Aberdeen substitute Duk hit a double because the Dons got here from three targets down to say a 3-3 draw towards Motherwell in Neil Warnock’s first league match at Pittodrie.
The guests regarded set to bounce again from their cup defeat by Morton as Theo Bair’s double and Adam Devine’s strike put them in a commanding place inside 26 minutes.
However Duk quickly netted 30 seconds after approaching as a part of a double substitution and the attacker levelled 5 minutes after the break after Stefan Gartenmann had pulled one other objective again.
Either side went on to have targets disallowed and each will little question be upset with some extent, which leaves every of them three factors outdoors the Premiership high six.
With Pascal Jensen dropping out via sickness, Warnock began with three defenders – Gartenmann, Nicky Devlin and Jack MacKenzie.
His facet regarded weak on the again and Motherwell had been forward inside 5 minutes after Shayden Morris clumsily introduced down Georgie Gent contained in the field. Bair hit the penalty into the roof of the online.
Aberdeen had their moments within the opening half hour. Bojan Miovski bought in behind and compelled a save from Liam Kelly, whereas Connor Barron and Morris threatened from outdoors the field.
However Motherwell got here nearer when Kelle Roos tipped Jack Vale’s volley on to a put up and stopped Bair’s follow-up.
The guests doubled their lead within the twenty second minute when Bair tapped house Gent’s cross from 5 yards for his eighth objective in his final six league video games.
They had been three up and apparently cruising 4 minutes later when Devine marked his first begin for the membership by steering house Blair Spittal’s blocked shot after some direct operating from Harry Paton had left Aberdeen’s again three uncovered.
Boos rang spherical Pittodrie and Warnock began plotting modifications which got here on the half-hour mark as attacker Duk and centre-back Angus MacDonald got here on for midfielders Dante Polvara and Morris.
Duk immediately made his mark, turning house after Motherwell had misplaced possession from their very own throw-in deep of their half.
The deficit was additional diminished within the thirty seventh minute following Barron’s inswinging nook. Devlin was allowed a free header and Gartenmann transformed the rebound following Kelly’s save.
The Dons continued to take advantage of Motherwell’s vulnerability from set-pieces. Leighton Clarkson, twice, and MacDonald threatened earlier than the equaliser got here following a throw-in. Graeme Shinnie was allowed area to cross and Duk outmuscled Devine to go into the far nook.
Aberdeen thought that they had accomplished the turnaround halfway via the second half when Miovski bundled the ball house from shut vary. The striker was flagged offside and a prolonged VAR verify confirmed the choice, though he
regarded stage to the bare eye.
Warnock’s facet stored knocking on the door and Gartenmann headed towards the crossbar from one other Barron inswinger.
Motherwell had been struggling to retain possession lengthy sufficient to alleviate the stress, however they had been celebrating within the eightieth minute after Paton turned the ball house after a nook led to a goalmouth scramble.
The house facet claimed for at the very least one foul and referee Kevin Clancy disallowed the objective after seeing Calum Butcher push Jamie McGrath with two palms on his VAR monitor.
What the managers mentioned…
Aberdeen boss Neil Warnock:
“VAR, I don’t believe it, me. He said VAR is a computer. I think it’s the Horizon computer.
“You’ll be able to’t inform me that is offside. I’ve seen the traces. I do not imagine it is offside. I do not understand how they do it.
“I was thinking ‘what times are the planes to Cornwall tomorrow’, expecting a call on the bench from Dave.
“We misplaced Jensen this morning to an sickness so we modified it and thought we might play that means but it surely confirmed we could not.
“All credit to the boys, at 3-0 a lot could have gone under but when we made the changes we enjoyed it and I enjoyed watching them.”
Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell:
“There were a lot of contacts in the box and without question he has two hands on the back of his opponent but he didn’t push him two or three yards.
“Was it an apparent error? He mentioned it was however from two or three angles I’ve seen I do not suppose it was a contact that propelled him into his ‘keeper.
“I felt it was a little soft and if you look at it so many times are we looking for something that isn’t obviously there?
“There are three restarts within the recreation the place if we’re higher then we win. It lets me give attention to it and attempt to educate among the youthful guys.”
What’s subsequent?
Aberdeen are at house to Hibs on Saturday, whereas Motherwell journey to Hearts.
Each video games kick off at 3pm.