Frustrated Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin has told skipper Anthony Stewart he let his team down with his Hampden horror lunge on Fashion Sakala.
The Pittodrie skipper was already in his manager’s bad books with his ill-advised pre-match comments on Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos. And he copped another disapproving look from the Irishman as he made his way down the tunnel after being sent-off by referee Nick Walsh for a wild stoppage-time tackle on Gers’ Zambian frontman.
The defender’s decision to leap into the reckless challenge out by the corner flag proved to be decisive as the 10-men Reds succumbed to Kemar Roofe’s extra-time winner. Goodwin said: "My initial reaction was that he was in trouble. We have no arguments, I think the official has got it right. It was a poor decision from Anthony unfortunately. He probably should have stayed on his feet and jockeyed the player.
“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 they gave that stayed on, their all and stuck at it and right through extra-time we were very much in the game.
"It's an extremely difficult one to take but at the same time there is a sense of pride in terms of what the players have given us. I think the reaction of our supporters showed a real appreciation of what the players put in.”
There was VAR chaos at the national stadium as the connection with Clydesdale House conked out just as the game moved into the additional half an hour. But Goodwin had no complaints over an incident in which Light Blues winger Ryan Kent appeared to throw an arm at Dons defender Liam Scales just before the end of the regulation 90.
He said: "I don't think it's a major talking point. I saw the incident and I don't think there was a great deal in it.”
But Goodwin was far from happy with the state of the Hampden turf. Having been deluged by torrential downpours during Saturday’s semi-final clash between Celtic and Kilmarnock, the playing surface was in a horrendous state by the time Aberdeen and Gers had their shot at making next month’s final.
Goodwin added: "I'm not making excuses, I thought Rangers were slightly better than us, but the pitch for me and the players was a major disappointment. We were actually saying in the early part of the week that it would be nice to play on a good pitch at this time of the year because there hasn't been a great deal of football here in previous weeks or months.
"I was surprised. I know there was torrential rain on Saturday but a national stadium pitch should have a bit more resilience than that.
"I don't think it suited either team. The VAR thing is just a technical issue, I think that can happen at any stage in any country in the world, but the pitch is a talking point.
"We are trying to market our game and showcase it on live TV all over the world and want to be showing ourselves in a good light.
“I don't think a surface like that helps and it has an impact on the pace of the game. You are asking players before the game not to take risks because of the state of it.
“Every time the ball went back to the goalkeeper your heart was in your mouth because you are not sure which way the ball is going to bounce from one second to the next.”
