GONNA JUST SHUT BACK DOOR

Thelin says Dons were Well warned leveller straight out of playbook

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FRUSTRATED Jimmy Thelin admits his Dons got their Just desserts for not heeding warnings about Motherwell's quick thinking.

Aberdeen made it three games unbeaten with a point at Pittodrie and but for some dire defending it could have been all three.

The Steelmen had knocked Jimmy Thelin's men out of the Premier Sports Cup on the same turf before beating them 2-0 in Lanarkshire in the league.

Dons looked on track to end that run thanks to Jesper Karlsson's rocket from distance just past the hour mark.

Three minutes later, though, the home side switched off as a quickly-taken corner culminated in Callum Slattery teeing up Elijah Just.

And boss Thelin said: "We talked about it before the game because we know they're really quick with free-kicks and corners.

"It punished us a lot that we were not ready. It was good from them but you can never disconnect from the game.

"It was a tough learning point for us so everyone knows we have to improve that.

"To be in these competitions, it's about always concentrating to stay in the game, even when you are tired.

"It can happen but we don't want it to happen, especially at 1-0.

"Jesper defends really well, he runs a lot, supporting and pressing well. When he gets opportunities, he's very dangerous, he has a really good shot.

"With the ball Motherwell are a good team, how they build up the game and drop players into gaps.

"In the first half we went long in the pressing but wanted to be better in transitions.