Aberdeen should have lost by more, says Motherwell boss Steven Hammell as he takes credit for Slattery strike

Motherwell boss Steven Hammell insists his side should have enjoyed a more handsome win over Aberdeen - as he revealed he predicted Callum Slattery would be on target.

The new man in the Fir Park hot-seat enjoyed a winning start to his rein with a thrilling 3-2 win at Pittodrie, where Kevin van Veen grabbed the winner with his fifth goal in five outings against the Dons.

Motherwell had taken the lead through Blair Spittal before the hosts turned the game on its head with a Bojan Miovski header and a Jonny Hayes strike a couple of minutes either side of the half-time interval.

However, 'Well fought back immediately when Slattery fired home to make it 2-2 and then van Veen won it with a header three minutes later, after Spittal's strike had hit the crossbar.

The only thing frustrating Hammell was that they didn't win by more as the gaffer jokingly took credit for Slattery's effort.

He told the club media: "If anything we can be hyper-critical and say we should have scored more goals.

"The positions we got into today...on another day we need to be taking those chances.

"That's stuff we need to work on, but to get into the positions we did against a very good team was good, but we want better.

"In terms of my first game in charge, everything we've seen today, including the fans at the end, I was proud.

"I told Callum Slattery he would score today if he picks up the positions we were showing him - and he did.

"So to see that..he understands why we are saying this before the game.

"But there's a long way to go."

It was a proud moment for the club legend, who had his family in the stands to see him kick-off a new era at the club with three points.

But with a home clash against Livingston next week to come, he isn't getting