Derek McInnes made two changes to the side that would face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup Replay at Rugby Park in an effort to try and find a first win in four matches. Gary Mackay-Steven and Adam Rooney were re-called to the line-up replacing Dom Ball and Stevie May.

The two sides were evenly matched in the first leg and Killie were arguably strengthened from that encounter with the return of Youssouf Mulumbu to the starting line-up. He was joined by Jordan Jones who had missed the victory over Ross County due to injury.

A healthy crowd turned out to witness the match with 1494 Aberdeen supporters making the trip South in search of a prize greater than three points, a Semi-Final with Motherwell at Hampden next month.

The match kicked-off with a fairly frantic pace, both sides roared on by their respective sets of supporters. It had all the makings of a classic cup tie.

In the 6th minute The Dons had their first sight of goal when a whipped free-kick from McGinn skipped between defence and goalkeeper but just too far in front of Considine at the back post. Up the other end Boyd spun O'Connor and hit a low shot towards goal, easily saved by Woodman.

A few moments later McGinn hooked a ball in from the right which was partially cleared by Broadfoot. His header fell to Shinnie who evaded Dicker and hit a half volley with his right foot which was deflected into the arms of MacDonald.

After 15 minutes Rooney had his first effort when a cross from Mackay-Steven was headed back into his path by Christie. The striker tried to get his body over the ball but the volley sailed over the bar, it was a difficult one to take as the ball was rising on the bounce.

Tempers flared midway through the half as Mackay-Steven was fouled on the touchline. The winger fell on top of the ball and as he was on the ground McKenzie continued to try and kick the ball but just kept kicking GMS who was flying on the floor.

Players from both sides rushed in and ultimately the end result was a yellow card for McKenzie and the atmosphere being cranked up a bit more. Referee Steven McLean had a long conversation with his assistant and decided a caution would suffice. The Kilmarnock man was very fortunate it was not red.

In the 28th minute The Dons had a free-kick in a central area 25 yards from goal after Shinnie was bundled over by Mulumbu, the skipper was having a real impact on the game. McGinn stepped up and tried to get the ball up and down over the wall but it never looked threatening as the ball went over the bar.

Moments later Shinnie burst forward again, this time drawing a foul from Dicker who received a yellow card. McGinn turned provider this time as he clipped the ball into the area for Rooney to attack but the flag was up for offside as the keeper punched clear.

The Dons almost took the lead in the 34th minute as a cross from Christie looked to be creeping in at the back post before being blocked on the line by O'Donnell. From the rebound McGinn picked out Considine but he couldn't direct the header towards goal and as the ball broke in the area. McLean got there first before riffling the ball towards goal and agonisingly wide of the post with MacDonald beaten.

The first corner of the match didn't occur until the 38th minute and The Dons almost made it count when Considine had an effort blocked before McKenna hooked the ball over the bar on the spin under pressure from a striped shirt.

With five minutes of the half remaining there was some concern for McLean as he clashed with Findlay, both players went down clutching their heads and were thankfully both back on their feet after some attention from the medical staff.

As the half looked to be drawing to a close McKenzie burst forward and McLean was adjudged to have fouled him 25 yards from goal, it looked very soft and insult was added to injury when McLean picked up a yellow for his troubles which would mean he would miss the Semi-Final if The Dons made it through. Thankfully that was as bad as it got as Boyd's effort was drilled wide of the target.

McLean was soon followed into the book by Rooney as the striker was booked, presumably for persistent fouling after a very innocuous challenge on Taylor, although it was difficult to tell as both sets of supporters grew perplexed by Steven McLean's decisions.

Half time Kilmarnock 0 Aberdeen 0

The teams emerged for the second half with no changes on either side and in the 51st minute Killie had their first corner of the match after an effort from Findlay was deflected wide. McKenna watched the delivery all the way and headed out for a throw-in.

Up the other end Mackay-Steven found space in a wide area and drilled the ball across the face of the goal but it evaded all his teammates and went out for a throw-in. It took until the hour mark before a goalkeeper was called into action in the second half as Woodman had to move out to block Boyd after a delivery from deep.

In the 65th minute McInnes made his first change as May replaced Mackay-Steven. May joined Rooney up front with McGinn and Christie now operating in the wide areas.

A couple of minutes later there was the unusual instance of two players being booked for fouls on the same player as first Logan and then Christie combined to bring down Jones as he broke free on the counter-attack. The action lifted the Rugby Park crowd who were encouraged by the first real impact on the game from Jones.

The crowd were on their feet again when O'Donnell swept a cross into the area for Boyd, the number 9 nudged O'Connor and got his header towards goal but McLean spotted the foul.

Woodman was called into action when O'Donnell cut in from the right and fizzed a half volley towards the far corner, the ball was punched clear. Moments later Power looked to have dragged a shot wide when Boyd directed it back towards goal forcing another save from Woodman. The flag was up but the keeper had to be alert.

With 15 minutes remaining The Dons made their second change when Rooney was replaced by Stewart. Stewart headed out right, Christie inside and May now up top in his own.

The pendulum was starting to swing the way of Killie with Brophy and O'Donnell both having shots which looked goal bound blocked. The Dons were given an opportunity though when Mulumbu fouled Christie on the edge of the area. Could the delivery be better than those that had preceded it?

Christie's initial effort was poor and hit the wall but the ball fell kindly for a rebound which he fired a right foot shot just wide of the post at pace. It was enough to give the Red Army encouragement going into the final 10 minutes although the home side looked livelier as the match progressed.

The next corner went the way of The Dons when O'Donnell sliced a clearance behind. From the corner the ball broke for May but he couldn't keep the effort down. With just a couple of minutes of normal time remaining the final change was made as Nwakali replaced Christie.

As two minutes of added time were signalled Brophy held the ball up and fed Power, fortunately for The Dons he sliced the ball wide of the target meaning that the game would head into extra-time.

Full time Kilmarnock 0 Aberdeen 0

Within the opening few minutes Aberdeen had two corners but the first delivery was poor and the second was cleared to set Killie away on the counter-attack. Shay Logan got under a punt up the park but fell under pressure from Brophy. The striker squared the ball for the onrushing O'Donnell who had a simple tap in to put the home side in front in the 7th minute of extra time.
Logan was furious as he felt Brophy had pushed him in the build up to the goal.

In the 12th minute of added time The Dons were handed a lifeline when McLean flicked the ball on for May who was hauled down with his back to goal. Ironically it was the man who would be missing the Semi-Final, Kenny McLean, who stepped up to take the kick and send MacDonald the wrong way to even up the score.

Moments later McLean almost had The Dons in front when he unleashed a powerful strike from 25 yards only to see it come crashing back off the crossbar. Now it was Aberdeen who had momentum as half-time in extra time approached with both sets of supporters giving everything as they got behind their teams.

Nwakali was giving the Dons a presence in the middle of the park and also allowed McLean to play further forward.

Half time extra time Kilmarnock 1 Aberdeen 1

After the restart it was Aberdeen who had the first opportunity to test the keeper when Shinnie was fouled 30 yards from goal. McLean stepped up but couldn't reproduce his earlier strike as the ball sailed over the bar.

With ten minutes of time remaining Shinnie was at the heart of the action again when he found space 25 yards from goal but on this occasion he couldn't get the shot on target as he aimed for the far corner. Up the other end McKenna picked up a booking for a foul on Brophy which gave Killie an opportunity to deliver. Dicker's delivery was met by a Killie head but with the ball in the back of the net the flag was up for offside. A huge relief.

It was all action all of a sudden as McLean produced an amazing display of control and composure to flick the ball over two Kilmarnock players but his half volley was dragged agonisingly wide of the post in front of a Red Army all set to celebrate.

With just two minutes of the match remaining Shinnie picked up a yellow card which ruled him out of a potential Semi-Final. It was perhaps a bit harsh but the captain had been holding nothing back all night which had seen produce his best performance for a while.

After a few speculative efforts from range Nwakali wound up to strike 30 yards from goal and with all expecting very little he almost found the top corner forcing MacDonald to produce a fine save to send the match to penalties.

Full time extra time Kilmarnock 1 Aberdeen 1

Kilmarnock won the toss and elected to go first with Erwin first up, he sent Woodman the wrong way to send Killie in front. Shinnie was first up for The Dons and dealt with the pressure well to score.

Brophy was next up for the hosts and hit his shot at a good height for Woodman to get across and push the ball onto the bar to give McLean a chance to send The Dons in front which he did with a powerful strike.

If Brophy's penalty gave Woodman a chance, the next one was even easier as Taylor sclaffed the ball towards goal and saw his shot saved but The Dons couldn't capitalise on this occasion as McGinn hit the bar.

O'Donnell was next up and despite Woodman going the right way his penalty had enough to find the back of the net. The pressure was on for Stewart but he found the roof of the net with a confident strike meaning that Kiltie had to score to keep Killie in it. The youngster's penalty was saved well by Woodman who ended the match as the hero.

The Dons were heading back to Hampden after coming out on top against a Kilmarnock side who had thrown everything into both matches.

Aberdeen win 3-2 on penalties