Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin has touchline ban reduced

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin has had his touchline suspension reduced on appeal and will sit in the stand for only two more games.

The former Republic of Ireland international was originally hit with a six-match ban, with a further two-game ban suspended, after accusing Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous of "blatant cheating", but has seen that cut by three after the appellate tribunal partially upheld his appeal at a hearing on Monday night.

Goodwin had already served one match of his ban prior to filing the appeal, meaning he will be eligible to return when the Dons host Dundee United on 12 November in their final game before the World Cup break.

The Waterford man got himself into trouble with his post-match comments following his side's 3-1 loss to Hibs at Easter Road last month, in which Aberdeen and Ireland defender Liam Scales was sent off for a second bookable offence when Porteous had gone down in the box to win a penalty.

The former St Mirren manager said after the game: "I don't know how many times the boy Porteous can get away with that kind of stuff.

"We're telling our players in midweek to be careful with him in the box, be careful with him at set-plays and don't touch him as he will go over.

"I actually had a laugh and a joke with the referee prior to the game to make him aware of it. Unfortunately just before half-time he was sucked in hook, line and sinker.

"We showed our players a number of instances when Porteous has won penalties like that in the past.

People will say he's good at it and he's clever. But it's blatant cheating as far as I'm concerned and it's cost my team points."

Goodwin admitted two charges at a Scottish Football Association disciplinary hearing - breaching a rule which forbids comments of a