Aberdeen accept Peter Pawlett ban for diving against Hibs

Aberdeen have decided not to contest a two-match ban given to Peter Pawlett in gaining the match-winning penalty during their 1-0 win over Hibernian.

Manager Craig Brown was conciliatory.

"Referee Craig Thomson, to his eternal credit, is reported to have held his hands up publicly and admitted he made a mistake in awarding the spot kick.

"There seems no point in pursuing a course of action that has little chance of succeeding and would also cost the club money," said Brown.

Aberdeen confirmed earlier in the week they had appealed against the red card shown to Pawlett later in the same game for a challenge on Lewis Stevenson.

And that case will be dealt with by a fast-track tribunal on Thursday.

"We are, of course, totally convinced that the red card administered to Peter was totally unjust - and was given by the assistant not the referee," said Brown.

"We await the outcome of our appeal with interest."

Thomson had awarded the penalty, converted by Scott Vernon, after ruling the Dons player was fouled by Ivan Sproule.

But video footage of the penalty incident was reviewed on Monday by compliance officer Vincent Lunny, who then issued a complaint to Aberdeen, offering a two-match suspension for breach of disciplinary rule 202, which relates to simulation.

"I would agree it was a soft penalty," Brown told BBC Scotland immediately after the match. "There's no doubt about that.

"I think there is a good argument for the card being rescinded.

"The player was trying to block the clearance, not make a tackle. And there was no malice, no intent.

"Unlike the linesman, we have the benefit of looking at it again on television replays.

"I know the player, he's not that kind of player.

"There was no excessive force. He was doing what he's told - we're not going to allow deliveries from defence to go unchallenged.

"There were worse tackles in the game that didn't even get a yellow card."