By Ian Steven
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell backed referee Nick Walsh over the controversial red card dished out to Aberdeen defender Slobodan Rubezic in an incident that helped the Steelmen secure three points against their Grampian opponents at Fir Park.
The Montenegrin defender clashed with Tony Watt in front of the dug outs, appearing to push the on-loan Dundee United striker, leaving Kettewell assured of the accuracy of the referee’s decision.
“ It looked as if Rubezic jumps up and makes contact”, Kettlewell stated. “And I’ve actually just seen the television pictures there which kind of confirmed that as well, so, I don’t know that there’s much to contest there.
“I don’t think you’ll get away with that reaction. We had a straight red card to Dan Casey for nothing like that which was obviously rescinded. So, you can say it’s a break or whatever.
“When moving through the spell that we have done in the last number of weeks you’ll understand that I’m not going to speak too much about it.
“I’ll just let it go and I feel that it was probably justified. I think the referee’s probably got it right.”
Motherwell started the match far sharper than in recent fixtures, forcing the Dons onto the back foot, and Kettlewell admitted this was something his side had touched on in preparation for Aberdeen.
“ The absence of a performance against Hearts, was my biggest point that I wanted to address today and that was what the players wanted.
“It’s fine and well me saying that, but they were hurt a little bit. They were a bit sore from the performance just a few days ago. And I just felt that they gave us that today, right from the word go.
“I thought we looked as if we were in connection with everything that we were trying to do. And obviously we scored a couple of good goals.
“I addressed the bit where I think that we can certainly play better in the second half and we can make that a lot easier for ourselves.
“Take the threat of Aberdeen away, spend more time on the ball with more control. But the biggest part for me today was to get a reaction to look to get three points and with the added bonus of a clean sheet, which is great for us.”
Well heeded their manager’s instructions and had a great chance to open the scoring in the 18th minute as an Andy Halliday cross to the back post found an unmarked Dan Casey, but the big defender could only place his header wide of the upright.
Aberdeen marched straight up the other end and forced a fine reflex save from Aston Oxborough, displaying deft reflexes to parry a Nicky Devlin header.
Motherwell took the lead in 34 minutes as the Aberdeen defence were at sixes and sevens, allowing Tony Watt to find Ewan Wilson at the back post to fire high into the Aberdeen net – the first goal in Amber and Claret for the young defender.
Aberdeen were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half time as Watt tussled with Slobodan Rubezic. Referee Nick Walsh judged the Montenegrin international of being guilty of violent conduct by pushing Watt with two hands and was handed his marching orders.
Kettlewell’s men took advantage of their numerical superiority immediately as Tawanda Maswanhise breezed behind Angus MacDonald to get on the end of a long ball from Liam Gordon and fire past Ross Doohan.
More controversy ensued at half time as, Aberdeen coach Peter Leven and Motherwell coach Richard Foster were both shown a red card for an altercation.
Aberdeen elected to play without recognized central defenders after the interval, withdrawing Angus MacDonald and placing Sivert Nilsen and sub Donte Polvara in defence.
The bold tactic almost worked for Jimmy Thelin, with Leighton Clarkson stinging the crossbar with a fierce drive from outside the box as Motherwell struggled to create against their 10-man opposition.
MOTHERWELL: Oxborough, Kaleta, Casey, Gordon (McGinn, 86), Balmer, Wilson, Zdravkovski (Sparrow, 78), Halliday, Maswanhise (Nicholson, 78), Watt (Slattery, 86), Ebiye (Vale, 68)
Subs (not used): Hegyi (GK), O’Donnell, Blaney, Koutroumbis
Booked: Zdravkovski (8), Maswanhise (15)
ABERDEEN: Doohan, Devlin, MacDonald (Polvara, 46), Rubezic, MacKenzie (Morris, 72), Heltne-Nilsen, Shinnie, Keskinen (McGarry, 72), Palversa (Ambrose, 80), Duk, Nisbet (Clarkson, 46)
Subs (not used): Ritchie (GK), McGrath, Boyd, Enem
Sent off: Rubezic (42)
Booked: Palaversa (70), Shinnie (85)
Referee: Nick Walsh