McInnes says losing on penalties is hard to take

Derek McInnes said it was hard to find words to console his players after their penalty shoot-out defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

"It's hard to take. There's not much you can say to make the boys feel better," said the St Johnstone manager.

"Thinking what could have been I felt the boys were desperately unlucky, and I'm proud of how gutsy they were.

"We just need to use this disappointment to spur us on to be successful in the future."

The Perth side contained Rangers for 90 minutes, and took the lead in extra time through Daniel McBreen's header.

However, Nacho Novo drew Rangers level from the spot, before Neil Alexander saved twice in the ensuing penalty shoot out.

And McInnes says his team know they have missed a great opportunity to get.

"I felt as if the boys really believed they could be the first St Johnstone side in a Scottish Cup final," McInnes lamented.

"And we knew a team from our own divisision - Queen of the South - were waiting for us.

"It's desperately disappointing, but the effort and drive of my players to keep going deserves a lot of credit."