beating Viking 2-0 in Norway on Thursday night as an excuse for their slow start.
Stephen Robinson’s Steelmen, that very same night, were taken to extra-time and penalties before eventually prevailing against Northern Irish side Coleraine.
Indeed, within a blistering opening eight minutes, the visitors were 2-0 up at Pittodrie courtesy of a Mark O’Hara penalty — after Marley Watkins’ handball — and a howler from Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis punished by Chris Long.
A third arrived courtesy of Bevis Mugabi, which torpedoed McInnes’ hopes of steering his side to seven consecutive victories.
The only Aberdeen defender to emerge with any credit was Scott McKenna, whose valuation rose after being left out of the squad to head south and seal a move to Nottingham Forest.
The Dons won’t know for sure if the Sporting tie will go ahead until the day of the game, following a decision between Portugal’s Director-General for Health and UEFA to test the Lisbon squad 48 hours and 24 hours ahead of kick-off.
That came after the club’s list of positive tests rose to 12 at the weekend — nine players, two coaches and manager Ruben Amorim. But McInnes could only focus on his own domestic worries yesterday as he prepares to say goodbye to McKenna.
‘The better players were in Motherwell shirts,’ nodded the Aberdeen boss.
‘When that happens and you make mistakes, the outcome is normally a sore one.
‘When we needed to defend we didn’t, losing three goals in 22 minutes.
‘The first goal was a bit of misfortune. There was not a lot Marley could do.
‘The second goal was an uncharacteristic mistake from big Joe Lewis.
‘The third goal was offside. It was neither here nor there in terms of the result but the referee and assistant have to be better.
‘But, when we didn’t get a goal, the heads went down and we played out the second half much like the end of the first.’ The Dons boss had made three changes from the side who plundered a fine victory over Viking Stavanger. In addition to the big news about McKenna being out of the squad, Tommie Hoban and Dylan McGeouch dropped to the bench. Ash Taylor, Funso Ojo and Niall McGinn were elevated to the starting line-up. Within the blink of an eye, however, Motherwell had taken the lead after Watkins was ruled to have handled a header by Mugabi. O’Hara took responsibility and scored emphatically, shooting low to the right as Lewis dived the other way. And it was 2-0 to the visitors just four minutes later, thanks to disastrous goalkeeping by Lewis. Taking a pass back from Taylor, the normally dependable Dons No1 scuffed his clearance straight at Long.
The Motherwell striker did not waste his big chance, advancing on goal before sending a clinical finish beyond the keeper.
Aberdeen had a mountain to climb — and there were still 82 minutes left. There was then a scare when Jonny Hayes collapsed to the deck but the Dons winger was fine to continue after treatment from the physio.
That relief for the home side was short-lived as Motherwell went 3-0 ahead. Liam Polworth floated a corner in and Mugabi rose highest to head past Lewis.
Long then had the ball in the net again after racing in on goal but the offside flag stopped him making it 4-0 before half-time.
Aberdeen thought they had pulled a goal back when Watkins rose to meet a cross from Andy
Considine. But the ball cracked off the post, leaving the on-loan Bristol City attacker still searching for his first Dons goal.
It was no surprise to see McInnes make three changes at the break. Off went Taylor, Ojo and McGinn and on came Shay Logan, Hoban and on-loan Leeds United forward Ryan Edmondson, returning from an ankle injury.
Aberdeen were certainly better after the break. They could hardly have been worse. But a goal proved beyond them.
Afterwards, McInnes singled out Motherwell’s outstanding young midfielder Allan Campbell for special praise.
‘We had some good moments in the game,’ insisted the Dons boss.
‘Jonny Hayes put in a great ball that was begging to be finished, and Marley should have scored from the header.
‘But the third Motherwell goal was a dagger in the heart because,
Even at 2-0, you have a far better opportunity and maybe the players believe more. ‘All we demanded at half-time was to win the second half — and if we had got an early goal, then you never know. ‘But Allan Campbell came up here and he plays to win three points. He encapsulated Motherwell’s our needed team more today.’ Allan performance. Campbells We in