Use cup heartache for inspiration: McInnes

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes believes his side’s big-game experience can help them turn cup final pain into a trophy gain.

The Dons are preparing for their fifth semi-final under McInnes today, with Hibernian the last side blocking their path to the climax of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

The former Rangers midfielder got his Pittodrie reign off to the perfect start back in 2014 when he led the Reds to League Cup glory.

But since then, Aberdeen have fallen short in their quest for silverware.

This season’s Betfred Cup final loss against Celtic may have been expected, but last-four losses to St Johnstone and Dundee United have stung.

Now, though, McInnes believes his men will be able to fall back on those experiences when the going gets tough against Neil Lennon’s team.

“You can use any disappointment for inspiration,” he said when asked about November’s 3-0 Hampden loss to Brendan Rodgers’ all-conquering Hoops. “I think you’ve got to get as much experience as possible to deal with occasions like this.

“We’ve had a lot of big game experience in recent years. The European stage has helped us.

“We’ve been the team who has been asked to compete with Celtic over recent seasons to give us some sort of title race and we have always managed to sustain that as long as we could.

“This season is another test for us as a club. The challenge was to at least be second and be better than everybody else.

“We did speak in the dressing room after the last cup final and say that it’s only by re-visiting semi-finals and finals that you get the hang of it, get used to it and feel comfortable within it.”

Niall McGinn has been passed fit for action after missing last weekend’s win over St Johnstone with a groin injury.

Derek McInnes has led Aberdeen to five cup semi-finals in four years.