Matches › 2023/24

Motherwell 2–4 Aberdeen

Wednesday 1 November 2023, 19:45 · Fir Park · Round 11 · Half-time 0–2 · Referee Colin Steven · Attendance 4,240

Motherwell Bair 78', Biereth 90+3'

Aberdeen McGrath 26', 68', Devlin 44', Duk 74'

Post-match

Result and Expected Points

Measure	Motherwell	Aberdeen
Goals	2	4
xG	1.44	2.24
Expected Points	0.83	1.92

Motherwell 20%Draw 25%Aberdeen 56%

Most likely score 1–2, 12%. Final score 2–4, 3%.

Own goals have no xG.

xG race

Each side's xG added up shot by shot through the match. Stoppage time is shaded as far as the last shot or event recorded in it. Triangles along the foot mark each side's substitutions.

Match stats

MotherwellAberdeen

1.44 +0.35xG2.24 +1.01

0.99 −0.22xG on target2.59 +1.44

10 −1.0Shots15 +5.1

2 −2.1Shots on target6 +2.9

3 +1.6Big chances4 +2.2

18 −4Touches in the opposition box20 −2

48% +3Possession52% +5

422 +68Passes452 +108

71% +4Pass accuracy76% +12

60% +13Field tilt40% −5

44 +12Final-third entries32 +2

10 −1.4Box entries9 −0.7

13.3 −3Passes per defensive action26.5 +12

1 −4.3Corners4 −1.6

21 +4Tackles14 −3

6 −3.0Interceptions10 +2.6

20 −2Clearances26 −1

2 −0.1Saves0 −3.3

14 +1Fouls6 −6

1 −0.7Offsides0 −1.0

The small figure beside each value is its difference from the side's average per league match this season before this one. Field tilt is each side's share of the open-play passes completed in the final third; entries are completed open-play passes and carries into the final third and the box; passes per defensive action (PPDA) counts the opponent's passes in its own 60% of the pitch for each tackle, interception, challenge, or foul there.

Chance locations

Zones Shots

Motherwell

Aberdeen

Each area's share of the side's xG from open play and set pieces, with the xG in it. The two wide areas of the box count together, as on the club pages. Shots shows each of those shots instead, sized by its xG, with goals filled in.

Chance types

MotherwellAberdeen

1.16 6 shots, 1 goalOpen play1.22 11 shots, 2 goals

0.08 2 shots, 1 goalCounter-attacks0.73 2 shots, 1 goal

0.20 2 shots, 0 goalsSet pieces0.30 2 shots, 1 goal

xG by type of chance, with each side's shots and goals beside it.

Game state

0–00–10–21–4

Level: 26 min (28%) · Motherwell 0.06, Aberdeen 0.21 xG
Aberdeen ahead: 68 min (72%) · Motherwell 1.38, Aberdeen 2.04 xG

Line-ups

Motherwell substitutes

46' Butcher for Mugabi · yellow card 51'
46' Biereth for Slattery · yellow card 59', goal 90+3'
70' Zdravkovski for Miller
75' Bair for O'Donnell · goal 78'
76' Shaw for Wilkinson · 1 assist

Aberdeen substitutes

66' Barron for Polvara
70' Duk for McGrath · goal 74'
72' Sokler for Miovski
73' Duncan for Shinnie · 1 assist

Players

Motherwell

Player	Pos	Min	G	A	xG	xA	KP	xT	Prog	Def
Kelly	GK	90			0.00	0.00	0	0.03	4	0
McGinn	CB	90			0.00	0.03	0	0.08	8	6
Mugabi	CB	46			0.00	0.00	0	0.01	1	8
Casey	CB	90			0.12	0.01	0	0.05	3	9
O'Donnell	RWB	75			0.00	0.05	1	0.09	4	5
Paton	CM	90			0.00	0.03	1	0.08	7	7
Miller	CM	70			0.00	0.02	0	0.03	4	5
Spencer	LWB	90			0.00	0.06	1	0.16	8	2
Slattery	RW	46			0.00	0.03	0	−0.01	1	1
Spittal	ST	90			0.00	0.17	1	0.09	9	2
Wilkinson	LW	76			0.06	0.01	0	−0.02	1	2
Butcher	DF	44			0.00	0.01	0	0.05	4	4
Biereth	FW	44	1		0.67	0.23	1	0.21	3	0
Zdravkovski	MF	20			0.00	0.04	1	0.08	2	2
Bair	FW	15	1		0.46	0.00	0	0.02	1	0
Shaw	FW	14		1	0.14	0.13	2	0.06	1	0

Aberdeen

Player	Pos	Min	G	A	xG	xA	KP	xT	Prog	Def
Roos	GK	90			0.00	0.00	0	0.02	2	0
Devlin	RWB	90	1		0.33	0.03	2	0.10	7	1
Gartenmann	CB	90			0.00	0.01	0	0.08	8	8
Rubezic	CB	90			0.00	0.01	0	0.05	3	18
Jensen	CB	90			0.08	0.01	0	0.05	5	13
MacKenzie	LWB	90			0.03	0.02	0	0.04	3	3
Polvara	RM	66			0.03	0.06	2	0.03	2	1
Shinnie	CM	73			0.05	0.03	0	0.02	3	3
Clarkson	CM	90			0.00	0.24	2	0.12	7	1
McGrath	LM	70	2		1.05	0.41	0	0.07	2	3
Miovski	ST	72			0.10	0.00	1	0.17	2	0
Barron	MF	24			0.00	0.00	0	0.01	1	2
Duk	FW	20	1		0.22	0.00	0	0.01	1	0
Sokler	FW	18			0.25	0.00	0	0.01	1	0
Duncan	FW	17		1	0.10	0.20	2	−0.01	0	0

Starters, then substitutes in the order they came on. KP is chances created and Def defensive actions (tackles, blocks, clearances, and interceptions). xT is the expected threat added by the player's completed open-play passes and carries, and Prog counts progressive passes and carries.

Pass networks

Motherwell

Aberdeen

Each starter at the average position of their passes and receptions until the side's first substitution or red card, sized by completed passes. Lines join pairs who passed to each other often, thicker for more passes.

Passing combinations

Motherwell

From	To	Passes
Casey	Kelly	10
O'Donnell	McGinn	8
Casey	Spittal	7
Spittal	Casey	7
Butcher	Miller	7

Aberdeen

From	To	Passes
MacKenzie	Jensen	14
Gartenmann	Rubezic	12
Clarkson	Gartenmann	10
Devlin	Gartenmann	10
Shinnie	MacKenzie	9

The five pairs with the most completed passes from one to the other over the whole match.

Defensive actions

Motherwell

Against its average of 9 matches

Aberdeen

Against its average of 9 matches

Where each side made its tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, recoveries, challenges, and fouls, attacking up the page. Areas are shaded by the difference from the side's average per match this season before this one: amber for more, blue for fewer.

Threat

Motherwell

Aberdeen

Expected threat added by completed open-play passes and carries, by where the move started, attacking up the page. Expected threat is the chance that possession in an area leads to a goal; a move adds the difference between where it ends and where it starts.

Ratings

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday (ring) and after it (dot); a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs after the matchday, spread up and down only so they don't overlap. The change takes in the whole matchday.

League probabilities

Chance	Before	With this result	Change
Motherwell
Top six	52%	41%	−11
11th	5%	7%	+2
Bottom	2%	4%	+2
Aberdeen
Top six	41%	55%	+14
11th	8%	5%	−3
Bottom	4%	2%	−2

From the forecast before the match (1 November 2023): each chance then, and across the simulations in which the match ended this way. The change is in percentage points.

Pre-match

As things stood before kick-off.

Forecast

Measure	Motherwell	Aberdeen
Expected goals	1.44	1.09
Win	44%	28%
Expected Points	1.61	1.11
Clean sheet	34%	24%

Motherwell 44%Draw 28%Aberdeen 28%

Most likely score 1–1, 13%. Both sides score 51%.

From the forecast as it stood on 1 November 2023: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

League probabilities by result

Chance	Now	Motherwell win	Draw	Aberdeen win
Motherwell
Top six	52%	62%	47%	41%
11th	5%	3%	6%	7%
Bottom	2%	1%	3%	4%
Aberdeen
Top six	41%	33%	41%	55%
11th	8%	10%	8%	5%
Bottom	4%	5%	4%	2%

Each chance before the match and across the simulations ending in each result. Other teams are listed where a chance moves by at least 3 percentage points.

Form

Motherwell

Aberdeen

The last six league matches, newest first, with xG for and against.

Season to date

Measure	Motherwell	Aberdeen
Position	6th	11th
Played	9	9
Won, drawn, lost	3–⁠2–⁠4	2–⁠3–⁠4
Points	11 (1.22 per game)	9 (1.00 per game)
Expected Points per game	1.15	1.11
Goals	10–⁠12	10–⁠12
xG per game	1.09–⁠1.42	1.23–⁠1.52
Home: points, xG per game	1.40, 1.42–⁠1.21	1.00, 1.77–⁠1.34
Away: points, xG per game	1.00, 0.67–⁠1.68	1.00, 0.81–⁠1.66
Manager	Stuart Kettlewell (23)	Barry Robson (24)

League matches this season before kick-off. The manager's number is league matches in charge since 2020/21.

Ratings

This season

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday, with their rank among the league's clubs; a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs, spread up and down only so they don't overlap.

Strengths and weaknesses

Chances	Motherwell		Aberdeen
Chances	Created	Conceded	Created	Conceded
Open play	−12%	+12%	−26%	+10%
Counter-attacks	−58%	−4%	+9%	−23%
Set pieces	−44%	−16%	+46%	+53%
Penalties	+36%	+36%	−32%	−32%
Headers	−62%	+30%	+5%	+60%
Left side	−16%	+37%	−50%	+12%
Centre	−22%	−22%	+39%	+44%
Right side	−35%	+21%	−44%	−24%

xG created and conceded per game against the league average this season: +24% is 24% more than an average side. Left and right are each side's own, so chances conceded on its left come from opponents attacking down their right. Green favours the side and amber doesn't.

Matchups

Motherwell attacking

Motherwell createdAberdeen concededLeft side−16%−24%Centre−22%+44%Right side−35%+12%Open play−12%+10%Counter-attacks−58%−23%Set pieces−44%+53%Headers−62%+60%

Aberdeen attacking

Aberdeen createdMotherwell concededLeft side−50%+21%Centre+39%−22%Right side−44%+37%Open play−26%+12%Counter-attacks+9%−4%Set pieces+46%−16%Headers+5%+30%

Each side's xG created per game down each side of the pitch, through the centre, and from each type of chance, against what its opponent concedes there, both relative to the league average.

Season averages

MotherwellAberdeen

1.09xG1.23

1.42xG against1.52

45%Possession47%

11.0Shots9.9

14.0Shots against13.9

4.1Shots on target3.1

1.4Big chances1.8

21.8Touches in the opposition box21.6

354Passes344

67%Pass accuracy64%

5.3Corners5.6

48%Field tilt44%

31.6Final-third entries29.5

11.4Box entries9.7

16.2Passes per defensive action14.5

Per league match this season before kick-off.

Game state this season

Motherwell

State	Minutes per game	xG per 90	xG against per 90
Level	54	0.99	1.03
Ahead	12	0.50	2.69
Behind	24	1.60	1.66

Aberdeen

State	Minutes per game	xG per 90	xG against per 90
Level	50	0.81	1.21
Ahead	15	2.54	2.14
Behind	25	1.28	1.76

xG by period

Motherwell

Minutes	xG per game	xG against	Goals
1–15	0.03	0.15	0–1
16–30	0.18	0.14	1–1
31–45	0.16	0.13	1–0
46–60	0.11	0.31	1–2
61–75	0.13	0.26	1–4
76–90	0.48	0.43	6–4

Aberdeen

Minutes	xG per game	xG against	Goals
1–15	0.11	0.24	0–2
16–30	0.22	0.15	2–1
31–45	0.32	0.24	3–1
46–60	0.22	0.28	2–1
61–75	0.13	0.32	1–4
76–90	0.25	0.28	2–3

Per game this season, with stoppage time counted in its half; goals are totals for and against.

Most used players by position

Motherwell

Formations: 3-4-3 (4), 3-5-2 (3), 5-3-2 (1), 5-4-1 (1)

Aberdeen

Formations: 3-4-1-2 (7), 5-4-1 (1), 3-5-2 (1)

This season's most used formation, with up to three players who started most often in each position and their league starts there. Underneath, when a side has used more than one, every formation with its starts.

Head to head

Date	Home	Score	Away	xG
4 February 2023	Aberdeen	3–1	Motherwell	xG 1.94–0.85
22 October 2022	Motherwell	1–2	Aberdeen	xG 0.71–1.11
13 August 2022	Aberdeen	2–3	Motherwell	xG 1.27–2.72
19 February 2022	Motherwell	1–1	Aberdeen	xG 2.62–1.23
6 November 2021	Aberdeen	0–2	Motherwell	xG 0.94–0.47
11 September 2021	Motherwell	2–0	Aberdeen	xG 0.92–1.56

9 league meetings since 2020/21: Motherwell won 4, Aberdeen won 3, and 2 were drawn. Goals 13–10 and xG 1.19–1.45 per game.

Key players

Motherwell

Player	Starts	Min	G	A	xG per 90	xA per 90
Spittal	9	810	1	2	0.19	0.21
Slattery	9	791	1	0	0.20	0.09
Bair	9	668	1	0	0.13	0.04
Spencer	7	608	0	1	0.08	0.07

Aberdeen

Player	Starts	Min	G	A	xG per 90	xA per 90
Miovski	9	759	4	1	0.48	0.15
Duk	8	677	1	2	0.24	0.12
McGrath	6	461	2	0	0.24	0.12
Clarkson	5	554	0	1	0.03	0.26

Up to four players a side with the most xG plus xA per 90 minutes, from those with at least 450 league minutes.