McInnes delighted to squeeze into last four
Greg Taylor and Greg Kiltie as the Dons edged a quarterfinal replay at Rugby Park. Niall McGinn was the only Aberdeen player to fail to score during the 3-2 shoot-out success after McLean’s penalty had cancelled out Stephen O’Donnell’s goal during extra time. The fact he will be missing key players in the last four added a slightly bittersweet note for McInnes, who feels the rule of two bookings leading to a ban in the Cup is too severe. ‘I’m not thinking about it too much now,’ said McInnes. ‘It’s a harsh rule when it goes to a replay and there’s extra time. It’s a quarter-final, fully committed blood and thunder, there’s going to be bookings. It is what it is. ‘It’s our sixth semi-final in five years, so we’ll use the experience with or without key players. ‘McLean was ridiculously good even though he knew at half-time he was out of the semi-final. ‘He took the penalty, hit he bar and celebrated as much as anyone. We needed a big result and we’ve been searching for one to give us that momentum again.’ A lot of the pre-match talk had been about the pressure on Aberdeen but McInnes insisted his players had stood up to the expectation. ‘The game deserved to go to penalty kicks but I don’t buy this idea it’s a lottery,’ said McInnes. ‘It’s about concentration. ‘I’m not psychic, but I trusted Freddie to save a couple and we’d score ours. ‘I’ve never doubted the character of this group.’ Kilmarnock counterpart Steve Clarke felt a congested schedule finally caught up with his players as he took a little swipe at the authorities. Clarke said: ‘I just felt 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. ‘Aberdeen had three games in the same period. Maybe towards the end that was a crucial little factor in the outcome. ‘So, thanks to the fixture planners at the Scottish league and the SFA, we have had a hell of a run of games. ‘Will I take it up with them? No point. We have a tough game against Rangers on Saturday and I will just focus on that.’
ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes last night lauded his penalty shoot-out heroes for securing another Scottish Cup semi-final. But the Pittodrie manager insisted they were also victims of a rough rule after Graeme Shinnie, Kenny McLean and Shay Logan were left banned for the Hampden meeting with Motherwell on April 14. McInnes watched goalkeeper Freddie Woodman save from Eamonn Brophy,