Aberdeen Motherwell should be a fixture that goes some way to deciding top rank in the SPL after Motherwell finished third ahead of Aberdeen in last season’s coronavirus hit campaign.
However the Steelman have had a disastrous start to the season sitting bottom of the league after losing four of their opening seven, whilst Aberdeen have managed to climb to fourth even after their forced two week absence due to covid violations at the beginning of August.
Aberdeen have shut up shop in impressive form
Aberdeen continue to build on some excellent early season form after they beat FK Viking 2-0 on Thursday evening. Ross McCrorie scored his second goal for the club and Ryan Hedges bagged another making him the current top goalscorer in the Europa League this season.
Aberdeen have won six on the bounce and four in the league keeping four clean sheets in a row.
They’ve let in two goals this season scored by Rangers’ Ryan Kent and Livingston’s Scott Pittman.
Pittman’s goal is the last for the Dons to concede in over 380 minutes of football. The striker scored a consolation goal in Livi’s 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen at Pittodrie on the 23rd of August.
Sluggish start from Motherwell
It’s taken Motherwell seven matches to record their first win of the season after a one-nil victory over St Johnstone at the weekend.
The Steelman’s slow start sees them rooted to the bottom of the league having lost four of the last seven, including a one-nil home loss to many people’s favourites for the drop Hamilton.
Compared to last season, where Motherwell finished third, the Steelmen picked up 1.5 points a game before the curtailing of the campaign due to coronavirus. This season Motherwell are currently picking up 0.7 points a game.
Motherwell recorded just under three losses in every seven games in the league last term. It’s four in the first seven this season.
Stephen Robinson does seem to be turning it around with his side’s form improving if you take into account the Europa League. In the first five games of the season Motherwell lost three and drew two, whilst their run in the last five is three wins and two losses.
Main History: Two goals from Curtis Main knocked Aberdeen out the Scottish Cup when the Dons faced the Steelmen at Hampden in the 2018 semi-finals.
Irish fortune: Niall McGinn has scored three goals in the Dons’ last two victories against Motherwell, both helping see Aberdeen to heavy wins; 3-1 and 3-0 in April and November last year.
Last match, Aberdeen 0-1 Motherwell (22/01/20): March’s match between the two sides was cancelled. Before that Motherwell were victorious, coming away from Pittodrie with a 1-0 win courtesy of Liam Donelly’s first-half injury time goal.
Prediction: 1-0 Aberdeen: The added steel of Ross McCrorie, whether shielding the back four or slotting into defence, gives Joe Lewis a great chance of continuing to keep his goalmouth shut.
Aberdeen v Motherwell, Sun 20th Sept, 3PM KO
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 