The Steelmen were reduced to nine men in their Scottish Cup defeat to Aberdeen after Gordon’s foul on Toyosi Olusanya

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referee John Beaton sends off Motherwell’s Liam Gordon
Aberdeen v Motherwell, Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, Fifth Round, Football, Pittodrie, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK – 18 Feb 2026

Frustrated Motherwell chiefs have contacted refs chief Willie Collum after their second red card in their Scottish Cup exit at Aberdeen.

The Steelmen had Oscar Priestman send off in the opening minutes and then the Dons had Dennis Geiger ordered off.

‘Well were 1-0 down but then had Liam Gordon sent off for a last-man challenge on Toyosi Olusanya, after VAR intervened to suggest a red, even though Paul McGinn and Stephen O’Donnell were in behind.

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou admitted the decision was a mystery and cost his team who finished with nine men and lost 2-0.

Askou said: “The third one is a mystery and will remain a mystery as long as I live. How they can change the decision because he (John Beaton) gets it completely right.

“There is cover behind and he needs to drive the ball 40 yards before he can get a big goal chance.

“There were two guys covering five for six yards behind him and they will reach him and get in his way before he gets to the D.

“Things happen. We’ve had this happen to us before.

“It is then about sticking to who we are and trying our best.

“I am proud of this team in how we tried to get something but it was difficult.”

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou

Peter Leven praised Scottish Cup-lifting captain Graeme Shinnie for keeping Aberdeen on course to defend their trophy.

The skipper, who came back from suspension, scored and added to Kevin Nisbet’s opener to see off Motherwell at Pittodrie last night.

Leven showed his side a film of last season’s success and admitted that Shinnie provided the drive on the park to get the holders into the quarter-finals against Dunfermline Athletic.

The interim boss said: “That was the most important thing to get through. “Looking back football is crazy. “You go to Fir Park on Sunday, do well have more possession than them and chances. “Tonight was the opposite but I take winning all day long.

“Yes. We showed a little motivational video. “Again you could see Shinnie was buzzing with it.

“He drives and brings an energy and stepped up with the goal.

“He is everything this club means. “He wants to do well and is a leader. “Bringing him back I was a winner. He just drives us on.

“Kevin got the goal. “I said to Tony Docherty we had to punish them straight away for the red card. “It was good.”

The only disappointment was Geiger’s red card. Leven reckons it was down to his side’s sloppy play.

Aberdeen now face Dunfermline and Leven won’t be taking anything for granted after they knocked out Hibs.

He added: “Tough team and they have knocked out Hibs so we won’t take them lightly. “We wil go and prepared, as we do every team but it is important we are in the draw.”