Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes said last night’s 2-1 victory against Motherwell may prove to be their most important of the season.
The Dons were trailing at the break to a Scott McDonald goal but managed to hit back with to two quickfire strikes within seven minutes of the restart to keep their Scottish Premiership title aspirations alive.
Motherwell goalkeeper George Long bundled the ball into his own net while attempting to keep out an Ash Taylor header before Adam Rooney netted his 24th goal of the season to win the match for the Dons.
The victory leaves McInnes’ Reds now only three points behind leaders Celtic, who face Dundee United in tomorrow’s League Cup final.
The Aberdeen manager praised his players for the character and desire they displayed in the second half after a below-par opening 45 minutes.
He said: “I am really pleased with the three points because for long periods the match didn’t go our way.
“Motherwell were the better team in the first half . They deserved all the credit for their first-half performance but there was a change in demeanour from us after the break. The players showed exactly how important the win was for us.
“You never know, that could be the most important three points of the season. I take so much satisfaction from that second-half performance and getting the win.
“There was far more aggression and purpose about us in the second half and I felt we were by far the better team in the second half.
“At this stage of the season every point is precious and the win was hard-fought but well earned.”
It was a winning return for goalkeeper Jamie Langfield, who was included in the Aberdeen team for the first time since last October’s 3-0 defeat at Hamilton with Scott Brown benched following the 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park.
He said: “I felt good and ready to come back. I had played for the under-20s during the week and the manager gave me the nod to play. It was great to get the win but I would have preferred to have kept a clean sheet.
“It hasn’t been a difficult period for me, I just had to knuckle down and work hard to get back in the side. There is no point spitting the dummy out of the pram, I had to work away and, thankfully, it has paid off.”