Aberdeen

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

The Dons came out of damp storage after three match postponements.

The return of Tony Docherty to the dugout saw some much needed experience, however it did not improve matters on the pitch.

It was not for the lack of trying, as chance after chance went begging for Aberdeen, and Motherwell, whose form is imperious at Fir Park, edged ahead through Elijah Just.

We had rung the changes pre-match with four debutants.

The lack of match sharpness and fitness was evident throughout. Well our games are coming quick and fast so hopefully the sharpness and fitness comes to the players.

Top-six hopes are as good as gone, we have to be careful not to sleepwalk into a relegation battle, with just eight points between ourselves and the play-off battle.

Could a cup run ignite some excitement? All eyes turn to Wednesday and our defence of the cup.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

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Aberdeen are set to open contract talks with Findlay Marshall, with the 19-year-old midfielder impressing on loan at Arbroath this season. (Daily Record), external

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Aberdeen interim boss Peter Leven insisted his side will keep pushing for the top six until it is "mathematically impossible" after their 2-0 loss to Motherwell.

The Dons are now 11 points outside the top six in the Scottish Premiership table, albeit with two games in hand.

Leven's side had more possession than Motherwell in the battle at Fir Park - not something that usually happens to the Steelmen under Jens Berthel Askou.

"I'm disappointed, the chances we created, we have to take them," Leven reflected.

"The first goal was a handball for me, I don't know why the referee's not given it straight away.

"It's frustrating, but I did see signs that were positive. There's not many teams come to Motherwell and have more possession.

"We'll keep battling until it's mathematically impossible, we'll keep going and see where it takes us."

Their push for the top half might not be helped with the upcoming fixture congestion, a run of games caused by a flurry of call-offs in the North East.

Up first is a Scottish Cup fifth round tie against Motherwell, in a repeat of Sunday afternoon's game. This time, it's at Pittodrie.

"It has to be a win on Wednesday evening, we're the holders," Leven said. "We need a big performance at home to try and progress."

Tony Docherty was in the away dugout at Fir Park after the former Dundee boss returned to Pittodrie in a move that Leven believes brings extra experience to his backroom team.

Leven added: "He's added experience, knowledge of the league and another person to bounce ideas off — he's been brilliant since he came in."

We asked you Aberdeen fans for your views on the 2-0 loss to Motherwell on Sunday afternoon at Fir Park. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Andy: Certainly a sharper and busier performance from Aberdeen, and Kevin Nisbet had some good touches. However, they are still a long way from a winning side and top six is now history.

Joe: A team of untested unknowns were selected to take on arguably the best footballing side in the league. If we couldn't get the quality players we've let go to perform, what chance do these new players stand? The split is all but determined now. Our season will be over all to soon and there's no signs that next season will be any different. It really is a dire situation.

Malky: Some Aberdeen fans should be drug tested at the earliest opportunity - to suggest we were unlucky or the scoreline flattered Motherwell is cause enough!

Motherwell spurned countless opportunities and could have scored four or five. As usual from this Aberdeen team, we were passive, second to everything and so, so easy to score against. Dave Cormack is clearly a passionate fan, and has Aberdeen's interest at heart, but nobody can deny it has been disaster after disaster regarding managerial appointments. The club is on a downward spiral.

Niall: Whilst there were glimmers of improvement, the lack of clinical finishing continues to haunt the Dons. Again, we were often dangerously exposed at the back. These two factors have plagued us all season. It's now looking like a top six finish is beyond us and little other than a scrap for survival in the league. Just not good enough.

Chris: More of the same. Expectations were raised by new additions but nothing has changed. I can see why the new manager won't start till next campaign. This season is gone, the best we can hope for is to stay up. Bottom six is our level. The faithful deserve much better.

Motherwell score in each half to defeat Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership (UK users only).

Motherwell kept their impressive home run going as Aberdeen spurned a host of missed chances as their search for a manager continues

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Interim Aberdeen boss Peter Leven was left regretting a series of missed chances at Fir Park as his side lost 2-0 to Motherwell on Sunday.

"I'm disappointed, the chances we created, we have to take them," he said.

"The first goal was a handball for me, I don't know why the referee's not given it straight away.

"It's frustrating, but I did see signs that were positive. There's not many teams come to Motherwell and have more possession.

"We'll keep battling until it's mathematically impossible, we'll keep going and see where it takes us.

"It has to be a win on Wednesday evening, we're the holders. We need a big performance at home to try and progress."

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Motherwell Lukas Fadinger drops out through suspension. Johnny Koutroumbis (calf), Callum Hendry and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain out.

Aberdeen are without the suspended Graeme Shinnie and Jack Milne, while Emmanuel Gyamfi just misses out with a muscle problem.

Mats Knoester (concussion), Kristers Tobers (knee) and Nick Suman (ankle) remain out.

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Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Sunday's trip to face Motherwell.

Here are the key lines:

• On Tony Docherty's return, Leven is "delighted" to have his experience in the backroom staff. "I spoke to him last night," he says. "He was buzzing, he said he never slept last night. He was excited to get going. He's something that I can lean on, bounce ideas off, and it will definitely help with the team."

• Leven says on-loan Rangers midfielder Lyall Cameron was "buzzing" to be reunited with Docherty, who helped him play his best football at Dundee. "He came in this morning and he was asking, 'where is he?' Obviously he's delighted because he worked under him and they had a good relationship, so that's good for him," Leven adds.

• After being out of action due to the weather forcing postponements, Aberdeen now face Motherwell in "huge" back-to-back games in the Premiership and Scottish Cup. Leven says: "Motherwell are a good team, but listen, we'll go with a gameplan on Sunday and we'll look to get the three points. And then again, the cup game is huge because we're the holders and it means a lot to us."

• The Dons made seven new signings in January but three postponements have meant most haven't seen game-time and the manager says they are "desperate to play" and "looking sharp, fast and ready to go".

• Gavin Molloy will be back in the squad for Sunday's game, while Emmanuel Gyamfi is still short of fitness. Graeme Shinnie and Jack Milne are suspended.

• Leven didn't directly confirm reports he is in place until the end of the season but did spell out his ambitions for the remainder of the campaign. "Top six is still possible," he says. "That's what we've got to aim for. The last time I took over, we went on a good unbeaten run, so I'm hoping to get that form back."

• He adds: "The players know me. They know I'm going to be here just now. But again, Tony coming in helps. The players know what I expect what I want from them, so nothing changes there."

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Former Aberdeen, Hibs and Dundee United midfielder Fraser Fyvie has announced his retirement at the age of 32.

Fyvie, a Scottish Cup winner with Hibs and FA Cup winner with Wigan Athletic, has been at Cove Rangers since 2019 and has League 2 and League 1 title medals in his time at the club.

However, he has decided to draw a line under his professional career after long spells in the treatment room.

Cove said "the cumulative impact of these injuries has made recovery after matches increasingly challenging".

Fyvie told the club's YouTube channel: "I've been mulling it over for the last six months due to getting injured again and doing my right knee.

"It's not something that's come as a quick decision, I've taken some time to think about it.

"I want to be able to walk off the pitch with my head held high and say I've given everything to this game - rather than being stretchered off and forced to stop."

The ex-Scotland Under-21 cap began his career at Aberdeen before making the move to Wigan in 2012, helping the Latics to FA Cup success in his debut season.

He returned north to join Hibs in 2015 and played in the 2016 Scottish Cup final triumph over Rangers, winning the Championship with the Easter Road side a year later.

He then spent two years as a Dundee United player before joining Cove.

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• Only bottom side Livingston (16) have conceded more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) than Aberdeen (12) in the Scottish Premiership this season. However, Motherwell have scored a league-low three goals from non-penalty set-plays.

• Aberdeen have won just one and lost six of their past eight league matches (D1), losing their latest five in a row away from home.

• Motherwell remain unbeaten in nine home league games (W7 D2), with their seven wins in this period as many as their previous 19 at Fir Park beforehand (W7 D6 L6).

• Aberdeen have only won one of their past four league games against Motherwell (D1 L2), after having won six of their previous seven versus the Steelmen prior (D1).

• Motherwell have won their past two home league meetings with Aberdeen, just one fewer than their previous 16 beforehand (W3 D3 L10).

Former Aberdeen striker Arild Stavrum on the "strange career" of Eirik Horneland and why the Norwegian would be a "fantastic fit" as the Dons' new manager.

Read more: Horneland intensity suits Aberdeen

Afeez Aremu, the 26-year-old midfielder who joined Aberdeen from Kaiserslautern last month, has revealed he knocked back offers from Belgium and Turkey to move to Pittodrie because he wants to win trophies. (Press & Journal), external

Former Aberdeen sporting director Steven Gunn says Eirik Horneland, who is in negotiations to be the Pittodrie club's new manager, has been on the Scottish Premiership club's radar for some time. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

In what has been a difficult season for Aberdeen they have achieved an unwanted hat-trick - it's now three postponed games in a row for the managerless Dons.

The call-off of tonight's Premiership encounter at Dundee United, because of a waterlogged pitch, follows back-to-back Pittodrie postponements after their Scottish Cup tie against Motherwell and league game with Celtic also fell foul of the weather.

It means Aberdeen will be facing a hectic schedule of games over the coming weeks and months as they play catch-up.

Given the struggles the Dons have experienced over the past few months, will the enforced break prove to be a positive or negative?

The run of games will undoubtedly test the squad but on the flip side, things have been so poor for Aberdeen this term that a bit of a mid-season reset might not be the worst thing.

It will also afford their late January signings a bit more time to settle in. So perhaps it is not all bad.

On the assumption Aberdeen appoint a manager sooner rather than later, the new man will be thrown in at the deep end as the games come thick and fast.

If that eventuality comes to pass the Dons fans will be hoping a new manager bounce, combined with a busy run of games, could be the catalyst for a much-needed run of positive results.

Norwegian Eirik Horneland - who has been in talks over the vacant Aberdeen manager's job - "feels he has some unfinished business in Europe". (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.