Aberdeen 0 - 0 Motherwell

Aberdeen   0 - 0   Motherwell

Charlie Mulgrew and Motherwell's Jamie Murphy battled out for a draw

Aberdeen and Motherwell played out a lively goalless draw in the Scottish Premier League with a share of chances for both sides.

Charlie Mulgrew could have opened the scoring for the Dons inside three minutes, but sent his effort wide.

Both sides had a clutch of penalty claims waved away by the referee.

Lucas Jutkiewicz failed to capitalise on at least two sterling opportunities for Motherwell as the sides settled in for a point apiece near the end.

Mark McGhee fielded the same 11 that won 3-0 at Hamilton last weekend as he came up against former club Motherwell for the first time since leaving Fir Park in the summer.

Aberdeen's Mark Kerr passed up an opportunity to open the scoring after three minutes when a Mulgrew free-kick was headed into his path, but the midfielder dragged his shot wide from 12 yards.

The travelling support were appealing for a penalty after 10 minutes when Jim O'Brien fell under pressure from a clumsy Jerel Ifil challenge but referee Chris Boyle waved play on.

A first-time pass from O'Brien then almost released Jamie Murphy but Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield gathered.

Aberdeen should have taken the lead after 18 minutes when Steven Hammell's cross found Jutkiewicz but the striker headed wide from six yards.

The hosts had a penalty claim of their own turned down after 27 minutes when keeper John Ruddy barged Darren Mackie over whilst trying to gather a Mulgrew cross but again the referee it waved away.

Sutton could have done better just before the break when he failed to hit the target with a free header from an O'Brien corner.

The Englishman again was on the end of a Ross Forbes free-kick on the stroke of half-time, but the Englishman couldn't keep his header under the crossbar.

Shortly after the restart, O'Brien fired in another tempting cross, but Sutton sent his effort wide of the mark.

With almost an hour played, Foster fired in a long range effort, but it went harmlessly over the bar.

Almost immediately, Forbes and Sutton both replied with good efforts at the other end, but both failed to hit the target.

With 20 minutes left to play, Mulgrew dragged the ball back on the edge of the Motherwell penalty area and curls in a superb shot, but sent it narrowly wide of the mark.

Murphy sped down the right before crossing for Jutkiewicz but his header was easily gathered by Langfield.

Motherwell had another let-off when claims for a penalty were dismissed after 65 minutes when Lee Miller appeared to collide with Stephen Craigan in the box.

The game picked up some pace in the final phase, as both sides chased a goal in the dying minutes, but it ended with a share of the spoils.

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Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee:

"I think 0-0 was about right. I think there was a bit of huff and puff. At one end we had Sone Aluko looking like he would be the one to make a breakthrough. At the other end you had Jim O'Brien doing the same.

"But neither really produced enough at the right moment to make it and turn something in a good area into a match-winning pass or a goal.

"I think 0-0 was okay. We defended well and they were asked some questions by the big boys up front, especially when Sutton came on.

"It was one of those games with a bit of a stalemate.

"Generally speaking, I was quite pleased. They worked hard and there was some decent play at times and we had our second clean sheet in a row, which is an improvement."

Motherwell manager Jim Gannon:

"It was a difficult game to analyse. It had so many different flows to it.

"The over-riding feeling in our changing room is disappointment. We had some chances to get the goal that could have won us the game, but we're disappointed that we didn't perform as well as we could do.

"On reflection, it's probably a fair result.

"The talking point will be the two penalty calls. I felt they were hard to call unless the referee is absolutely certain.

"Their's was definitely not a penalty, our player just shepherded him out of the way and for such a big strong lad to go down so easy, in my eyes is an attempt to deceive the referee.

"But I hope that's not the talking point - both teams had a right go to win the game, and I'm just surprised there wasn't so many clear-cut chances."

Live text and stats

 

Saturday, 29 August 2009

Scottish Premier

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Aberdeen	0 - 0	Motherwell	R
(HT 0 - 0)

Aberdeen

• 01 Langfield
• 02 Mulgrew
• 03 Foster
• 06 Considine
• 22 Ifil
• 25 Crawford yellow card (Paton 46)
• 08 Kerr
• 11 Aluko
• 34 Fyvie
• 09 Miller
• 10 Mackie (Grassi 66)

Substitutes

• 21 Nelson,
• 18 Grassi,
• 14 Young,
• 16 Duff,
• 07 Maguire,
• 24 Paton,
• 33 Hansson

Motherwell

• 21 Ruddy
• 03 Hammell (Sutton 31)
• 04 Reynolds
• 05 Craigan
• 43 Saunders
• 06 Coke
• 24 Hateley
• 09 Jutkiewicz (Jennings 69)
• 15 Murphy (McHugh 69)
• 17 O'Brien
• 27 Forbes

Substitutes

• 47 Kosiorowski,
• 29 Page,
• 08 Jennings,
• 14 Lasley,
• 11 Sutton,
• 18 McGarry,
• 35 McHugh

Ref: BoyleAtt: 11320

ABERDEEN

MOTHERWELL

Possession

• Aberdeen 55%
• Motherwell 45%

Shots on target

• Aberdeen 0
• Motherwell 1

Shots off target

• Aberdeen 3
• Motherwell 8

Corners

• Aberdeen 8
• Motherwell 4

Fouls

• Aberdeen 14
• Motherwell 8

• Final Result
• Full Time
• 90:00+3:29 The referee brings the game to a close.
• 88:55 The ball is swung over by Robert McHugh, John Sutton produces a header from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.
• 86:18 Lee Miller gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John Ruddy. John Ruddy takes the free kick.
• 80:40 Outswinging corner taken by Fraser Fyvie from the right by-line.
• 79:55 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew from the left by-line, Tom Hateley manages to make a clearance.
• 76:46 The assistant referee flags for offside against Lee Miller. John Ruddy takes the free kick.
• 76:23 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Fraser Fyvie from the left by-line.
• 75:47 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, Stephen Craigan manages to make a clearance.
• 70:52 Inswinging corner taken by Ross Forbes, save by Jamie Langfield.
• 68:23 Substitution Robert McHugh joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jamie Murphy.
• 68:23 Substitution Steve Jennings joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lukas Jutkiewicz.
• 67:54 Charlie Mulgrew has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
• 66:52 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lukas Jutkiewicz by Andrew Considine. Free kick taken by Ross Forbes.
• 65:21 Substitution Darren Mackie leaves the field to be replaced by Davide Grassi.
• 64:46 Unfair challenge on Lukas Jutkiewicz by Andrew Considine results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Giles Coke.
• 63:59 Giles Coke fouled by Darren Mackie, the ref awards a free kick. John Ruddy takes the direct free kick.
• 63:17 Inswinging corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
• 62:55 Foul by Giles Coke on Lee Miller, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.
• 59:05 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jim O'Brien from the left by-line, save by Jamie Langfield.
• 55:47 Jamie Murphy sends in a cross, John Sutton takes a shot. Comfortable save by Jamie Langfield.
• 55:06 Effort from just outside the area by Ross Forbes goes over the target.
• 54:28 Effort on goal by Richard Foster from long range goes harmlessly over the target.
• 53:56 Corner from left by-line taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
• 52:54 Corner taken short by Fraser Fyvie.
• 51:01 Lee Miller gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Craigan. Stephen Craigan restarts play with the free kick.
• 49:01 Fraser Fyvie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lukas Jutkiewicz. Stephen Craigan crosses the ball in from the free kick, Andrew Considine fouled by Jim O'Brien, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.
• 47:45 A cross is delivered by Jim O'Brien, Header by John Sutton from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
• 46:36 Corner taken by Ross Forbes from the right by-line, Mark Kerr makes a clearance.
• 45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
• 45:01 Substitution Michael Paton comes on in place of Jonathan Crawford.
• Half Time
• 45:00+1:06 The referee blows for half time.
• Correction - 43:56 Darren Mackie challenges Jim O'Brien unfairly and gives away a free kick. Cross/shot by Ross Forbes.
• 43:56 Darren Mackie concedes a free kick for a foul on Jim O'Brien. Ross Forbes crosses the ball, Close range header by Jim O'Brien goes over the crossbar.
• 42:21 Foul by Darren Mackie on Stephen Craigan, free kick awarded. John Ruddy restarts play with the free kick.
• 41:55 Steven Saunders challenges Lee Miller unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
• 40:05 Inswinging corner taken by Jim O'Brien, Header from deep inside the penalty area by John Sutton goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
• 38:50 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Miller on Mark Reynolds. Stephen Craigan takes the direct free kick.
• 36:08 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Mark Reynolds.
• 33:31 Free kick awarded for a foul by Giles Coke on Mark Kerr. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick.
• 30:15 Substitution John Sutton on for Stevie Hammell.
• 29:02 Charlie Mulgrew delivers the ball.
• 26:43 Stevie Hammell challenges Darren Mackie unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew from right wing, save made by John Ruddy.
• 25:53 Jamie Murphy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Considine. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.
• 23:39 Unfair challenge on Steven Saunders by Sone Aluko results in a free kick. John Ruddy restarts play with the free kick.
• 22:30 Lukas Jutkiewicz is caught offside. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.
• 21:40 Unfair challenge on Lee Miller by Mark Reynolds results in a free kick. Jerel Ifil restarts play with the free kick.
• 19:37 Stevie Hammell restarts play with the free kick.
• 19:37 Booking Jonathan Crawford goes into the referee's book.
• 19:31 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jonathan Crawford on Jim O'Brien.
• 17:46 Long range shot by Lukas Jutkiewicz goes over the target.
• 17:10 The ball is crossed by Stevie Hammell, Jim O'Brien has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.
• 13:11 Shot by Jim O'Brien from just outside the area goes over the net.
• 11:55 Jonathan Crawford concedes a free kick for a foul on Jim O'Brien. Jim O'Brien takes the free kick, The ball is sent over by Ross Forbes, Jerel Ifil manages to make a clearance.
• 7:35 Ross Forbes fouled by Richard Foster, the ref awards a free kick. Stevie Hammell takes the free kick.
• 3:13 Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Mackie on Mark Reynolds. Stephen Craigan takes the free kick.
• 2:10 Mark Kerr produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
• 1:35 Foul by Stevie Hammell on Sone Aluko, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Ross Forbes.
• 0:00 The referee gets the game underway.

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