Jim Goodwin begins Aberdeen tenure with Premiership draw at Motherwell

Jim Goodwin will now start to shape the future of Aberdeen after his tenure as boss began with a 1-1 cinch Premiership draw against Motherwell at Fir Park.

The 40-year-old Irishman’s move from St Mirren to the Dons on a two-and-a-half-year deal had been confirmed on Saturday morning and he watched as attacker Vicente Besuijen’s first goal for the Pittodrie club in the 34th minute gave the visitors the interval lead.

However, the home side stepped up the tempo and midfielder Mark O’Hara levelled in the 68th minute with a finish from close range for a deserved share of the spoils.

Aberdeen are now without a win in seven games in all competitions, while Graham Alexander’s side are looking for their first league win in 2022.

Goodwin had a close-up look at the team he took over from Stephen Glass, who was sacked after last week’s Scottish Cup defeat at the same venue, and he has lots to work on.

For his debut as manager, Aberdeen showed three changes with Ross McCrorie, Besuijen and Adam Montgomery handed starts – Well were unchanged – and in a lively start to the match home goalkeeper and captain Liam Kelly made early saves from a 25-yard Lewis Ferguson free-kick and a Calvin Ramsay header.

In the 14th minute, Dons goalkeeper and skipper Joe Lewis was quick off his line to thwart Kevin Van Veen reaching a pass from O’Hara, the Well striker requiring treatment on his shoulder before continuing.

Aberdeen striker Christian Ramirez had the ball in the Steelmen’s net on the half-hour mark from a Connor Barron cross but was denied by the offside flag.

However, minutes later the Dons did take the lead when Montgomery took a David Bates pass and raced into the Motherwell box to provide a simple cut-back for Colombian-born Dutch