Dons’ delight as great Dane shows pedigree
Stefan Gartenmann’s headed winner moved Aberdeen above 10-man Motherwell into eighth place.
It also extended the Dons unbeaten league run to five games – their best in a calendar year.
Small consolation for them or the visitors, considering they have a combined tally of 17 wins in 68 games this season.
There was certainly little to console Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell yesterday, who thought they were hard done by with key decisions like Jack Vale’s 56th-minute red card and the goal that followed.
Quite what the striker was thinking launching into a reckless defensive challenge on Jack MacKenzie only he knows. What’s not in doubt is catching the left-back above the waist was certain to earn a red card.
Then when play resumed the player on loan from Midtjylland scored his third of the season, two against the Steelmen.
Aberdeen seemed destined to seize an early initiative as they pushed forward with pace and aggression.
They looked determined to build on the encouragement of taking Celtic all the way to penalties in last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
The trouble was that early promise ebbed away after failing to make the breakthrough.
Neither side could be faulted in terms of commitment but there was little coherent football during a first half lacking in quality.
Stephen O’Donnell did force Kelle Roos into a save after six minutes but the Dutchman was largely untroubled for the rest of the half.
The exception came in stoppage time when Georgie Gent whipped in a dangerous cross only for Blair Spittal to steer his header straight at the goalkeeper.
All Aberdeen’s efforts during a largely disjointed opening half came from long-range efforts. Junior Hoilett, Dante Polvara and MacKenzie all cleverly made space for powerful shots but none seriously troubled Liam Kelly.
However, MacKenzie did feature in the game’s turning point, although not in the manner the Dons defender would have preferred.
Vale went into a challenge that caught MacKenzie in the midrift and even a VAR check wasn’t going to overturn the red card, despite Motherwell’s strong protests.
Spittal was booked in the aftermath and, while MacKenzie carried on for a while after treatment, he eventually was replaced.
Then to make matters worse Kettlewell and his players hit the front immediately the dust settled.
The resulting free-kick was flashed towards the back post and seemed to take a nick off Gartenmann on the way out.
The officials awarded a corner and the Danish defender rose to head home Hoilett’s set-piece.
To be fair Aberdeen had been unlucky not to score earlier in an improved start to the second half.
Angus MacDonald stole forward only for a combination of Kelly and Lennon Miller on the line denying the stopper a goal.
Even then Leighton Clarkson’s follow-up needed another deflection to take the former Liverpool midfielder’s drive wide.
The only surprise from Vale’s dismissal until the end was that the home side failed to add to their tally as Motherwell lost all shape and composure.