Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is expecting a much better start from his team in the Betfred Cup semi-finals after they paid the price for a poor first half against Hearts.
The Dons fought back well after being two down at the break but were on the end of a 2-1 Ladbrokes Premiership defeat at Tynecastle.
Late first-half goals from Arnaud Djoum and Steven Naismith – from the penalty spot – proved enough for the league leaders despite the latter missing a second spot-kick.
McInnes claimed Hearts’ first penalty award was extremely harsh after Lewis Ferguson was penalised for handball but he felt a lack of both belief and readiness for Hearts’ intensity in the opening period were bigger factors in their defeat.
However, half-time substitutes Niall McGinn and Scott Wright impressed as they continue to move on from injury problems and the Dons will have Scotland defender Scott McKenna back from suspension when they face Rangers at Hampden on Sunday.
McInnes told Red TV: “We wanted a positive result (before the semi-final) and we spoke about that. I thought we missed McKenna, there’s no getting away from it, and thankfully he will be back next week. We have been hampered by losing him.
“We are now getting players back – Wright, McGinn, Stevie May, James Wilson. They will all be better for having the game and hopefully we will be more ready for the game next week. It’s going to be a brilliant game, I’m really looking forward to it.
“And if the trade-off from this disappointment is things we need to learn – because I thought we played a bit young in the first half – hopefully it helps us for next week.
“The build-up will be exciting, hopefully we have a good working week going into the game, and we look forward to trying to get the club into another final.”
Hearts manager Craig Levein was missing Peter Haring on top of new long-term absentees John Souttar and Uche Ikpeazu, but he hopes to have the Austrian back in his midfield for their semi-final against Celtic and possibly even Tuesday’s league game at Dundee.
“I’m hoping he’ll be ready for Tuesday, if not then I’m fairly sure he’ll be ready for Sunday,” Levein said. “He needs a hernia op but he’s been playing with it. He’s got a muscle strain just now which is caused by it.
“I’d hoped he was going to be ready but it’s been slow to recover. I’m fairly hopeful he’ll be ready for next Sunday. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t.”
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