Aberdeen kept their Champions League hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Motherwell in their Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Fir Park.

An own goal by Well midfielder Marc Fitzpatrick after 32 minutes gave the visitors a barely-deserved half-time lead and in the first minute of injury time Richard Foster clinched all three points with a wonderful drive from around 30 yards out.

It was not a convincing display by the Pittodrie side but they moved within four points of second-placed Rangers who they play at Ibrox on Saturday.

However, there is no doubt Jimmy Calderwood's side will have to improve when they travel to Govan at the weekend.

Jim Paterson was forced into an unfamiliar right-back role for Motherwell as the Fir Park side looked to end a three-game winless run.

But there was a depressing familiarity about the home side's first-half display.

Fitzpatrick's fine drive across the Dons' six-yard box after just two minutes needed only a touch to present real problems for the visitors but that was the extent of their potency in the first period.

At the other end, veteran Pittodrie striker Craig Brewster was too slow to take advantage of a Scott Severin ball which fell kindly to his feet 10 yards out.

Moments later, as Aberdeen pressed, Well striker David Clarkson was handily placed to clear a Chris Clark volley from distance before the ball crept in at the post.

A scrappy game refused to settle down into any sort of pattern and by the halfway point of the first half, a clear-cut goalscoring chance had yet to arrive.

In the 26th minute Karim Touzani, presumably injured, was replaced by Alexander Diamond at the heart of the Dons defence.

But there was little added sparkle to an increasingly turgid encounter as the ball ricocheted all over the pitch. In the 32nd minute the visitors took the lead through a Fitzpatrick own goal.

Andrew Considine's pass was flicked back by Brewster towards Jamie Smith with the Motherwell defence stretched.

Fitzpatrick seemed to panic needlessly and knocked the ball over the helpless Graeme Smith from around 16 yards out.

Moments later, Clark's cross-cum-shot from the left-hand side of the box was cleared by Motherwell stopper Mark Reynolds straight to Jamie Smith but the former Celtic player's low drive from 14 yards was blocked by Graeme Smith.

Motherwell began the second half promisingly, Scott McDonald jinking past Considine before firing in an angled shot which ruffled the side-netting.

Only a timely intervention moments later by Hart prevented McDonald latching onto a Paterson cross which had been deflected towards Dons keeper Jamie Langfield.

Hart was finding some joy down the right-hand side for the visitors but if nothing else Motherwell were defending with some resolve.

Slowly, the game began to turn in the home side's favour and Aberdeen skipper Russell Anderson had to stretch to block McDonald's angled shot from only eight yards out following a Clarkson knock-down.

In the 62nd minute McDonald turned Diamond down the left wing before firing over into the Dons' six-yard box.

The ball fell to midfielder Krisztian Vadocz who swivelled and drove a left-footed shot against the near post before the ball ricocheted away to safety at the other side of the pitch.

Aberdeen survived that brief spell of pressure from the home side and began to edge forward.

In the 73rd minute Foster eased past Stephen Craigan at the edge of the Motherwell penalty area and tumbled to the ground but referee McDonald was on the spot and swiftly booked the Dons player for diving.

With two minutes to go Langfield became the Dons hero when he foiled McDonald who tried to stab the ball home from six yards out.

However, in the first minute of injury-time Foster clinched the points with a snapshot from distance which flew into the top corner.

It was an impressive end to a rather ordinary game.

Teams:

Motherwell (0) 0 Aberdeen (1) 2

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Fitzpatrick, Craigan, Reynolds,Murphy, McBride (Molloy 76), Kerr, Vadocz, Paterson,Clarkson (Keegan 66), McDonald.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, McCormack, McGarry, Kinniburgh,

Connolly.

Aberdeen Langfield, Hart, Anderson, Considine, Foster,Jamie Smith, Severin, Touzani (Diamond 26), Clark,Brewster (Miller 79), Lovell (Mackie 65).

Subs Not Used: Soutar, Dempsey, Daniel Smith, Maguire.

Booked: Hart, Foster.

Goals: Fitzpatrick 32 og, Foster 90.

Att: 4,530

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).