Aberdeen 3-3 Motherwell: Hosts rescue point after Neil Warnock admits system ‘disaster’

Aberdeen recovered from what manager Neil Warnock admitted was “a disaster” of a new system to rescue a dramatic draw from “a nightmare” 3-0 deficit against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

A swift double substitution from Warnock changed everything, with Duk scoring seconds after his introduction and Stefan Gartenmann slotting another before half-time.

Duk got his second and Aberdeen’s third just five minutes into the second half before both sides had goals ruled out with VAR assistance.

“It was a nightmare start,” Warnock admitted. “We went with a different system, which turned out to be a disaster.

“We lost silly goals, but all credit to the lads, they never let their heads drop. We made changes and got the goal straight away. At half-time, I thought we could win the game.”

Warnock was also unhappy with the offside decision that ruled out a potential Bojan Miovski winner, saying: “The VAR is ridiculous. You can’t tell me that’s offside. It’s not offside in a million years.”

Motherwell move up to seventh, while Aberdeen remain ninth, with both sides on 26 points.

Eyebrows were raised when Warnock named only three defenders – and one natural centre-half – in his starting XI and they came undone after only three minutes when Shayden Morris fouled Georgie Gent in the box.

Bair slammed the penalty home and tucked his second away with similar aplomb. Georgie Gent put in a fantastic cross into the corridor of uncertainty, where Bair waited to snaffle up the chance.

Aberdeen looked stunned and Stuart Kettlewell’s side took full advantage. Blair Spittal had a shot blocked on the edge of the area, only for Devine to ghost in and prod past goalkeeper Kelle Roos.

Warnock said he is willing to makes changes if things go wrong – and he was true to his word as Dante Polvara and Morris were hooked for Angus MacDonald and Duk.

Thirty seconds later, the latter had scored. From a throw on the right, Miovski found his strike partner and Duk took one touch to set himself, and tickled the ball past Liam Kelly with his second.

Pittodrie roared and, six minutes later, roared again. Connor Barron whipped in a brilliant cross that was flicked on at the front post. Goalkeeper Liam Kelly made a save, but it came straight to Gartenmann, who tucked home at the back post.

Aberdeen started the second half in the same vein and it did not take long for Duk to score. Graeme Shinnie swung a big cross in and Duk beat Devine in the air to nod in off the back post.

Both sides traded chances and Miovski had the ball in the back of the net after deflecting a cross in off his knee. He was flagged offside immediately, but the replay showed it was very tight.

It wasn’t the last time VAR Steven MacLean would get involved.

Motherwell thought they had pinched a winner when Harry Paton diverted home from close range after Aberdeen fluffed clearing a corner, but VAR saw a foul on Jamie McGrath in the build-up and the hosts were granted a reprieve.

Player of the Match – Georgie Gent

Well soft centre exposed as Warnock wizardry rescues draw – analysis

It looked for all the world that Motherwell were about to win away in the league for the first time since September.

They were at their very best, ripping apart an experimental Aberdeen XI.

Then Warnock intervened. His substitutions were perfect, strengthening Aberdeen’s core and attacking the weak Motherwell back-line.

At 3-1, it seemed inevitable Aberdeen would level and eventually they did. A winner? Somehow not.

A win for either would have put them seventh, a point behind Dundee. Both may come to regret not finding a final, fatal blow.

What they said

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: “When you’re three goals up at a place like Pittodrie, you need to go and see the game out. It doesn’t matter how many minutes are still to play in the game, when you’ve got that type of advantage, not just in the goals but in the general play, we’ve got to see it out.

“I thought there was too many moments when we became naive after Aberdeen made their changes to their system. It shouldn’t spook us.”

Aberdeen interim manager Neil Warnock: “That’s the first time you’ve seen one of my teams at 3-0 down. That’s how I like my teams to play, we’ve started now.

“They’re a good group of lads and they’ve set a standard now.”

What’s next?

Aberdeen host Hibernian on Saturday, while Motherwell visit Hearts (both 15:00 GMT).