Gutted Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin insists he is proud of his team despite suffering League Cup semi-final heartache.
The Dons were leading 1-0 against Rangers only to lose 2-1 after extra time at the national stadium.
Goodwin has vowed to bring the Reds back to Hampden in the Scottish Cup this season – and go one step further to the final.
Aberdeen travel to non-league Darvel in the Scottish Cup next Monday night.
With the score at 1-1, the Reds were reduced to 10 men in regulation injury time when captain Anthony Stewart was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Fashion Sakala.
Goodwin accepts a red card was the right call for a “poor decision” by the Dons skipper that “left his team-mates in a very difficult situation”.
However, he praised the 10-man Reds for pushing Rangers in extra-time on a terrible, energy-sapping Hampden pitch.
Boss’ pride after Dons stuck to game plan and almost got result
Goodwin said: “There are real mixed emotions.
“The initial reaction is one of disappointment that we are out of the cup.
“But in terms of what the players gave me under the circumstances, there is a sense of pride in the effort and commitment they gave – the discipline in really sticking to the game plan for long periods of the game.
“They can be extremely proud of their efforts. I don’t think anyone who watched the game can say the players didn’t give their all.
“That’s all you can ask of your team as a manager: in every occasion they go out on to the pitch. Have no regrets and do the best you can. And they did that.
“There was not a single member of our squad who did not give maximum effort.
“Had one or two changes in fortune went our way, it could have been different.”
‘A poor decision from Anthony’
Aberdeen were leading 1-0 at half-time through a Bojan Miovski half-volley.
Rangers hit back in the second half via a deflected strike from Ryan Jack, the former Dons captain.
The game was finely balanced when Stewart lunged into a challenge on Sakala on the left flank three minutes into injury time.
Referee Nick Walsh brandished a straight red to the Aberdeen captain.
Goodwin said: “My initial reaction when the challenge was made was that he was in trouble.
“I was talking to one of my staff members at the time and I felt he was going to be shown the red card.
“We have no arguments and I think the official has got it right at that moment in time.
It's a RED for Anthony Stewart! 🟥
The Aberdeen skipper has been at the heart of the build-up this week, and his challenge on Fashion Sakala now has him headed back to the dressing room early 😬#RANABE | #ViaplayCup | @spfl pic.twitter.com/Q4VVmNTTlG
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) January 15, 2023
“It was a poor decision from Anthony unfortunately.
“He probably should have stayed on his feet and jockeyed the player instead of doing what he did.
“He left his team-mates in a very difficult situation going down to 10 men against a good Rangers team.
“But in fairness to the 10 guys that stayed on, they gave their all.
“They stuck at it and right through the half hour of extra time we were still very much in the game.
“We hit the post and Hayden Coulson right in the last minute of extra time was very unfortunate.
“I think the reaction of our supporters at the end of the game – there was a real appreciation for the effort the players put in.”
Goodwin targeting a rapid Hampden return
Rangers broke the hearts of the Aberdeen support when Kemar Roofe netted in the first half of extra-time.
Despite being a man down, the Dons kept pushing for a leveller, but it never came as Aberdeen’s bid for a first trophy since 2014 ended.
Goodwin is determined to get Aberdeen back to Hampden in the Scottish Cup this season.
And he aims to book a final slot.
Goodwin said: “The important thing is that we learn from it and hope that we can get back here in the same stage in the Scottish Cup.
“And go that one step further.”
Rangers boss on Stewart’s red card
Rangers manager Michael Beale was confident there was no malice in Stewart’s challenge on Sakala.
Beale said: “I don’t think there was any malice in it.
“He has mistimed it.”