Jens Berthel Askou has enjoyed a strong start at Motherwell, but his recent decision-making has left much to be desired, costing the team a chance at silverware in what could have been a standout season.

There’s a fine line between refreshing a lineup and appearing to undervalue a major competition. Askou’s choices during the Scottish Cup match at Pittodrie seemed to fall into the latter category. His strategy was excessive, disappointing the 900 enthusiastic away fans who had hoped for more from the team.

Askou made six changes to the squad that had recently defeated Aberdeen at Fir Park. While Stephen Welsh’s absence was unavoidable due to being cup-tied with Celtic, the decision to bench key players like goalkeeper Calum Ward, Emmanuel Longelo, Elliot Watt, Callum Slattery, and Ibrahim Said was startling.

Connelly, who had played in the previous round against Ross County, was thrust into a high-pressure situation without the usual defensive support. Although he managed a few good saves, it didn’t make up for the early instability his team faced.

Despite Askou eventually bringing in his top players from the bench, Motherwell struggled to find their rhythm. Even after Aberdeen’s Dennis Geiger was sent off for a reckless foul on Lukas Fadinger, Motherwell failed to capitalize on the advantage.

Aberdeen skipper Graeme Shinnie celebrates an important win for the cup holders

Oscar Priestman was first to go for Motherwell after bringing down Lyall Cameron

Motherwell’s Liam Gordon was also sent off as the Fir Park side were reduced to nine men

The situation worsened when Liam Gordon was sent off early in the second half for fouling Toyosi Olusanya during a goal-scoring opportunity. Aberdeen’s captain, Graeme Shinnie, sealed the game with a goal at the 64th minute, securing a 2-0 victory and setting up a quarter-final match against Dunfermline for the defending champions.

Askou has been such a revelation that it would have been great to see Motherwell compete for a trophy this year. He certainly acted last night like he still sees the Premiership as a live option. It isn’t.

His team’s nightmare started when Connelly passed the ball straight to Geiger under no pressure and put his entire team into panic stations.

The German shifted the ball on to Nisbet and he quickly fed the onrushing Lyall Cameron. Priestman had no choice but to make the tackle on the edge of the box. He slipped and brought the Aberdeen midfielder crashing.

A perfect example of denying a goalscoring opportunity, it came as no surprise when referee John Beaton awarded the free-kick and flashed a red card.

Nisbet’s dead-ball was well struck and would certainly have asked serious questions of Connelly. The slight deflection off Gordon’s thigh gave him no chance.

From there, it was a rearguard action for the visitors. Worse still, the interplay that’s taken them so far this season failed to emerge when they were a man down and in need of using the ball more cleverly.

Cameron forced a decent save from Connelly before the quarter-hour mark, then capitalised on a Motherwell mix-up 30 yards from goal, his low curling effort saved again by the keeper.

Kevin Nisbet fired home the first goal for Aberdeen from a free-kick in the fifth minute

Dons caretaker boss Peter Leven celebrates with Shinnie, who scored the Dons’ second

Motherwell boss Askou had high hopes for his team in the Scottish Cup before Tuesday’s defeat

Striker Kevin Nisbet runs away to celebrate getting Aberdeen off the mark

That’s when Geiger offered them a lifeline with a high tackle. Initially given a yellow by Beaton for catching Fadinger in the groin, VAR Chris Graham invited the man in the middle to have another look on the pitchside monitor.

Geiger deserved to go and Motherwell reacted by creating their first proper opportunity just before the half-hour, Eli Just’s effort from 22 yards deflected wide.

For all the visitors were showing some faint signs of their usual selves, another save from Connelly stopped Nisbet making it 2-0 just before the break.

It was a surprise that it took so long for Askou to react to Priestman’s dismissal and bolster midfield. Slattery came on for Tom Sparrow at the interval, but that plan soon unravelled as Gordon was sent packing.

The defender dilly-dallied on the ball at the halfway line, allowing Olusanya, on at the break for Nicolas Milanovic, to get a touch and set sail for goal. Gordon went to ground and brought the striker down.

The question was whether or not Motherwell had a covering defender. After initially showing Gordon a yellow, Beaton was sent to the screen once again and concluded that no-one would have stopped Olusanya racing into the area. It was the right call. Gordon was red-carded for denying a goalscoring opportunity and the visitors were back behind the eight-ball.

Askou brought on Watt and Longelo, but Shinnie ended the game as a contest on 64 minutes, taking a ball from Olusanya 22 yards out and beating Connelly to his left with a bouncing shot.