This stunning comeback will live long in the memory

There was no disputing or denying the significance of this game to Aberdeen’s season.

The manager and players who spoke in the build-up did not shy away from talking about the importance of long cup runs in sustaining the excitement of a season, or specifically in terms of repairing a campaign which had come somewhat off track in recent weeks.

It was surely in recognition of those high stakes that Derek McInnes made two revolutionary selection calls: first by drawing up a somewhat eclectic teamsheet, then by tearing it up after a first half which, but for a single flash of individual inspiration, provided no conclusive evidence as to whether it was working or not.

Both of those radical acts were indicative of the Dons’ struggles this season, where they have often appeared unsure of their identity and unable to rely on the staples which had habitually tended to see them through.

But few things at Pittodrie fall into the ‘old faithful’ category quite so obviously as Andy Considine.

And it is both fitting and unsurprising that it should be he who dragged his club over the line not once but twice.

Not for the first time in his career would Considine rescue his club from cup disaster in the last ditch;

if the team needed a reminder of what and who it is, it is embodied in this man, who has its badge stamped right through him like rock.

For 88 minutes this looked like being the poor relation to the thrilling replay of Tuesday night which provided

Paisley as the quarter-final destination for the winners.

However, what followed knocked events at Fir Park into a cocked hat.

Considine may not be the most glamorous or exciting player in Aberdeen’s history.

But his two amazing interventions at the end of both normal and extra time secured one of its most stunning results for many a year.

We’ve managed to score four goals and here’s us who couldn’t score any.

There are different ways to win a game of football. You can do it tactically or with sheer guts, tenacity and a refusal to let it go any other way than ours.

We went with a really positive team. The two wing-backs were wingers and we thought we’d have more control through the middle.

Kilmarnock were enjoying the game too much. I wasn’t enjoying the last half an hour of the first half and it was a rotten goal to lose.

Clearly we got it wrong and if we hadn’t won the game the narrative would have been how we never started and we’d have picked the wrong team.

We should have had more control to ask the question but we made the changes at halftime. It was a bit of a risk but one we needed to take and all three subs contributed.

We made three subs and we threw everything at it and thankfully we got it with big Andy Considine scoring.

We then go 2-1 up and then lose another poor goal although it’s a great finish from Eamonn Brophy.

Mikey Devlin then couldn’t get his footing right and nearly scored an own goal. I’ll keep going – Lewis Ferguson had battled away all game without being prominent but decides to do something a bit different and Stuart Findlay has taken him out.

I was delighted to see Sam Cosgrove score and the overriding emotion is pleasure and seeing my players and supporters celebrate as one. That connection has got to manifest as one and hopefully we can drive ourselves on.

The whole narrative if we had lost would have been the first half. The courage and positivity in the second half and extra-time wouldn’t have been talked about.