Aberdeen vs Motherwell. Scottish Premiership.
PittodrieAttendance15,290.
Match report as Aberdeen draw 3-3 with Motherwell at Pittodrie; the visitors had led 3-0 thanks to Theo Bair's double and Adam Devine's strike; substitute Duk scored twice, with Stefan Gartenmann also on target for the hosts
Wednesday 14 February 2024 23:39, UK
Aberdeen substitute Duk hit a double as the Dons came from three goals down to claim a 3-3 draw against Motherwell in Neil Warnock's first league match at Pittodrie.
The visitors looked set to bounce back from their cup defeat by Morton as Theo Bair's double and Adam Devine's strike put them in a commanding position inside 26 minutes.
But Duk soon netted 30 seconds after coming on as part of a double substitution and the attacker levelled five minutes after the break after Stefan Gartenmann had pulled another goal back.
Both sides went on to have goals disallowed and both will no doubt be disappointed with a point, which leaves each of them three points outside the Premiership top six.
With Pascal Jensen dropping out through illness, Warnock started with three defenders - Gartenmann, Nicky Devlin and Jack MacKenzie.
His side looked vulnerable at the back and Motherwell were ahead inside five minutes after Shayden Morris clumsily brought down Georgie Gent inside the box. Bair hit the penalty into the roof of the net.
Aberdeen had their moments in the opening half hour. Bojan Miovski got in behind and forced a save from Liam Kelly, while Connor Barron and Morris threatened from outside the box.
But Motherwell came closer when Kelle Roos tipped Jack Vale's volley on to a post and stopped Bair's follow-up.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when Bair tapped home Gent's cross from five yards for his eighth goal in his last six league games.
They were three up and apparently cruising four minutes later when Devine marked his first start for the club by steering home Blair Spittal's blocked shot after some direct running from Harry Paton had left Aberdeen's back three exposed.
Boos rang round Pittodrie and Warnock started plotting changes which came on the half-hour mark as attacker Duk and centre-back Angus MacDonald came on for midfielders Dante Polvara and Morris.
Duk instantly made his mark, turning home after Motherwell had lost possession from their own throw-in deep in their half.
The deficit was further reduced in the 37th minute following Barron's inswinging corner. Devlin was allowed a free header and Gartenmann converted the rebound following Kelly's save.
The Dons continued to exploit Motherwell's vulnerability from set-pieces. Leighton Clarkson, twice, and MacDonald threatened before the equaliser came following a throw-in. Graeme Shinnie was allowed space to cross and Duk outmuscled Devine to head into the far corner.
Aberdeen thought they had completed the turnaround midway through the second half when Miovski bundled the ball home from close range. The striker was flagged offside and a lengthy VAR check confirmed the decision, although he
looked level to the naked eye.
Warnock's side kept knocking on the door and Gartenmann headed against the crossbar from another Barron inswinger.
Motherwell were struggling to retain possession long enough to relieve the pressure, but they were celebrating in the 80th minute after Paton turned the ball home after a corner led to a goalmouth scramble.
The home side claimed for at least one foul and referee Kevin Clancy disallowed the goal after seeing Calum Butcher push Jamie McGrath with two hands on his VAR monitor.
Aberdeen boss Neil Warnock:
"VAR, I don't believe it, me. He said VAR is a computer. I think it's the Horizon computer.
"You can't tell me that's offside. I've seen the lines. I don't believe it's offside. I don't know how they do it.
"I was thinking 'what times are the planes to Cornwall tomorrow', expecting a call on the bench from Dave.
"We lost Jensen this morning to an illness so we changed it and thought we could play that way but it showed we couldn't.
"All credit to the boys, at 3-0 a lot could have gone under but when we made the changes we enjoyed it and I enjoyed watching them."
Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell:
"There were a lot of contacts in the box and without question he has two hands on the back of his opponent but he didn't push him two or three yards.
"Was it an obvious error? He said it was but from two or three angles I've seen I don't think it was a contact that propelled him into his 'keeper.
"I felt it was a little soft and if you look at it so many times are we looking for something that isn't obviously there?
"There are three restarts in the game where if we are better then we win. It lets me focus on it and try to educate some of the younger guys."
Aberdeen are at home to Hibs on Saturday, while Motherwell travel to Hearts.
Both games kick off at 3pm.
