DONS DUMP WELL AS RED CARDS FLY

GRAEME SHINNIE'S first goal of the season helped fire Aberdeen into the Scottish Cup quarterfinals as the holders beat nine-man Motherwell in a game of three red cards at Pittodrie.

- BY GAVIN MCCAFFERTY

The Dons captain put his side two ahead in the 63rd minute after Oscar Priestman and Liam Gordon were sent off three minutes into each half for denying obvious goalscoring opportunities.

Kevin Nisbet scored from the fourth-minute free-kick that was the result of the first red card and Motherwell could not capitalise on Dennis Geiger's first-half dismissal.

Shinnie had been sent off himself in his previous appearance and the skipper produced an excellent long-range finish to seal a quarterfinal tie at Dunfermline.

Both managers made changes after Aberdeen's 2-0 defeat at Fir Park on Sunday, Dons caretaker Peter Leven making four and Jens Berthel Askou changing six of his starting lineup.

The most significant changes saw Eythor Bjorgolfsson make his first Well start and goalkeeper Matty Connelly brought in.

The 22-year-old keeper was in the thick of the early action when he misplaced a pass inside two minutes.