Elijah JustSNS

Elijah Just fires Motherwell in front as they extended their unbeaten run in 2026

At a glance

  • Just's first-half finish and a late McIntyre own goal seals win

  • Motherwell extend unbeaten run in 2026 to seven games

  • Nisbet and Olusanya both hit the post as Aberdeen fall to a fifth league loss since the turn of the year

Watch: Motherwell v Aberdeen - Sportscene highlights

15/02/26

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002rkl9/sportscene-premiership-highlights-202526-motherwell-v-aberdeen-highlights?seriesId=unsliced

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Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Fir Park

Motherwell extended their unbeaten Scottish Premiership run to six games with the Fir Park side still to suffer defeat this calendar year after victory over Aberdeen.

A thumping Elijah Just first-half effort and a Tom McIntyre own goal ensured a win which moves Jens Berthel Askou's side five points clear of fifth-placed Hibernian as their impressive campaign continues.

Aberdeen handed debuts to four recent signings and struck the woodwork twice as they suffered a second league loss in a row despite an improved second half.

They've now lost five times in the Premiership since the turn of the year with sixth-placed Falkirk 11 points clear having played two games more.

Motherwell's results and performances in this incredible campaign suggested a potentially tough day for Aberdeen.

For a spell, that's how it went. They traded early chances with captain Kevin Nisbet close for the visitors but Calum Ward tipped his shot onto the post.

The home side seized control. Stephen Welsh, the midweek hero against Rangers, pinged a pacy pass into Just who found incredible space.

He controlled it superbly and slammed a wonderful shot beyond debutant goalkeeper Per Kristian Bratveit.

Great chances followed with Ibrahim Said guilty of a particularly poor miss from close range.

After the break Aberdeen rallied. They may have conceded a second but ought to have netted at least once.

Liam Morrison placed a free diving header wide. Toyosi Olusanya volleyed off a post. Lyall Cameron then shot just wide before McIntyre unfortunately saw the ball cannon off him and home from close range.

Aberdeen's disappointing return this campaign continues as Motherwell held firm to deliver another excellent outcome and further cement their lofty league position.

Analysis: Motherwell see out fine win as Dons offer too little too late

Same old Motherwell. Fortess Fir Park. They just don't lose here. They barely lose goals here and didn't again.

What a season this is. You turn up expecting them to win and more often than not, they do.

They might have made this far more comfortable than they did having missed a number of glaring opportunities to add to their lead.

That opened the door to Aberdeen but, once again, Askou's side had the various elements that all knit together to make them a formidable side.

They stood firm when they had to, continued to create when possible and made sure they took another excellent win when under pressure.

There seems no ceiling to how far they can go this term with an opportunity to progress further in the Scottish Cup to follow midweek.

Aberdeen handed debuts to four new recruits but that freshness did not translate into a change in fortunes here.

They just cannot seem to find a way to consistently produce. A two-week break to regroup doesn't seem to have brought much of an extra dimension on this evidence, albeit they did markedly improve.

Defensively, they were exposed numerous times with Motherwell wasteful in some fabulous positions.

Up front, they rarely threatened in the first half other than Nisbet's strike which was close to an opener. That threat did increase but they weren't clinical at crucial moments.

Another tough test awaits in the cup midweek. If they have designs on a top-six place, they must start delivering Premiership wins with some regularity or that may soon be a bridge too far.

What they said

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "It could and maybe should have been under a lot more control at half-time than it was.

"I can't blame anyone for not trying to score that second goal, we invested a lot in that - at times maybe too much. We had to work as a team and individually to make sure the opposition don't score.

"Big praise for the subs to come on and make a big difference. That's what we need and have needed to be where we are.

"We have used most of the players in our squad and, now we're entering that final phase, we need everyone to be ready and to step up."

Aberdeen interim boss Peter Leven: "I'm disappointed, the chances we created, we have to take them.

"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."

What next?

The two sides meet again in the Scottish Cup at Pittodrie on Wednesday 18th February (19:45 GMT) looking to secure a quarter-final tie away to Dunfermline.

Player of the match

S. Welsh
8.57
57 S. Welsh
8.57
16 P. McGinn
8.46
21 E. Just
8.43
7 T. Sparrow
8.21
8 C. Slattery
8.20
15 E. Björgólfs­son
8.18
45 E. Longelo
8.14
18 T. Maswanhise
8.14
19 S. Nicholson
8.00
90 I. Said
7.92
20 E. Watt
7.79
25 O. Priestman
7.79
77 Regan Charles-Cook
7.79
2 S. O'Donnell
7.62
13 C. Ward
7.31
6 J. McGhee
7.25
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