Aberdeen defender Anthony O’Connor has been disciplined by the club following a social media spat with a Dons supporter.
The 25-year-old Irishman, who is out of contract at the end of the season, described the Aberdeen support as “up there with the worst” for getting behind their team in an exchange with a fan following the 3-0 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Motherwell.
Dons manager Derek McInnes said the defender has apologised for his comments.
He said: “We have a social media policy and Anthony has breached that.
“I have spoken to Anthony and it has been dealt with internally. He is fully apologetic.
“After a game like the semi-final, where there is a lot of anger and frustration, it is easy to be reactive and react to criticism and comment.
“Anthony in his time here has praised our fans time and time again. He has apologised for what he said.
“All our players are aware that we have built up a great rapport with our support.
“In our time here I have got to know a lot of the supporters through different events.
“We have a brilliant support and the players recognise that.
“Every single one of our players at some point has paid tribute to the loyalty of our fans and the distance they need to travel to see their team.
“Anthony has commented on that time and time again and he apologises for his comments.
“We can only achieve what we want to achieve with everyone pulling in the right direction.”
McInnes says he understands the frustrations felt by supporters following the Dons’ poor display at Hampden and hopes his side can go some way to making amends by finishing best of the rest.
Ahead of today’s match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, he added: “There is a lot of anger and frustration when you lose big games and I understand that.
“I don’t think finishing second will take away that disappointment but it is the next objective.
“We want to make the supporters proud of the team and finishing second would be a big achievement but it is doesn’t dilute the disappointment from the semi-final.
“There is still a lot to play for. Second is 100 per cent worth chasing down for loads of reasons.
“It guarantees us Europe and a sense of real pride of our work throughout the course of the campaign.
“It is harder to finish second than win a cup but we wanted that cup win and to get to a final.
“That is why we are all disappointed but there is nothing we can do about that now. It is all about our job to finish second.”
Defender Andrew Considine (suspended) and Chidi Nwakali (ankle) will miss today’s match but Graeme Shinnie, Kenny McLean and Shay Logan return from suspension.