Graham Alexander had a chat with Kevin van Veen about his minimum expectations and then watched him turn it to the maximum to help Motherwell sink Aberdeen.
The Dutch striker was dropped for last week’s mauling by Rangers but came back in and netted a deadly double at Pittodrie.
It was Motherwell's first win in six games and it was one that cemented fifth spot and stopped their hosts from jumping above them.
Alexander, who previously worked with van Veen at Scunthorpe, explained: “We know what Kev is capable of in front of goal. I had a good chat with him on Friday about what I expect from him as a minimum. Not his maximum because I know his maximum can be anything. “He is a super talent but his minimum has to be that I’ll know what I’ll get from him.
“When he pressed the ball, competed… if we compete like that and be as disciplined as that, then we know we have players who can produce those sorts of finishes. “Kev has done that many times and hopefully many more to come.”
It was the perfect response from the Steelmen who showed their mettle after being hit for six by Rangers.
It halted Aberdeen’s brief revival, who had picked up seven points out of the previous nine.
It was also a case of deja-vu as Motherwell also beat the Dons 2-0 at Fir Park, with Van Veen also getting in on the act that day.
The stats yesterday were also similar as the Dons dominated but it was Motherwell who scored with their only two efforts.
Alexander confirmed: “It was the complete opposite of last week. “The players were absolutely magnificent. The way they’ve trained this week as a squad, how we’ve committed to it, has been superb to watch.
“We had to put it in practice today against an excellent team on a great run of form. I couldn’t be more proud of this group of players – more than any in my career.
“The performance is what we’ve trained for this week. The players deserve credit.”
Aberdeen were keen to test the fragile resolve of their hurting visitors.
Sondre Johansen made a fine, early blocking challenge to deny Marley Watkins, after Scott Brown’s free kick had rather fortuitously fallen into his path.
A decent Ryan Hedges cross set up Christian Ramirez for an acrobatic volley but Juhani Ojala headed clear.
Watkins then put in a cross that Lewis Ferguson headed towards goal, forcing Liam Kelly into a flying stop to his right.
Motherwell defender Bevis Mugabi, filling in at right-back for suspended captain Stephen O’Donnell, put his team under pressure with a desperately short pass back.
Kelly raced out to boot clear but Hedges got a partial block on it. The ball spun into the air and Watkins miscontrolled it as it came out of the sky as otherwise he would have had the goal at his mercy.
Ferguson skipped past a couple of chances but cracked his shot over the bar, while Dean Campbell saw another shot from distance saved by Kelly.
Motherwell made some strong early challenges before Barry Maguire picked up a caution for stopping a quick free kick and he was lucky not to walk for another foul.
It was one-way traffic and when Motherwell did get forward they never troubled in the first period.
A good positive run up the right saw Watkins cross for Campbell to crack in a volley that Kelly saved and Mugabi turned behind.
Hedges fired in a shot from the other side that hit Ojo and flew just wide.
Motherwell defended well and would just have been relieved to go in level.
The home dressing room would have been delighted and looking for more of the same with a goal or two thrown in.
The second period was a different affair altogether.
Sean Goss’s cross from the left found Van Veen and he deftly flicked the ball past Joe Lewis in the 50th minute.
It was Motherwell’s first effort on goal and somewhat against the run of play.
There was bad news for the visitors and possibly for Finland as Ojala had to limp off and be replaced by Ricki Lamie.
Motherwell, though, quickly doubled their advantage.
Goss cross was headed back across the goal for Lamie and it fell behind Van Veen who superbly fired it past Lewis in the 56th minute.
Aberdeen’s response was to send on Niall McGinn for McGeouch.
The Dons thought they had got a goal back when Ferguson flicked Campbell’s free kick towards the goal.
Kelly somehow managed to tip it on to the post and it fell to David Bates and the keeper then made another great stop.
Ojo cracked in another shot from distance and Kelly tipped over.
Alexander praised Kelly who was left out of the Scotland squad.
The Well manager stated: “We can’t say that we’re surprised by it – we know what a fantastic goalkeeper he is.
“The standout moments were at both ends of the pitch but every single player did exactly what was required for the team.
“No one has let their team-mates down. Every player can go home knowing they did their jobs.”
