Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre was left shell-shocked after his team lost 1-0 to a late own-goal against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup.

Just as the game looked like going to a replay, the ball bounced off Pars stopper Neil McGregor and into the net.

"Football can be a cruel game. It really was a kick in the teeth right at the death," McIntyre told BBC Scotland.

"I didn't feel we deserved that. We had a great chance just before the goal, so it's heartbreaking."

Prior to the last-gasp goal goal, Dunfermline had done well to frustrate their Scottish Premier League opponents, and Pars striker Andy Kirk also had opportunities to score.

And McIntyre said his team's performance was almost faultless.

"I'm very proud of them," he said. "They stuck to the shape that we worked on to a 'T'.

"If there was one criticism, it's that we should have hit the target when we had chances.

Highlights - Aberdeen 1-0 Dunfermline

"There's not much you can say right now. They're absolutely gutted that they're out of the cup as the very least they deserved was a replay."

The Dons goal came about when Chris Maguire fired the ball across the six-yard box, and as Pars goalkeeper Kyle Allison tried to punch clear, he knocked the ball off the back-tracking McGregor.

"It was as dangerous ball into the box, that's just the way it goes sometimes.

"Just before that we were thinking of trying to push on for a winner.

"And then you lose a goal with 20 seconds left and it's too late.

Dunfermline are second in the First Division behind Raith Rovers after going through a shaky spell of league form.

"That performance shows me I have plenty character in the team and the players have got to take that into the league campaign week in, week out," said McIntyre.

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