Aberdeen 2-0 Motherwell

Paul Quinn saw red for the second time this season as Motherwell suffered their third consecutive defeat on a cold afternoon in Aberdeen.

The defender was given his marching orders for a professional foul in the second-half after substitute Gary McDonald had opened the scoring for the home side.

Lee Miller converted the resulting penalty to wrap up the points for the Dons on what was another disappointing afternoon for those in claret and amber.

Maros Klimpl made his long-awaited debut at Pittodrie as Mark McGhee made several changes to the side following last weekend’s defeat against Hibs.

The Slovakian defender partnered Mark Reynolds at centre-half, with Bob Malcolm moved into midfield at the expense of Steven McGarry.

It was the first time the pair had played alongside each other and they were undone inside five minutes when Darren Mackie found space in the six-yard box. Thankfully Graeme Smith was equal to his header, producing a magnificent save from point-blank range, although the offside flag made the stop less significant.

Another of the changes saw Marc Fitzpatrick restored to a midfield four alongside Malcolm, Stephen Hughes and Keith Lasley. And it was the stand-in captain who threatened first for the visitors, with his powerful shot from distance too hot to handle for Jamie Langfield, even on a freezing afternoon in the Granite City.

That proved to be the only attempt on target of a disappointing opening forty-five minutes in which both teams struggled in the final third. A Chris Porter header, which looped up on to the roof of the net via Zander Diamond, was as close as Motherwell came in a forgettable first-half.

Aberdeen too lacked a cutting edge and they failed to build on their encouraging start, rarely troubling the new-look back four. There was just one tense moment when Mackie stole a march on Steven Hammell, but Klimpl and Reynolds made amends for their earlier error, combining to clear the danger in front of goal.

The scrappy nature of the game inevitably led to a succession of long-balls but one almost paid dividends for Motherwell on the stroke of half-time. Graeme Smith’s lengthy clearance somehow found its way through to Jamie Murphy, much to the surprise of everyone inside the ground, including the young striker, who blazed over the bar.

The opening exchanges of the second-half did little to suggest it would be an improvement on the first, with a series of niggling fouls breaking up play.

However, the game burst to life on the hour mark when Aberdeen made a breakthrough. Gary McDonald, who replaced the injured Andrew Considine, gave the Dons the lead with his first touch, heading home a cross from Sone Aluko.

And things went from bad to worse for Motherwell just four minutes later when Paul Quinn was dismissed for a foul on Mackie inside the six-yard box. Their hopes of salvaging anything from the game went, along with Quinn, as Lee Miller converted the resulting penalty.

Down to ten men, McGhee reshuffled his pack, sacrificing a forward for a defender. Murphy was the unlucky man to make way, with 17-year-old full-back Steven Saunders handed a debut.

It was very much a case of damage limitation in the closing stages as Aberdeen made the most of their extra man. Smith was beaten again when Lee Mair connected with Charlie Mulgrew’s free-kick but the woodwork came to the rescue of the Motherwell keeper, who breathed another sigh of relief when substitute Chris Maguire failed to convert the rebound.

The home side continued to press for a third and Scott Severin's deflected shot was well saved by Smith as they celebrated Jimmy Calderwood’s 200th game in charge with a deserved victory.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Mulgrew, Diamond, Severin, Kerr, Miller, Mackie, Young (De Visscher 63), Mair, Considine (McDonald 60), Aluko (Maguire 67).

Subs not used: Bateman, Foster, Hodgkiss, Paton.

Booked: Miller (70), Maguire (84)

Motherwell: G Smith, Quinn, Hammell, Reynolds, Hughes, Malcolm, Porter, Klimpl, Lasley, Murphy (Saunders 67), Fitzpatrick.

Subs not used: Nielsen, Sutton, McGarry, McHugh, Hutchinson, Page.

Booked: G Smith (66), Malcolm (84), Reynolds (86)

Sent off: Quinn (65)

Referee: Chris Boyle

Attendance: 10,302