Warnock leaves Aberdeen after Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Kilmarnock
Neil Warnock has stepped down as Aberdeen manager after guiding the club into the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
A 3-1 quarter-final victory over Kilmarnock proved to be the final match of the 75-year-old’s short spell in charge. Jamie McGrath’s double set up a trip to Hampden Park, but Warnock will not be in the dugout.
The well-travelled Warnock was handed the job until the end of the season after Barry Robson was sacked but did not enjoy a Premiership win in six matches.
The Dons stated the manager had “stepped aside” and chairman Dave Cormack added on Aberdeen’s website: “The club would like to thank both Neil and Ronnie Jepson for their efforts.
“With the search for a new manager at an advanced stage, Peter Leven will assume control of all first-team matters until the process is concluded.”
Aberdeen’s 11th-minute opener came as a result of a long ball from Stefan Gartenmann, which was just too high for Stuart Findlay to properly head clear. Bojan Miovski’s backheel then put Junior Hoilett in behind and McGrath was on hand to knock home the rebound.
Kilmarnock responded well and appealed for a Gartenmann handball in the box, but referee John Beaton and video assistant Andrew Dallas were both unconvinced. Aberdeen doubled their lead in the 33rd minute after Hoilett took a quick throw and crossed.
Miovski laid the ball back for Graeme Shinnie, who had run off the back of Kyle Vassell, and the Dons captain sent a powerful strike into the roof of the net via a deflection off Liam Donnelly. The visitors got back into the game eight minutes later when Vassell cut the ball back for Danny Armstrong to sweep into the net first time.
Aberdeen restored their two-goal lead in the 66th minute, as left-back Jack MacKenzie overlapped and then picked out McGrath who guided his shot home off the head of Findlay. Shinnie received a late yellow card for dissent that rules him out of the semi-final.
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Warnock received a warm ovation as he celebrated with his players on the pitch in what proved to be his farewell to Pittodrie. His only wins with Aberdeen came in the Scottish Cup, with Saturday’s success adding to the fifth-round victory over Bonnyrigg Rose.