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McInnes believes Rangers win fuels confidence for next week’s Scottish Cup final

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes his side’s impressive victory against Rangers is the perfect morale-booster ahead of next week’s Scottish Cup final showdown with Celtic.

The Dons ended 26 years of hurt by defeating Pedro Caixinha’s side 2-1 in Govan on Wednesday.

It was the first time Aberdeen had recorded a win at Ibrox since Brian Grant and Eoin Jess were on target in a 2-0 win in September 1991.

McInnes’ side will now look to end an even longer wait by claiming the club’s first Scottish Cup since 1990.

Treble-chasing Celtic stand in their way but McInnes feels his side’s hopes of causing an upset at Hampden next weekend have been enhanced by their win against rivals Rangers.

He said: “It certainly doesn’t do our confidence any harm.

“It will be a totally different game in the cup final.

“I am really pleased as a lot of our supporters have gone to Ibrox since 1991 with high expectations and hopes and left disappointed.

“That was only my team’s second attempt at it.

“I thought we were unlucky at Ibrox earlier in the season as it was a game that could have gone either way.

“I am delighted we have ticked that box.

“Our team has broken a lot of records.

“It has been a positive period but we knew the importance to the supporters of winning at Ibrox.

“It was also important for the players to win here.

“We went there on the back of a good season feeling confident.

“We were without a couple of players who would normally start but we still felt confident we could get a result.

“I was really pleased with the level of performance.”

Before that the Dons will take on Partick Thistle at Firhill on Sunday.

McInnes’ side have already confirmed second spot in the Scottish Premiership but a win in Maryhill would give the Dons their highest ever points total.

He said: “Hopefully that helps us going into the Partick Thistle game where we want to try to tick another box as we can break our points record for a team outwith the Old Firm.

“We had 75 points two years ago and we want to get to 76.

“We have two important games left – one is obviously more important than the other.

“Hopefully we get a couple of the injured players back and don’t pick up any more injuries on Sunday.”