THERE has been little case for the Aberdeen defence of late in what has been a truly troublesome period for all concerned. Over the last two-and-a-half years under Derek McInnes, the Pittodrie club has been one on the up, steady progression providing the backstory to what has been - until a month ago at least - a credible and tangible attempt at halting the Ladbrokes Premiership being anything other than a procession for Celtic.

However, five points clear at the top of the pile after eight wins in a row, McInnes’ collection of players suddenly lost 2-0 away to Hibernian in the League Cup last month in a result that would trigger a major tremor that would reverberate deeper and deeper with each passing defeat. At the heart of their troubles was a porous backline that had seen 11 goals seep through their exposed cracks over four reverses, allowing Celtic to creep back into first place.

The verdict still remains out on a group that, given it contains the likes of Ash Taylor, Mark Reynolds, Graeme Shinnie and Shay Logan, should surely be more robust than what has been shown of late, and yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Motherwell will have done little to hush the critics quick to point the finger. Their inability to simply clear their lines was repeatedly laid bare at Pittodrie yesterday, their passing at the back was also suspect, as too was the manner in which a needless goal from Scott McDonald was not prevented to wipe out Adam Rooney’s first-half opener. Indeed, if it was not for the late heroics of the all-too-often exposed Danny Ward in their goal, Aberdeen could easily have shipped four goals in the last five minutes as all resistance crumbled.

“We lost a poor goal, which is something we’ve seen over the last few weeks. It’s far too cheap a goal to concede,” admitted the Aberdeen manager, whose team missed the chance to jump back above Celtic, albeit perhaps only for the night. “After the Motherwell goal we became over-eager and Motherwell could’ve won the game because our keeper’s made two or three brilliant saves, one in particular. They might be disappointed they’ve not made more of those chances.

“But I felt until they scored we were the dominant team, the better team and the more likely team to get the second goal.”

Mark McGhee, the Motherwell manager, had said earlier in the week that he would send his team north to attack Aberdeen, presumably on account of their opponents’ vulnerability at the back. Their intentions were clear from the outset as Wes Fletcher was allowed to break forward into the box unmarked and cut back for Louis Moult, only for the danger to be snuffed out in the nick of time. Aberdeen’s inability to tidy up at the back was also evident on the 20-minute mark as a fluffed clearance spun to Keith Lasley on the edge of the area, only for the Motherwell captain to send his sliding shot a yard wide of the post. Those at the back in red were also caught sleeping soon later when a one-two between Moult and Josh Law sent the former scampering clear of a static defence before his cross was eventually cut out.

For Motherwell’s equaliser, McInnes will surely be furious at varying points of how his team managed to shoot themselves in the foot. Firstly Mark Reynolds needlessly bundled McDonald in the back to concede a silly free-kick 35 yards from goal. The fact Lionel Ainsworth then swung in a perfect cross for 5ft 6in McDonald to power home a header in a crowded box will not have helped the mood in the home dugout. Nor too will the fact all calm and composure at the back seemed to vanish into thin air in the closing stages. Theo Robinson was allowed to shoot unmarked at goal from inside the area for Ward to produce his first miraculous save, while Marvin Johnson and Lionel Ainsworth were both allowed to rampage freely into the box and fire at the on-loan Liverpool keeper, who somehow denied them both.

For all their weaknesses at the back, there was still enough chances for Aberdeen at the other end that could have seen them out of Motherwell’s reach before Ward did his best Superman impersonation ahead of the club’s Hallowe’en party. They took the lead in contentious circumstances two minutes before the interval as a soft free-kick award by Crawford Allan – presumably for an alleged high foot from Stephen Pearson towards Logan – saw a suspiciously offside-looking Rooney glance home a header. After the break, Reynolds would also turn the ball into the net only to be flagged offside at the back post – a decision disputed by McInnes, Peter Pawlett failed to steer the ball into a gaping net after a stramash, while Motherwell goalkeeper Connor Ripley also pulled out a stunning save to deny Logan from just a few feet.

“I asked them at half-time whether they had the character or desire to come back from a goal down away from home against Aberdeen and get something from the game,” said McGhee, whose team remain 10th in the table despite a well-earned point. “On the board in the dressing room I wrote ‘YES’ and ‘No’ and said ‘let’s see what the answer is when we come back in’.

“And when we came back in I just wrote Yes on the board. That was the team talk.”