Aberdeen FC next manager latest as relief after Motherwell win sparks update from within

Peter Leven dodged having his name carved out against a dreadful dozen for Aberdeen.

But the Pittodrie caretaker admits he’s got no idea if he’ll still be in charge when the Dons look to sculpt a huge win against Ross County in two weeks’ time. Leven was back in charge for the second time this season after Neil Warnock’s surprise departure last weekend. Reds chairman Dave Cormack is now hoping to fast-track his search for a new gaffer during the international break but Leven hasn’t yet been told if he can stand-down from his stand-in duties.

If Saturday's clash against Motherwell does prove to be his final game in charge, at least he bows out having secured a vital three points. Leighton Clarkson’s first-half strike was enough to claim the victory - and avoid a repeat of the club’s 12 league game record run without a win. That came back in 1999 when Ebbe Skovdahl’s side famously got it right at the 13th attempt with a wild 6-5 win at Fir Park.

There was nothing like that kind of excitement this time but Leven didn’t care as Aberdeen climbed one place to ninth. “Yes, it was a relief,” he said. “But I thought the boys played really well today and I was glad for the clean sheet.

“The boys certainly battled, but listen, they played as well. We spoke about it during the week, I told them our best chance of getting the win was to play football and use our strengths.

“That’s what we did. There is a bit of breathing space and the three points are massive. But we can’t look at other teams around us. It’s all about us and what we can do.”

Aberdeen’s last Premiership triumph was against Ross County on January 2. They finally broke that long drought yesterday but the result in Lanarkshire wasn’t as profitable as it could have been