A late-headed goal by Thomas Solberg gave Aberdeen three crucial points in their Premier League encounter with Motherwell at Pittodrie.

The Norwegian defender was at the end of an Andy Dow free-kick seven minutes from time to give Stephen Woods no chance in the visitor's goal.

Dow had put the Dons ahead on 31 minutes, only to see Ged Brannan equalise from the spot after Don Goodman had been bundled off the ball by Dons' defender Russell Anderson.

But after a poor start to the second half the home side gradually took over and were rewarded with Solberg's late winner.

It was Motherwell who created the first chance of the game when Goodman beat the Dons' offside trap and found Steven Nicholas wide on the right.

The midfielder's cut-back fell to the feet of striker Lee McCulloch, but the £1million-rated hitman miskicked from 16-yards.

A minute later Nicholas again found space on the right, but this time his cross was easily cleared by Solberg. In the 13th minute Rachid Belabed tried his luck with a 30-yard shot, but the Moroccan's effort went well wide.

But two minutes later Belabed redeemed himself when he sent Arild Stavrum clear through on goal.

The big Norwegian beat Woods from 16 yards, but the ball cannoned off the post and bounced kindly back into the keeper's arms. In the 28th minute Goodman had a 25-yard effort which went narrowly over Jim Leighton's cross bar.

Then, three minutes later, Aberdeen unexpectedly took the lead.

Stavrum's accurate cross found Dow just inside the Motherwell box.

The Dons' midfielder shrugged off the attention of Motherwell youngster Steven Hammell and fired past Woods from 18-yards.

The visitors responded well and within minutes McCulloch had worked a good position at the edge of the Dons' box. Although the big striker's shot was on target, it lacked power and Leighton gathered easily. However the visitors' spirited play was rewarded when they were handed a penalty after Anderson clumsily bundled Goodman off the ball 10-yards from goal.

Brannan confidently stepped up to send Leighton the wrong way for a deserved equaliser.

The visitor's started the second period the better and soon had Aberdeen pushed back into their own half.

Goodman in particular was causing problems for the home side whose defence was looking increasingly shaky.

But all too often the Lanarkshire sides' final pass lacked penetration and several promising moves came to nothing.

Dons' striker Robbie Winters had a half chance when Hammell misjudged a long ball, but the ex-Dundee United man's cross was easily cleared by Brannan.

On 66 minutes Winters had an even better chance to put the Dons ahead when he latched onto a Stavrum cross at the back post.

But the Dons striker could only watch in agony as his header beat Woods, but floated wide.

As the second half wore on Aberdeen came more into the game as the visitors looked to have run out of steam.

And there was no great surprise when, with seven minutes left, the home side regained the lead.

Dow flighted in a great free-kick from the right and Solberg came steaming in to head past Woods from close range.

Motherwell tried desperately to get back into the match, but in the end Aberdeen hung on to give their bid to beat the drop a much-needed boost.

Teams:

Aberdeen: Leighton, Lilley, Solberg, Anderson (Perry 60), McAllister, Mayer, Guntveit (Rutkiewicz 82), Belabed, Dow, Winters (D. Young 74), Stavrum.

Subs Not Used: Preece, McGuire.

Booked: Leighton, Mayer.

Goals: Dow 32, Solberg 83.

Motherwell: Woods, Corrigan, Strong, Brannan, Hammell, Nicholas, Adams (Spencer 65), Valakari, Townsley (Nevin 77), McCulloch (Ramsey 65), Goodman.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Lasley.

Booked: Adams, Corrigan, Strong, Spencer.

Goals: Brannan 41 pen.

Att: 9,348