Michael Stewart has said Aberdeen’s frailties at the back against Motherwell were largely down to the ineptitude of defensive pair Angus MacDonald and Jack MacKenzie.
The Dons went 10 games without a win in the Premiership on Sunday as Motherwell secured a 2-0 win that was effectively wrapped up at half-time.
Described by Jimmy Thelin as a ‘bad’ 10 minutes just before the interval, the Dons conceded twice and had Slobodan Rubezic sent off in between for violent conduct.
Aberdeen’s defensive woes continued with MacDonald – who is standing in for the injured Gavin Molly – and left-back MacKenzie at the heart of it.
And Stewart, speaking on The Scottish Football Social Club podcast, has called the pair out for being ‘at sixes and sevens’ against the Steelmen.
Aberdeen duo Angus MacDonald & Jack MacKenzie slammed
Stewart, who co-commentated on the game for Premier Sports, said: “Aberdeen started brightly but because the position they find themselves in, if you don’t convert or get in front, you can tell that they are always on a knife’s edge.
“Defensively, the two goals when you look at them, Angus MacDonald and Jack MacKenzie down the left-hand side, they were at sixes and sevens and Motherwell ruthlessly exposed them for both goals in particular.
“There’s no easy way out of it for Jimmy Thelin. Hibs are sitting top of the form table and Aberdeen are comfortably at the bottom and have been for a while. That is a serious concern.”
Alan Hutton has say on ‘vulnerable’ Aberdeen
Alan Hutton was also present at Fir Park on punditry duty and thinks Aberdeen’s intensity has dropped off massively.
The ex-Scotland full-back said: “There were signs against Dundee United that the confidence was creeping back, but I think they look very vulnerable.
“Motherwell set out their stall – they were very good just playing the ball in behind MacDonald to get Maswanhise on the ball – and Aberdeen looked nervous.
“At the start of the season when I seen them, yes they were getting a rub of the green and scoring late goals and it was all falling their way. But they played with a zip.
“They were dying to press people, they got the ball out wide really quickly with overloads, taking people on and scoring goals. Pape Gueye made a big difference as well.
“It’s five defeats in a row now and see when you look at the 12 goals they’ve conceded, it’s so easy. Balls into the box and nobody putting pressure on the crosser, no pressure in the box.
“I don’t know if they are feeling it and getting tired or it’s the pressure that comes with winning every single week. There’s something just missing.”