Mark Reynolds

“I think in the first half we were not at it at all. I don’t know why we started so slowly. We have paid the price for that. In the cup you need to turn up but we let Hearts out muscle and outplay us. They got the early goal and managed to hang on to that lead throughout.

“The goal we conceded was very uncharacteristic of us. We do not normally lose goals from corners. We have lost two headers. Defensively we have been solid for most of the season.

“I am very disappointed. There are ways of going out of a cup or losing a game. That was not it. No one is going home tonight happy with that.

“At half time we knew the performance was not good enough and every single one of us was accountable for that. We just never turned up or brought the game we needed to.

“We did put some pressure on in the second half but it was too little too late. We did not create a lot of openings. There were only a few half chances. Even then when we did have a clear cut opportunity we were not able to convert it. In cup football you have to take your chances when they come along.

“At half time we knew we had to impose ourselves on the game physically and then play off the back of that. Everyone in the dressing room at half time knew what we needed to do. If we had started the game like we did in the second half it would have been a completely different cup tie but untimely we have paid the prize for not doing so.

“Since winning the league cup a few years ago we have not done well enough in cup competitions. We did get to a couple of semi-finals but overall it has not been good enough at all. The club of Aberdeen’s size and with the squad that we have got, putting in a performance like that is not acceptable. Especially when you take down a support like that. Three early exits now is not acceptable. We need to look at ourselves and see why we are losing these cup games at the first hurdle.

“We feel we have let everyone down. We had a huge support at the game. All we can do is try and make amends in the league.

“Our next game is against Ross County away. It is always tough going up there and they are still on a good run of form. All we can do now though is focus on the league. That is the only competition we have got so we have to go as hard as we can, pick up as many three points as possible between now and the end of the season and see where it takes us.”