Jimmy Thelin insists that his Aberdeen players must stick together if they are to address their dreadful run of form.

The Dons slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Motherwell to see their winless Premiership run extended to 10 matches, with the latest defeat their fifth in a row.

The memories of the Swede’s magnificent start to life at Pittodrie have been banished in recent times as they have endured a torrid run of results that has seen them pick up just three points from a possible 30.

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They were masters of their own downfall at Fir Park. After falling behind to Ewan Wilson’s opener in the 34th minute, a disastrous 60 seconds would put the game out of reach.

Slobodan Rubezic was sent off after a clash with Tony Watt, then straight from the restart, Tawanda Maswanhise drilled home to double Motherwell’s advantage.

Aberdeen stuck the task in the second half, though were unable to find the goal that would bring them back into the encounter.

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“It’s the first time for me going through a period like this as a manager,” Thelin said. ”I think it’s important that you are strong and focus on the right things.

“In the second half, you can see the character of the team. We’re in a bad run, 2-0 down and playing with 10 men – but still they are trying and if you keep that spirit then you’ll always find a way out.

“As long as we can keep this togetherness, there’s a way out of this situation and we’ll be stronger.”

Thelin would not be drawn on whether he felt the red card shown to Rubezic was merited, though expressed the need for his players to show more ‘emotional control’.

The defender only returned from suspension at Fir Park but was sent packing in the 43rd minute for violent conduct after catching Tony Watt with his head.

Rubezic argued the collision was accidental but referee Nick Walsh stuck by his decision after a VAR review, leaving the Reds too big a hill to climb in the second half.

Thelin said: “I haven't seen it yet. But I think it's always important for players to have emotional control in difficult times to be on the pitch. I don't want to talk about that now, but I say it's also important to have emotional control when you play football.

“I haven't seen the situation, I don't know exactly, but for me it's always important that you don't give the opponent some extra energy or give them some extra to play 11 vs 10.”

Thelin confirmed that he is set to be without Ester Sokler and Gavin Molloy for an extended period of time, but did not address the nature of their injuries as he awaits specialists' reports.

He added: “They are going to be out for some more weeks, we’ll hopefully see them again this season. We keep working with trying to improve the team and stabilise the squad.”

Thelin is now left short in the defence department for Hearts' visit to Pittodrie next Sunday, with Rubezic set to miss out and Molloy and Jack Milne both sidelined by injury, with Angus MacDonald the only available centre-back.

Sivert Heltne Nilsen briefly filled in before Dante Polvara joined him in the backline for the second-half, posing questions over next Sunday's lineup.

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Steelmen boss Stuart Kettlewell was pleased by the reaction of his team after they bounced back from a poor showing in their defeat to Hearts to move within four points of Aberdeen.

Motherwell ended a run of four games without a win by piling on more misery on the Dons.

They took the lead 11 minutes before half-time courtesy of Wilson’s first professional goal, then took full advantage of Rubezic’s dismissal when Maswanhise added a second just before the break.

Wilson has amassed the most minutes of anyone in the Well squad this season, something his boss was keen to pay tribute to.

He said: “Right from the word go. I thought we looked as if we were in connection with everything that we were trying to do and obviously we scored a couple of good goals.

“I’m delighted for Ewan, he’s reached every challenge I’ve set him so far, I feel he carries a real threat with the quality in his left foot.”