Derek McInnes salutes travelling Dons fans ahead of Hampden semi-final

Dons boss Derek McInnes today said he’s determined to reward the Red Army marching in force to Hampden.

More than 11,000 Dons fans are going to Glasgow for tomorrow’s Scottish League Cup semi-final against Morton.

That’s despite the fact the game kicks off at 12.15pm and is being shown live on television.

SPFL chiefs ignored pleas from the Dons to stage the tie at Easter Road with a 3pm kick-off.

McInnes, pictured, was worried the early start in particular might put fans off the idea of going to the semi-final.He’s delighted that isn’t the case and his players will have a huge backing as they bid to reach the final.

McInnes said: “It’s important to highlight how many Aberdeen fans are making the effort to go to the match.

“I would like to personally thank every single person who has bought a ticket and will be hitting the road early tomorrow to be there for us.

“The timing of the match has made it hard for our fans to maximise the occasion.

“It makes us appreciate even more that we are still going to have such a large number of supporters cheering us on at the semi-final.

“It would have been easier to look at the  kick-off time and choose not to go as a form of protest against the SPFL for doing what they did.

“Even more so because they could have stayed at home and watched the game on the telly.

“It’s brilliant that so many have still chosen to go to Glasgow.

“It shows the semi-final is as important to them as is it to us.

“I can promise them we will be doing all that we can to make sure their commitment is rewarded.”

Defender Ash Taylor is in Aberdeen’s 20-man squad, although he remains a doubt because he’s still recovering from the thigh injury suffered in the early stages of last weekend’s 4-0 league win over Ross County.

Skipper Ryan Jack is back after two months out with a knee injury.

McInnes has challenged his men to seize their opportunity to move a step closer to writing their names into the club’s history books.

“I’m convinced we have a team that can win trophies for Aberdeen,” he said.

“The challenge to the players now is to go and prove it. They have a chance to put their names into the history books at the club.

“When you speak to Aberdeen supporters they can rhyme off all the names of previous cup winning sides.

“They really admire the ones who managed to achieve success over a sustained period.

“That’s what I would like to see for some of the players I have brought to Aberdeen.

“We have already achieved some positive things.

“We won the League Cup and have shown consistency in the league to qualify for Europe three years in a row.

“That shows we are a good side. But in the years ahead the amount of success this team enjoyed is more likely to be judged on how much silverware they won.”