McInnes is delighted his side got the job done but wants more from his players than he got at Hampden

Derek McInnes praised Rangers’ resilience for getting over the line and taking him to his first final as Ibrox gaffer.

His side eventually saw off Aberdeen at Hampden thanks to Ryan Naderi’s late winner.

Gers were the better side in the Premier Sports Cup last-four clash but after squandering chances in front of goal the tie looked destined for extra-time.

Naderi popped up to divert James Penrice’s shot into the net from close range to book McInnes a return to Hampden on December 13.

The manager says they deserved to go through and was proud of their perseverance.

He also hailed Naderi’s instincts in front of goal as the Czech striker followed up his Old Firm winner at Celtic Park earlier this season with a crucial clincher against the Dons.

McInnes said: “We came with the intention of making sure we got the club to a cup final by hook or by crook and we’ve done the job.

“I’m delighted with the players for their perseverance, for keeping going.

“I’ve been involved with lots of clubs, including Rangers, in semi-finals when we had far bigger, more talented squads.

“We struggled to get through them because semi-finals aren’t easy especially when you play the way we did in the first half.

“We were ponderous and needed to be quicker.

“We needed to be calm but we snatched at things and made poor decisions.

“When you have 75 percent possession and 25 shots in a game but only five on target, it’s not good enough. But that’s for another day. It was just about getting through to the final, and it’s important for this group of players to feel that.

“It’s also important for the supporters and the club to look forward to a final.

“This is where we need to keep arriving at. We need to get the job done to win trophies. That’s the job at Rangers.

“So we’ve done it well today.

“I’ve always said that Ryan, if you give him service, he's always in the middle of the goal for when the ball goes into good areas.

“A lot of the time we don't feed him enough. We don't put the ball in there and we make too many bad decisions.

“We were waiting on the net bulging a few times.

“But I love those types of goals. It's the bread and butter for number nines.

“He’s on the move. Similar to the goal at Celtic Park, he’s on the move, just thinking there may just be something here for me.

“It's so important you've got that type of player.”

Rangers winger Badredine Bouanani picked up the man-of-the-match award and was a constant threat to Aberdeen on the right flank.

He came close to scoring on several occasions and McInnes says the Algerian - and the rest of Gers’ wide players - must start putting numbers on the board.

But he’s convinced that on-loan Stuttgart ace Bouanani will eventually start firing.

He said: “He better! The wide players need to start scoring goals.

“Minsu Kim needs to get that demand on himself, Djeidi Gassama too.

“Bouanani's got so much quality. As soon as he steps on to that left side, 25 yards out, you think it's in the net because in training he does it time and time again.

“So if he keeps chapping at the door, I'm sure the goals will come. He can be pleased with his performance. I always had him in mind for this game.”

McInnes made a huge call before the game by dropping skipper Dan Neil in favour of playing Tuur Rommens at left-back and shifting James Penrice into midfield.

The Rangers gaffer knows how much Neil wanted to lead the team out but insists he was the consummate professional when he discovered he’d been left out.

McInnes said: “Dan was fine. It's all about the team.

“Listen, everybody wants to play and semi-finals are big occasions.

“There's only disappointment when you're not involved but he was brilliant before the game.

“He was brilliant when he came on, I thought he was really good in the game.

“He got to the pace of the game brilliantly and I thought we were better, actually, when Dan came on.

“When the game needed a bit of calmness, he normally makes those right decisions, as he did for his small part in the winning goal.”