Aberdeen boss Craig Brown stoic over Peter Pawlett dismissal

Referee Craig Thomson's decision to send off Pawlett sparked controversy

Manager Craig Brown was reluctant to criticise referee Craig Thomson following his 10-man Aberdeen side's 1-0 victory at home to Hibernian.

Peter Pawlett earned a penalty - scored by Scott Vernon - before being dismissed by referee Craig Thomson for a challenge on Lewis Stevenson.

"We'll consider that (appealing), but that was a straight red in the opinion of Scotland's top referee," said Brown.

"So I'm not going to complain publicly about it."

An explosive second half lit up what had proved a drab encounter at Pittodrie, with Thomson pointing to the spot after Pawlett tumbled under a challenge by Ivan Sproule.

"Peter was bowled over, but it was a soft one," said Brown. "Anywhere else on the pitch, I think a foul would be given.

"But it's a harsh penalty. Our goalkeeper made a couple of excellent saves and our defence kept a clean sheet."

On Pawlett's dismissal, Brown said: "We'll have a look at it. I spoke to Peter - a nice young lad - there's no malice in him at all.

"He said to me that Lewis Stevenson said to him it was 'never a red card'.

"I asked Peter what the referee sent him off for and he said he didn't tell him.

"He just sent him off and we just have to respect the decision and take it on the chin."

Brown was delighted to see his side see out the rest of the game to claim maximum points and he took time to praise Aberdeen's opponents.

"If I were the Hibs manager I wouldn't be too displeased with how they played," he added.

"We restricted Hibs to few chances; the main thing from our point of view is that it was a battling performance.

"If you've got a battling team then you've got a chance of winning every game."