Barry Robson proves Aberdeen rip-up job not the answer as gutsy boss ditches apologies for acclaim

Apologetic Barry Robson was instantly on the defensive as soon as the full-time whistle blew at Rugby Park on Sunday after witnessing his Aberdeen team pasted by Kilmarnock.

That left a slew of doubters angry with the direction of travel – even this early into the 2023/24 campaign – after just two league wins from their opening nine games and a painful start to their Europa Conference League journey. But despite his remarks over the lack of squad rotation following the Kilmarnock defeat, Robson changed the record during his pre-match press conference claiming that he didn't have enough players to rotate nor compete on all four fronts successfully with them. Words that will have further dented the hopes of those on the periphery at Pittodrie. Particularly because he was heavily backed during the summer transfer window to recruit 13 players for that reason after turning Aberdeen's fortunes around and clinching third place in the Scottish Premiership. And five of those have yet to start a single competitive match.

The pressure was on Robson going into Wednesday night's showdown with Motherwell at Fir Park and he knew that only a victory would be acceptable to get the Red Army back onside ahead of their Viaplay Cup semi-final meeting with Hibernian three days later. Maybe it was bold to expect the Aberdeen boss to make wholesale changes in the hope of spurring his side, which looked devoid of confidence at Kilmarnock, up the table.

And it was the polar opposite approach from Robson as he opted to keep the faith in nine of the starting XI from the trip to East Ayrshire. Dante Polvara replaced Connor Barron and Luis 'Duk' Lopes dropped out for Leighton Clarkson, with a formation shift from a 3-5-2 to a 5-4-1.

That shows