Top scorer Scott McDonald inspired Motherwell to a victory which saw them leapfrog opponents Aberdeen into seventh spot in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

A first-half double from the Australian gave the Fir Park men a commanding interval lead and there was to be no way back for the dismal Dons.

On-loan midfielder Alan McCormack added a third after the break, capitalising on yet another mistake from a visiting defence which coughed up opportunities all afternoon.

The defeat continues Pittodrie manager Jimmy Calderwood's woes and his call for the visiting fans to unite behind the team appeared to fall on deaf ears as boos again rang out at half-time and full-time.

The long-suffering Red Army had to wait until stoppage time for something to cheer as John Stewart pulled one back with almost the last touch of the ball.

Aberdeen badly needed an early pick-me-up following dismal 0-0 draws with bottom two Livingston and Dunfermline in their last two outings and they almost got the perfect start inside two minutes.

Jamie Smith, playing up front with comeback striker Steve Lovell, seized on a mistake by home stopper Stephen Craigan before skipping past the Irishman's tentative tackle on the touchline.

But Well keeper Graeme Smith was equal to Stevie Crawford's drive from his incisive pass.

The Dons, who were slowly gaining the upper hand, were then stunned by the loss of the opening goal after only nine minutes.

Alan McCormack did well to win possession in midfield and he fed Jim Hamilton, who in turn sent strike partner McDonald one-on-one with Pittodrie captain Russell Anderson.

There seemed little on when the Australian drove in a shot but a heavy deflection off Anderson wrong-footed keeper Jamie Langfield and allowed the ball to spin into the net.

Things went from bad to worse for Aberdeen in the 26th minute as they went 2-0 down with a calamitous goal.

They repeatedly failed to clear a corner and Richie Foran benefited from a hopeful cross which found him lurking at the back post.

When his header ricocheted back off Chris Clark, the Irishman powered a volley past Langfield's attempted block and the lurking McDonald forced the ball over the line from only inches out.

Two minutes later it could have been three as the visitors' rearguard allowed Jim Hamilton's tame cross to slip through to Foran but the midfielder should have done better than scoop his volley over from only six yards out.

The goals had given Motherwell a huge boost to their confidence and McDonald was clearly in the mood, turning Zander Diamond inside out before powering in a drive which Langfield turned away from his top corner.

Langfield then had to dive low to his left to turn aside McCormack's well-placed header in the 41st minute and then McDonald's shot in first-half injury-time.

McCormack had another header from Steve Hammell's cross turned away by a busy Langfield at the start of the second period but he was not to be denied in the 53rd minute.

Foran's chipped pass should not have caused the Aberdeen defence much difficulty but Russell Anderson dithered and Kevin McNaughton fluffed his attempted pass back.

McCormack nipped in to poke a shot goalwards and, when Langfield's save rebounded kindly for the midfielder, he stroked the ball into the unguarded net.

Langfield denied McDonald what would have been a deserved hat-trick in the 62nd minute before coming to the rescue yet again two minutes later - although he did not appear to know much about the save.

Brian Kerr's cross was nodded into the goalmouth by Jim Hamilton but Langfield somehow blocked Brian McLean's point-blank header.

All that was left was for substitute Stewart to pounce and flick Stevie Crawford's cross past Graeme Smith as the clock ran down.

Teams:

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, McLean, Hammell, Kerr, O'Donnell, McCormack (McBride 80), Foran, Hamilton (Coakley 89), Scott McDonald (Clarkson 84).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Paul Quinn, Fagan, Fitzpatrick.

Goals: Scott McDonald 9, 26, McCormack 53.

Aberdeen Langfield, McNaughton, Anderson, Diamond, Muirhead (Mackie 38), Smith, Nicholson, Dempsey, Clark, Lovell (Stewart 69), Crawford.

Subs Not Used: Esson, Winter, Foster, Considine, Macauley.

Goals: Stewart 90.

Att: 6,555

Ref: C Murray (Scotland).