Nevertheless, the hosts restored their two objective benefit within the second half when the guests’ centre half Stuart Findlay turned a McGrath shot into his personal internet after which booked their place at Hampden subsequent month.
Listed here are 5 speaking factors from the all-Premiership quarter-final encounter.
TIMELY WIN
Warnock should want his Aberdeen aspect might play within the Scottish Cup each week – the one triumph he had overseen earlier than as we speak was the victory over fourth tier part-timers Bonnyrigg Rose within the earlier spherical final month.
However the veteran English supervisor’s group had been effectively price their win as we speak. They competed effectively in each space of the pitch and created sufficient possibilities to prevail by an much more emphatic scoreline. If they will carry out with the identical coronary heart within the ultimate league video games they may keep away from getting sucked right into a relegation battle.
FINDLAY SLIP-UPS
Former Scotland internationalist Stuart Findlay is not going to take pleasure in wanting again on the opening objective subsequent week.
The Kilmarnock centre half didn’t take care of a Stefan Gartenmann punt upfield by and allowed Bojan Miovski to pinch possession and again heel to Junior Hoilett.
The previous Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers, Studying and Cardiff Metropolis compelled a save from Will Dennis.
However the Killie goalkeeper might solely parry his shot and McGrath ghosted in and bundled the ball over the road from the sting of the six yard field.
It was a unnecessary objective to lose. However worse was to comply with for the defender within the second half. He was unable to get out the way in which of a McGrath shot after good work by Jack McKenzie. The try curled past Dennis off his head.
SWEET SHINNIE STRIKE
Aberdeen captain Shinnie has most likely been extra badly affected by the Pittodrie membership’s tough season than anybody.
So his delight at netting the second objective of the afternoon was fully comprehensible. However he had each proper to have a good time his beautiful effort wildly. He is not going to have netted many higher in his lengthy profession.
He lashed an unstoppable effort into the highest left nook after McGrath had laid off a Hoilett go to him contained in the Kilmarnock space. It took the slightest of deflections off of an outstretched leg. However would Dennis have been capable of get a hand to it if it had not? It’s uncertain.
The reserving which Shinnie picked up for dissent late on took a few of the sheen off the consequence because it dominated him out of the semi-final.
OUT-OF-SORTS KILLIE
Having watched their heroes undergo a late collapse towards St Mirren in a Premiership match in Paisley final weekend, few Aberdeen supporters would have felt fully assured once they had been main 2-0.
When Armstrong pulled one again for McInnes males 4 minutes earlier than half-time after getting on the tip of a Vassell chip they should have feared the worst.
However their opponents, who’re in fifth place within the high flight desk and pushing onerous for a European spot, weren’t their regular selves and had been effectively crushed on the finish of the 90 minutes.
BEATON’S BACK
John Beaton received it each barrels from Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers after the Scottish champions’ defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle within the cinch Premiership final Sunday.
Rodgers was incensed with the pink card which his winger Yang Hyun-jun acquired and with the penalty which was given towards his aspect for a Tomoki Iwata handball.
VAR official Beaton had urged his colleague Don Robertson to have a look at each incidents once more – and the pair had been lambasted for his or her “incompetence” following the ultimate whistle.
Would the vastly-experienced Scottish referee have a quieter afternoon at Pittodrie and restore his battered repute?
There was, unsurprisingly given the significance of this cup tie to each groups, a particular edge to proceedings and Beaton angered each units of supporters within the 10,879-strong together with his selections.
He allowed play to proceed when Kilmarnock child David Watson went to floor within the Aberdeen penalty field following contact from Shinnie.
He additionally let Rugby Park striker Vassell go unpunished after he had pushed Pittodrie midfielder Stefan Gartenmann over.
That prompted a chant of “John Beaton, we all know you’re a Hun” from the members of Ultras Aberdeen within the Merkland Stand.
He confirmed the primary yellow card early within the second half when Jack McKenzie fouled Armstrong because the winger broke down the correct. Armstrong and Joe Wright each received booked thereafter.
However neither supervisor might have any complaints concerning the competency of the man-in-the-middle.
