Motherwell 0 - 2 Aberdeen

A Marc Fitzpatrick own goal told the story of a largely self-inflicted defeat for a Motherwell side who can no longer harbour ambitions of scraping their way into the top six before the split. By the time Maurice Malpas' side came out to play, they had already been complicit in their own demise and watched their hopes of infiltrating the elite end of the table evaporate when Ricky Foster's 30-yard drive flew into the net.

Jimmy Calderwood will now plot a rare win against Rangers, one that would take Aberdeen to within a point of second in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague and unfathomably close to Champions League football. To do so, they will require to sustain the surging form of the first half that disappeared almost as unexpectedly as their opponents invigorated themselves.

Motherwell had to dip into their reservoir of reserves as Paul Quinn's suspension, coupled with injuries to Brian McLean, Keith Lasley and Martin Corrigan, left Maurice Malpas scratching for defensive reinforcements. Jim Paterson's versatility was reaffirmed when he deputised at right back, thereby earning the distinction of filling every outfield gap in a needs-must season.

Calderwood will be deprived of Barry Nicholson's verve for the next six weeks after the midfielder fractured a shoulder blade. He was replaced by Karim Touzani, who formed part of a back three designed to upholster the midfield for an unpretentious struggle. The Moroccan lasted a mere 25 minutes, though, before being replaced by Zander Diamond. Given Motherwell's suffocation, the cause of such an early replacement was injury and not ineptitude.

The hosts offered little in the way of endeavour and, indeed, David Clarkson's only noteworthy involvement of the first half was to sweep a Chris Clark drive off his own line after eight minutes. Desperate defending was a recurring theme. Craig Brewster, still fighting fit at 40, outmuscled Paterson at the back post when they contested a teasing cross from Michael Hart but, having bundled the ball home in off the defender, the referee curtailed Brewster's celebrations by blowing for excessive force.

Where Paterson had a lucky escape, Fitzpatrick enjoyed no such fortune. After a half-hour of excruciating entertainment - the kind that made Comic Relief Does Fame Academy look more appealing than Setanta Sport - Aberdeen were rewarded for their superior work rate. The concession was an affront to manager Malpas, a past master in the art of defending.

Having allowed Aberdeen to deliver a speculative long ball without contest, Brewster's glancing header towards Jamie Smith was intercepted by Fitzpatrick. The midfielder's awkward clearance was scooped over his own head and, fatally, beyond the reach of his goalkeeper, Graeme Smith.

Even Motherwell's outbreaks of attentiveness got them into trouble. Within five minutes of arrears, Smith spared them from a double deficit. Clark's diagonal cross was stopped by Mark Reynolds but the ball trundled straight to Jamie Smith, whose meaty strike was foiled by his goalkeeping namesake.

Some choice encouragement from Malpas during the interval awakened Motherwell from their slumber. Scott McDonald, a frustrated bystander for much of the first half, recorded a shot on goal from an improbable angle to kick-start the second half. His predatory instincts were thwarted moments later when Hart intervened in the nick of time.

Aberdeen were taken aback by Motherwell's dramatic rejuvenation. They had Russell Anderson, their captain, to thank for preserving their advantage. Clarkson's knock-down was gobbled-up by McDonald but his goal-bound lash was diverted inches over the bar by the defender.

McDonald, by now, was in inspirational form and single-handedly dragged Motherwell out of mediocrity. He spun and slithered his way into space and slipped a pass to the hitherto anonymous Kristian Vadocz that the Hungarian internationalist smacked off a post. McDonald was denied by Smith near the end and Foster struck the fatal blow with a full-bodied drive from 30 yards in added-on time.