Paul Sheerin gave his reaction after the Aberdeen reserve side progressed through to the semi-finals of the SPFL Reserve Cup thanks to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

“There was a wee bit more drama than was probably needed when we went 3-1 up early on in the second half.

“We will pick out the bones of the goals conceded as we always do.

“I thought that some of our forward stuff today was exceptional. When you have a front line of Anderson, Ruth, Ross and McLennan you are going to create chances and score goals.

“We were more open than we needed to be as the game developed.

“When the game goes to 3-3 it is frustrating because I thought on chances, we absolutely dominated them.

“I am trying to think back to the chances they created, and I think they only created the three chances that they scored. You could argue that it is clinical on their behalf but from our point of view it is negligent more than anything.

“I spoke about trying to be brave and pass the ball and be expansive in possession and a wee bit more rigid out of possession. I think we got the expansiveness right when we were in possession. It is then difficult to get back into shape quickly when you lose the ball and I think that showed at times.

“It is risk and reward and ultimately we were rewarded with the right result. I do think that we deserved to win the game.

“Their goalkeeper makes three or four very good saves one on one and we could have been more clinical than we were in certain areas. Dangana has a brilliant goal that was ruled out for offside. If I watch it back, I am sure he was onside, I might be wrong, it was a great finish that would have sealed it as well.

“I think we are just trying to get the balance right at the moment. It was good to see us pass the ball, being creative and getting crosses into the box and I am not going to take away from that, it was pleasing.

“The object for today was to get to the semi-final. We wanted to do that by winning the game as opposed to drawing, we have managed to do that. I won’t grumble too much.

“We will pick the bones out of the goals we lost and try and improve as a team. That is just not defensively, that is as a team because at times we were more open than we probably needed to be.

“Bruce could have had another two, no doubt he will be beating himself up after missing those chances!

“His finishing is outstanding; we all know that. Its just trying to make that step now. It isn’t easy, we all know it is a different level when you go up to the first team. He will keep being ready when the gaffer needs him. Even when he does come on you know he is going to get one chance. It is up to him to take those opportunities when they come along.

“For me he has been outstanding in terms of his performance levels and his goal return.

“You can’t grumble with three hat-tricks in this competition too much!

“Our aim has to be to go on and win the trophy.

“We have got to set an aim as a group to do as well as we can in this competition.

“We fell at the semi-final stage last year against Hearts. We have given ourselves that aim to get to the final and see where that takes us.

“We have to make it our sole focus.”