Much has been made of Aberdeen’s woeful form carrying over from last season into this, as the feel-good factor generated by May’s Scottish Cup final victory dissipates.
They struggled to create and struggled to score in equal measure in the opening matches of this term.
Thelin signed Scotland midfielder Stuart Armstrong, Scotland striker Nisbet and Sweden winger Karlsson in the closing stages of the transfer window in an attempt to changes their fortunes in front of goal.
However, they were blunted by Livingston in a goalless draw last time out and were goal-shy again in this cup quarter-final.
Armstrong was largely anonymous on his first start, with Nisbet and Karlsson both failing to hit the target with decent first-half chances.
They didn’t have the rub of the green against Motherwell, but they also didn’t help themselves when chances did arise.
For Motherwell, it was another impressive showing under Askou, but this time they found a way to convert that performance into a victory.
They were the better team for large stages, passing out from the back confidently with slick one-touch play.
A more clinical striker would have put this game to bed as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos spurned several chances, but Charles-Cook showed his quality with a superb strike that arced into the far corner via the post.
If he rediscovers the scoring form he showed in Scotland’s top flight with Ross County in the 2021-22 season, plenty more wins will surely follow for the Fir Park outfit.