RED BANS SO UNFAIR
From Back Page bookings. It was a fiercely contested game and both sets of players were determined to get to the semi-final.
“I’m not thinking about it now but I’m happy on the night. I’ve never doubted the character.”
McInnes admitted his side had to dig deep against a resurgent Killie but he was thrilled to set up his sixth semi-final in five years as Pittodrie boss.
He said: “It has been a long time since I’ve seen Rugby Park with an atmosphere like tonight and it’s testament to the work being done here that the Kilmarnock fans came here with so much belief.
“We’ve edged a very tough tie. Kilmarnock’s form in the league has been outstanding and any time a team plays against them they have to earn anything they get.
“I thought it was a foul on Shay Logan but Stephen O’Donnell deserves credit to get from his box to ours.
“Kenny McLean hit the bar, we get the penalty, and in extra-time we were the team going out to win the game.
“The game deserved to go to penalty kicks but I don’t buy this idea it’s a lottery. It’s about concentration. I had a list of five and I was confident they would score. Seven or eight wanted to take a penalty. There was only one moonwalking to the back of the line but I won’t say who it was!
“We dealt with the situation better.
“It’s our sixth semi-final in five years so we’ll use the experience with or without key players.”
McInnes picked out McLean as his star man after he dragged the Dons through despite knowing he’d face Hampen heartache.
He said: “McLean was ridiculously good even though he knew at half-time he was out of the semi-final.”
Killie boss Steve Clarke refused to be down but admitted his men ran out of steam amid a brutal fixture list.
He said: “There is disappointment but I am proud of the players.
“It goes to penalty kicks and that’s a bit of a lottery.
“We looked a little bit jaded towards the end. We have had six games in 18 days. That is a big ask and then to play extra time – that’s why I’m proud of the players.
“So thanks to the fixture planners at the Scottish league and the SFA we have had a hell of a run of games.”