Motherwell 3 - 1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen started the match positively and carved out the first chance in the 2nd minute when Smith set up Crawford. He in turn tested Smith in the Motherwell goal with an 18-yard drive that was parried by the keeper. Aberdeen continued to dominate and won the first corner of the match in the 5th minute, which saw captain Russell Anderson head over. A minute later Dempsey carved the home defence open and found Steve Lovell. The striker picked out Smith and he hooked an effort wide of the target. After applying all the early pressure Motherwell grabbed the lead on their first venture forward when a McDonald effort was deflected past Langfield.

Aberdeen appeared unaffected by the setback and continued to knock the ball about confidently. Scott McDonald at the other end continued to cause the Dons problems and he set up Jim Hamilton in the 16th minute but the Dons defence managed to block the effort and concede their first corner. McDonald threatened again in the 20th minute when he created space inside the Dons box and fired over the bar. Aberdeen then broke a minute later and carved out a nice move that failed to produce the required finish. After starting so well Aberdeen were now a goal down and the home side were enjoying more of the play.

Then a minute later Langfield denied McDonald his hat trick when he turned a fierce shot round the post. Aberdeen were then dealt a further blow when Muirhead was stretchered off in the 38th minute and replaced by Darren Mackie. Langfield was in action again three minutes later as he had to turn a McCormack header over the bar with the Dons defence looking disorganised. Seconds later Foran fired wide then in the final minute Hamilton took advantage of a Dempsey error only to be denied by a brave challenge from Anderson.

Unfortunately the skipper picked up a nasty face knock in the process, but was able to return after treatment. Deep in injury time Aberdeen created a chance when Crawford headed a Lovell cross back across the goal only for Mackie to scoop it over the bar. Then in the closing seconds Langfield once again denied McDonald before Nicholson booted the ball away for another corner for the home side. It would now take a monumental change of fortune for the Dons to take anything from this match.

McDonald went close again in the 64th minute then he sclaffed an effort seconds later after another mistake from Anderson as the Dons continued to be outplayed in every department. Two minutes later Langfield made a great save from McLean as Motherwell continued to lay siege to the Dons goal. Stewart replaced Lovell in the 70th minute before Crawford fired an effort into the side netting. Two minutes later Chris Clark almost found the net. Unfortunately it was his own net as he sliced an effort over Langfield's bar.

Motherwell won a free kick on the edge of the box in the 79th minute but the effort from Kerr was poor allowing Langfield a simple catch. Another mistake two minutes later almost produced a fourth for Motherwell as McNaughton nearly turned the ball past Langfield. Three minutes from the end Dempsey tried from distance but the shot missed the target. In injury time Aberdeen grabbed a consolation goal when Stewart slotted home a Crawford cross.