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<\/p>\nRegan Charles-Cook scored a memorable first goal for Motherwell to take their early promise under Jens Berthel Askou up a notch and book a trip to Hampden following a 1-0 win at Aberdeen.<\/p>\n
Charles-Cook’s swerving long-range strike in the second half at Pittodrie proved enough to earn a Premier Sports Cup semi-final place and continue Aberdeen’s miserable start to the season.<\/p>\n
The Scottish Cup holders were looking for a break from their league form, which leaves them bottom of the William Hill Premiership without a goal.<\/p>\n
But, despite making a decent start and hitting the bar twice, they suffered a fifth defeat of the season to leave manager Jimmy Thelin under pressure.<\/p>\n
A crowd of 10,533 was evidence of a lack of belief among the home support and the final whistle was met with resignation as much as anger.<\/p>\n
In contrast, a healthy travelling contingent celebrated with their players and Askou, who remains unbeaten as Motherwell manager, as they sealed their semi-final spot for a second year running.<\/p>\n
Thelin handed Stuart Armstrong a first start in central midfield as the more defensive-minded Sivert Nilsen dropped to the bench but the Scotland international will need more game time to make a true impact.<\/p>\n
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\n Charles-Cook’s swerved effort piled onto Aberdeen’s miserable start to the season<\/p>\n
The Dons enjoyed much the better of the territory in the first quarter but could not test Calum Ward from several efforts.<\/p>\n
Motherwell were without Elijah Just and they initially struggled to enjoy possession outside their own half.<\/p>\n
They began to create chances when they found a way to get Charles-Cook on the ball and the former Ross County man was at the heart of their best attacking play in the first half.<\/p>\n
The winger set up Tawanda Maswanhise, who cracked the ball off the post before Ibrahim Said shot well over from the rebound.<\/p>\n
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\n The Steelmen secured their first cup win at Pittodrie since 1991<\/p>\n
Charles-Cook then won a corner which led to Stephen O’Donnell seeing his header brilliantly hooked off the line by Adil Aouchiche.<\/p>\n
Aberdeen’s best first-half chance fell to Mats Knoester following Aouchiche’s free-kick but the defender hit the bar from six yards.<\/p>\n
Motherwell soon had an equally good chance when some one-touch play sent Apostolos Stamatelopoulos clear in the right channel. The Australian squared for Charles-Cook but Dimitar Mitov spread himself to block the shot from 10 yards.<\/p>\n
The visitors continued to grow after the interval and got the breakthrough in the 63rd minute. Emmanuel Longelo teed up Charles-Cook to shoot first time in off the post from 22 yards.<\/p>\n
Thelin sent on Marko Lazetic to join Kevin Nisbet up front but Motherwell created a good chance to finish the game off with five minutes left when Stamatelopoulos headed wide from Maswanhise’s cross after a slick move.<\/p>\n
Aberdeen were toiling but they were handed a late chance to test the Motherwell defence when Longelo conceded a corner under no pressure.<\/p>\n
The Dons almost took it as substitute Nicky Devlin met Jesper Karlsson’s near-post delivery and guided a header past Ward only to see it bounce away off the underside of the bar.<\/p>\n
The Steelmen survived more aerial pressure to secure their first cup win at Pittodrie since knocking out the then-Scottish Cup holders on their way to their last piece of silverware in 1991.<\/p>\n