Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass cut a frustrated figure after watching his side bow out of the Premier Sports Cup at the hands of Raith Rovers this afternoon.

“To lose the game is an enormous blow, we can’t hide from that. The fact we controlled the first half but weren’t good enough to put it to bed is an even bigger blow in a way, because we were completely in control in that first 45 minutes.

“We didn’t start the second half particularly well and we conceded an early equaliser. The atmosphere then becomes a cup-tie atmosphere and we allowed them to dictate the play which we didn’t in the first half. The reaction to that, to be a threat and go and dominate the game again, wasn’t there and that’s probably the biggest disappointment.”

Aberdeen, who will have played 11 competitive fixtures already by the end of August, made seven changes to the side that beat Breidablik on Thursday and Glass was quick to emphasise the importance of protecting the players during such a hectic spell.

“The changes aren’t about trying to be clever or rotate the group. I think we saw in the first half a group of players on the pitch that was more than capable of winning that game. We didn’t quite do enough to put the game away at half-time, but that’s not an issue over the selection.

“You saw at the end with Jonny and Ryan getting injured just how quickly we can get stretched pretty thin by injuries and so we have to make changes to protect players. We’ve got two young boys at full-back who are doing well but one’s just turned 18, the other is 21, they’re both in their first full season, so you have to offer a level of protection for the players.

“Today is a massive disappointment, I can’t put a positive spin on the game. The reaction to adversity and it becoming a cup-tie in the second half wasn’t good enough, so it’s important that the reaction between now and Thursday and then in the game on Thursday night, is good.

“We have to put in a performance against Qarabag that sets up a big night at Pittodrie in the second leg. The aim at the start of the European games was to get into the group stage and we are still in a position to do that. Today was a bad result in a competition we wanted to do well in, but there are good opportunities ahead of us.

“In a couple of weeks time, we want to be in a position where we have come through the European game, where we are in the group stages and have nine points out of nine in the league. That’s an exciting prospect and it just emphasises that we have to bounce back immediately.”