Two minutes later they were ahead as, on the break from a corner, Scott Wright drew a handball from Stephen O'Donnell wide on the right. Matty Kennedy swung a cross to the back post, where Hoban headed into the top corner to open the scoring.

Hedges sent an effort, almost identical to his earlier attempt, wide after a neat exchange with Wright, before Motherwell started to find their rhythm in attack.

Polworth set Tony Watt away and the Scotland man stepped onto his right foot before seeing his low effort parried by Joe Lewis. Sherwin Seedorf seemed destined to level things from the rebound, but Funso Ojo blocked well.

Ojo was at fault for the next chance though, his crossfield pass intercepted by Watt who homed in on goal only for his effort to come back off the upright and fly into the arms of a grateful Lewis.

A minute later there was a confrontation in the middle of the park as Polworth seemed to kick out after being fouled by Scott Wright, with both players booked along with Ojo who had joined in the melee.

And Polworth's game would come to an end just three minutes after the interval, the midfielder shown a straight red card for comments directed at referee Craig Napier after the Motherwell man injured a shoulder in another midfield clash.

It seemed a foregone conclusion from there that Aberdeen would extend their lead, and so it would prove.

Ferguson came close with a back-post header and Ash Taylor had a goal ruled out for a push, but the second did eventually arrive.

Again it came from a corner. Kennedy played it short to Hedges and he laid off for Ferguson, whose effort was blocked. The ball broke to Considine, who had no trouble slotting home from close range.

That was enough for the Dons, who continued to threaten but could ultimately be satisfied with their afternoon's work.