Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara praised substitute Ryan Dow for his role in helping the Tangerines to the League Cup final.
United, defeated by St Johnstone in the final of last season’s Scottish Cup, came from behind against holders Aberdeen to win Saturday’s semi-final 2-1 and are now only 90 minutes away from claiming the first piece of silverware of the season.
Dow came on two minutes before Callum Morris cancelled out Donervorn Daniels’ opener for Aberdeen with Nadir Ciftci netting the winner with a glancing header six minutes from time.
A delighted McNamara said: “Ryan Dow was the difference when he came on with his energy in behind which, for me, won us the game.
“I have great belief in the squad we have, not just the starting XI as we saw with Ryan coming on.
“At the start of the second half I said to him the game was made for him. He was unlucky not to score and had a huge impact for us.
“It is great for everybody at the club to get to a final so soon after last season’s disappointment.
“We are all in football for days like today.
“There were five or six who started in last season’s final so for them it is a good chance to get it out of their system.”
McNamara reckoned the Hampden pitch hindered both teams in their ability to play attractive, possession football.
He said: “I thought there would be a lot more quality but you could see at times when we were breaking and it looked like a poor pass.
“The ball was bobbling up before the players were going to shoot and I saw Derek McInnes also getting frustrated with that.”
The Dundee United supporters will now face an anxious wait to see if any of their players depart before the transfer window closes today.
Gary Mackay-Steven has signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic and could make move the move if the Hoops meet United’s valuation, while a host of clubs have been tracking midfielder Stuart Armstrong.
McNamara added: “We don’t need to sell Stuart Armstrong but every player has a price and that will be out my hands.
“You have got to weigh up everything – in the summer he will be into his last year of his contract, the same as Nadir Ciftci, and I think it is important to mention that a year past November we managed to get Stuart and Nadir to sign extensions.
“Gary Mackay-Steven didn’t and if the other two hadn’t we could have lost the three of them for nothing.”