Much Delayed, Much Replayed // Motherwell vs Aberdeen Preview

This feels like a game for which we've been waiting a while. A different competition, but once again the Aberdeen double hitter approaches.

Motherwell go into this game fresh from a last minute 1-1 draw against Rangers, and are still undefeated since December 27th (incidentally their last loss also coming against Rangers). A win for the Well could see us push within 4 points of Celtic and 5 from Rangers (results pending), as well as widening the gap above Falkirk and Hibernian to cement our spot in 4th.

Aberdeen, however, go into this game still without a manager, after Jimmy Thelin was sacked at the start of January. Peter Leven has been in interim charge ever since, with Tony Docherty arriving as an interim assistant just in time for the match at Fir Park. . Aberdeen's last match was a 3-0 loss to Kilmarnock on the 31st of January, and have since suffered numerous postponements since due to the weather battering the North East. Aberdeen need 3 points to try and close the gap on Falkirk in 6th, and try and put some breathing space between themselves and Dundee United in 8th and St Mirren in 9th, to avoid getting dragged into the basement battle.

The Well have the upper hand this season in this fixture. A 1-0 win in the Premier Sports cup, courtesy of RCC's long range screamer, was immediately followed by a 2-0 win at Fir Park following late goals from Johnny Koutroumbis and Apostolos Stamatelopolous. The next game saw us draw 1-1 at Pittodrie, as Elijah Just cancelled out Jesper Karlsonn's opener.

RCC celebrating his wonder goal that sent us to the Scottish League Cup Semi Final

At Fir Park, the sides have shared the spoils in head to heads, with 51 wins a piece from 144 games. However, the Well have scored more goals, with the Dons boasting a -7 GD from games at Fir Park.

Potential line-ups

The Well face a potential headache going into this game, with the suspension of Lukas Fadinger following his red card against Rangers. The headache in this scenario will be the fact that Elliot Watt is coming back from injury - and being phased back into first team action, we believe - following his substitution at half time on Wednesday night. Oscar Priestman has proven himself more than capable of stepping into the open spot, but if Watt is needed to be spared, how do we change? We've seen Slattery drop deep at points this season, as well as Just towards the end of the Rangers game.

Other than the potential headache, which could only become an issue as the game progresses, we don't believe there are any further issues to worry about. We have become accustomed to changes being made by JBA to keep the squad fresh, and the depth we have available means this is possible. Coupled with how well drilled the side are, some changes don't make much of a difference for us. It also means predicting the starting XI is...difficult.

As for the Dons, they have a new look squad to fully, and finally, showcase. The Dons haven't played since the closure of the January Transfer window, and have 7 new signings to show off. With 9 departures also, the squad truly is completely different to the last time we played.

Coming into the side: Lyall Cameron (Rangers), Liam Morrison (Queens Park Rangers), Toyosi Olusanya (Houston Dynamo), Per Kristian Bratveit (Stromsgodset), Afeez Aremu (Kaiserslauten), Tom McIntyre (Reading) and Dennis Geiger (TSG Hoffenheim).

Leaving Pittodrie: Vicente Besuijen (Emmen), Ester Sokler (Radnicki 1923), Kusini Yengi (Cerezo Osaka), Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland), Leighton Clarkson (Blackpool), Peter Ambrose (Diosgyori VTK) and Jesper Karlsonn (Bologna).

All go in the Granite City. So, with that being said...how will Aberdeen line-up?

Again, very hard to predict with the new signings coming in. Leven has stated that Emmanuel Gyamfi won't be involved in the squad, while Graeme Shinnie and Jack Milne are suspended. Gavin Molloy has been confirmed to be in the squad for the game. Mats Knoester will also be unavailable due to injury suffered against Kilmarnock.

How will the sides both play? The Well won't deviate as, why would they? The style hasn't changed, the press hasn't changed, and the onus will be on Aberdeen to stop us playing and cause us issues. Aberdeen caused the Well trouble at Pittodrie last time out from set pieces, and from getting us out wide on the counter. Jesper Karlsonn scored from just that, getting out wide, cutting inside and unleashing a venomous strike into the net from outside the box. He won't be in the return match however, as he returned to Bologna following his loan recall.

A tough one to predict for the Well, as we face a side full of changes, and fresh after not playing a game for 2 weeks. We go into this match with not much changing in how we will play, or indeed massively in personnel that will be used. A match that will be sure to whet the appetite for our cup clash in midweek, but the boys will be looking at one game at a time.

The boys celebrate as Stamatelopolous sealed a 2-0 win at Fir Park against the Dandie Dons

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