Goals from Francis Jeffers and Jamie Murphy overturned Sone Aluko's second-minute strike to move Motherwell back into the top six of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Motherwell moved the ball around impressively in the first half as they showed no lasting damage from their 6-0 weekend thrashing by Rangers, with the impressive Jeffers coming close on several occasions after heading a 14th-minute equaliser.

The Lanarkshire side regained control following a scrappy period that followed Aberdeen skipper Paul Hartley's red card and Murphy kept his nerve to fire a 71st-minute winner.

McCall said: "It was all about character. We had a good word in the dressing room about not coming for a point and having a go.

"We knew if we won tonight we could go fifth, albeit having played a couple of games more.

"When you go a goal behind so early it's easy to cave in, obviously after what happened on Saturday, but I thought in the first half we bounced back superbly.

"There were a lot of big, big performances from a lot of players, even more so when we went a goal behind against a resurgent Aberdeen side, so character was the key."

McCall hailed the "excellent movement" of Jeffers on his first start for the club and dismissed suggestions that Keith Lasley should have followed Hartley down the tunnel.

Lasley appeared to lead with his elbow in an aerial challenge with Hartley, who responded by kicking the Motherwell midfielder.

"I haven't seen it again but I didn't even think it was a free-kick," McCall said. "Lasley challenged for the ball and won it and both players fell on the ground. I didn't see what happened after that but I think Paul lashed out with his feet."

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown was gracious in defeat against his former club, who he left in December to move to Pittodrie.

"It's easy to sum up," Brown said. "The better team won. We got a great start, and because Motherwell had lost by six at the weekend, our objective was to get an early goal.

"But it galvanised them and they played exceptionally well."

Brown refused to comment on referee Steven McLean's decision to book Lasley and admitted Hartley, who now faces a three-match ban, had no complaints.

"It was a red card," said Brown when asked about Hartley's offence. "I think it was retaliation.

"It's quite difficult not to retaliate when you're playing out there but Paul's an experienced player and I'm sure he's feeling disappointed.

"He didn't make any comment, others made plenty of comments but I won't sit here and criticise an official."