Jimmy Calderwood had more to celebrate than overseeing his 200th games for Aberdeen yesterday.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood was full of praise for playmaker Sone Aluko after another fine display at Pittodrie. The youngster played a pivotal role in helping the Dons record a 2-0 win over Mark McGhee's Motherwell on Saturday. The Dons boss, who celebrated his 200th game in charge of the Pittodrie club testerday, believes the sky is the limit for Englishman Aluko. Calderwood said: "Obviously, I'm his manager at this moment in time but as a football supporter, that is what you pay to go and watch. He has a wonderful career ahead of him if he keeps learning. The great thing about Sone is he has his feet firmly on the ground. He has got no air and graces about him. If he did, his father would be telling him straightaway and (assistant boss) Jimmy (Nicholl) and I would be straight after him. It is wonderful to have him at Aberdeen at this moment in time."

Calderwood felt his side could have won by more than the two goals but he was delighted to take all three points and move up to fifth in the table. He said: "You could see the confidence coming back into the side after we got the second goal and their player had been sent off. Motherwell may have been a man down but it is sometimes very difficult playing against 10 men. We were playing one-touch football and creating chances. Graeme Smith made a wonderful save to deny Scott Severin. It could have been more but I think that would have been harsh on Motherwell."

Motherwell have now gone five games without a win but manager McGhee felt the performances of debutants Maros Klimpl and Steven Saunders were two positives he could take from the defeat. McGhee said: "Maros is not the biggest but he is a real competitor. He is composed and he puts pressure on his opponent. I was reasonably pleased with what I saw. I was delighted with Saunders, who made his debut at right-back. I didn't think he did a lot wrong for coming into the game at 2-0 down. It is not the best time to come on and make your debut but he did fine."

The Motherwell boss played down a bizarre incident in the run-up to Aberdeen's second goal when Well keeper Smith was cautioned for squirting water in the direction of Miller before he took his penalty. McGhee said: "When he (Miller) placed the ball on the spot, Graeme threw some water at the ball. Graeme can be subject to petulance but it was just a silly action to try and put the boy off."

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