AFC DONScast Matchday 25 - Motherwell v Aberdeen

The Doc Returns, Horneland Rumours, and Fir Park Frustration

34

It has been a couple of weeks of frustration for the Red Army. With matches against Celtic, Motherwell, and Dundee United falling victim to the rain, it has been a total washout in the North East. But while the pitches have been waterlogged, the activity behind the scenes at Pittodrie has been anything but damp.

The Doc is Back

The headline news this week is the return of a very familiar face. Tony Docherty has rejoined the club, bringing his wealth of experience back to the dugout to assist interim manager Peter Leven for the remainder of the campaign. “Doc,” who spent eight successful years as assistant to Derek McInnes, will look to help steady the ship as we navigate a congested fixture list.

Managerial Update: The waiting game?

While Leven and Docherty hold the fort, reports suggest the club is in “final discussions” with Norwegian coach Eirik Horneland. Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel has reportedly identified the SK Brann boss as the man to take the club forward. However, the catch is that Horneland—currently a free agent—may not take charge until the summer, leaving Leven at the helm for the rest of the season.

Match Report: Fresh Faces, Same Luck A

berdeen finally returned to action at Fir Park, but it ended in a 2-0 defeat to Motherwell. Despite a vastly improved display and large spells of control, the Dons were stung by a controversial opener (with appeals for handball) and a chaotic own goal in stoppage time that ricocheted off debutant Tom McIntyre.

The game saw four debutants thrown straight into the action, but as the DonsTalk forum noted, the mood shifted quickly from intrigue to frustration as chances were squandered.

Injury Updates & Rescheduled Fixtures

We also have updates on the squad:

  • Mats Knoester: The defender has no memory of his terrifying fall at Rugby Park and is awaiting a specialist’s assessment before returning to training.

  • Kristers Tobers: The “Latvian Wall” is making great progress and could be back by late February. Peter Leven revealed he has been keeping the defender’s spirits up by speaking to him in Russian during rehab!

New Dates for your Diary:

  • Motherwell (Home, Scottish Cup): Wednesday, 18th Feb @ 7:45pm

  • Dundee Utd (Away): Tuesday, 24th Feb @ 7:45pm

  • Celtic (Home): Wednesday, 4th March @ 8pm

Listen to the full episode now for all the analysis and reaction.

AFC DONScast

AFC DONScast