Rangers reached the League Cup final after Ryan Naderi's late strike at Hampden finally breached a stubborn Aberdeen.
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Image source, SNSAberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson: "I think we did more than hang in there.
It's easy to make excuses with the amount of injuries we had defensively but I thought Jack Milne was outstanding. He comes in for a lot of criticism but I thought he was outstanding today, as was Nicky Devlin.
"We said that's the level of performance we need. The energy and work ethic can't just be for a semi-final to push us forward and unfortunately we've picked up another two defensive injuries. It's a blow, we've not had our troubles to seek in that area.
"I'm proud of the players and their work ethic. Rangers have individuals who can win games and they came on and did that.
"They were very well organised, they bought into it. We had one day to work on it and they bought into it. I'm very proud of them, they're a great group of boys. I love working with them. That effort and work rate is the bare minimum.
"We probably won't get positives, we lost the game so that will be the narrative. We have to win on Saturday to give us some breathing space before the international break where we can try and get bodies back."
Aberdeen defender Mats Knoester will be ruled out by a thigh injury for between four to six weeks, but a scan has cleared midfielder Connor Ronan to play in Saturday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers. (Press & Journal, external)
Former Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is among the leading candidates for the vacant Sheffield Wednesday after the League One club sacked Henrik Peterson earlier this month. (Daily Record, external)
Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSRangers have a doubt over Tochi Chukwuani (knee) and remain without Ross McCrorie, Cammy Devlin, Lawrence Shankland (all hamstring), Youssef Chermiti (knee) and Daisuke Yokota (groin).
Aberdeen are short of defenders, with Kristers Tobers suffering a setback and Chris Cadden (hamstring), Mats Knoester (thigh), Lewis Mayo (foot) and Dan Happe (suspended) also out.
Midfielder Connor Ronan (knee) remains sidelined. Winger Tony Yogane missed Wednesday's defeat by Falkirk through illness.
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSKevin Nisbet is determined to "show everyone why I was made captain" when he leads Aberdeen out at Hampden against Rangers in the League Cup semis on Saturday.
The striker was handed the armband during the summer following the departure of Graeme Shinnie.
He has been unable to prevent the Dons struggling this season, but is embracing the added responsibility to turn things around.
"I like the pressure, leading the boys out tomorrow in a semi-final, it is a proud moment for me," said Nisbet.
"But I need to go and back it up, I need to lead and show everyone why I was made captain and that is what I will try and do tomorrow.
"I think everyone is good, we have a really good group in there. We have people that don't really dwell too much on the past.
"I am in that kind of role where I need to pick a few people up and that is absolutely fine, but the mood in the camp is very good.
"There has been a lot of outside noise but there has not been noise inside the camp. We are going into the semi-final with a lot of confidence."
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSAberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Saturday's League Cup semi final with Rangers at Hampden (17:30 GMT).
Here are main points from the news conference:
With his side in poor form, Robinson says he and his players "deserved the criticism" following the midweek home defeat to Falkirk, adding: "I don't hide behind that, I don't try and throw players under the bus. I deserved it and we have to respond to that."
Having won just one of their past five games, Robinson spoke with the players on Thursday and insists: "No one was hiding away from the fact results haven't been good enough Everyone is together and everyone wants to turn that around together."
With pressure mounting, Robinson says he is "not seeking any assurances" from the Pittodrie hierarchy over his future. "I just have my normal conversations which I do, I speak to the chairman once a week and I speak to Adrian (Bevington, chief executive) once a week. That is no different than any other week, so there has been nothing different."
On sympathy and backing from Rangers counterpart and former Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes, Robinson says: "I think until you are in this position you don't realise how difficult things are and the parameters you have to work under. Derek obviously does."
He adds: "I have nothing but total respect for him, he is one of the top managers in the country. So certainly everybody wants time but you don't get given time in football, we are all well aware of that and results are what dictates that."
As he looks to turn the Dons' form around, he says: "What a chance it is to go to Hampden, a full house with a big support with us as well, and it is certainly the right place to do it and we believe we can."
Robinson accepts his side are underdogs but he has a record of upsetting the odds at Hampden from his previous jobs: "I have been to a lot of semi-finals, been very lucky to win them all, so we go with a real positivity and the players believe in what we are doing."
He is expecting a tough test from "a really good Rangers side" but insists Aberdeen have enough experience in the squad and management to cause an upset.
Team news: Chris Cadden misses out with "a mild hamstring injury", Kristers Tobers is also out with a swollen knee. Centre-half Dan Happe is suspended.
Image source, SNSAfter less than eight months in the job, is Stephen Robinson already on borrowed time at Aberdeen?
Wednesday night's 1-0 home defeat to Falkirk means the Dons have lost six of their 11 Premiership games this season and languish in ninth place, just three points off the bottom.
Michael Grant, Scottish football correspondent for The Times, believes fans' contempt towards Robinson has "hardened" following a run of three defeats in four.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Grant said: "They're dropping too many points against teams that Aberdeen with the greatest respect should be beating.
"There were a run of games going into the semi-final that you thought Aberdeen can build a bit of momentum here.
"These defeats are counting heavily against Robinson, who is a manager a lot of fans didn't want in the first place, and they haven't changed their mind. If anything, it's really hardened against him.
"Aberdeen's Pittodrie record's not great, but their record in general's not great. That's three league wins and six defeats so far."
Former Rangers and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell believes Sunday's League Cup semi against Rangers at Hampden could be pivotal for Robinson's future.
"No disrespect to Robinson, he's a fantastic manager, but he has to win games because I don't think his style of football is the most pretty on the eye," said Bell.
"Aberdeen are in a real spot of bother. They've got this big semi-final against Rangers and if that goes against them, there'll be huge question marks over whether he survives that."
Aberdeen struggling for consistency
Highlights: Aberdeen 0-1 Falkirk
We asked for your thoughts after Aberdeen suffered a third defeat in four games with a 1-0 home loss to Falkirk.
Here are some of your views:
Darren: Stephen Robinson needs to win against Rangers and Hibs to give fans any hope he's the man to guide us forward. We've taken only four points at home to Killie, St Johnstone, St Mirren and Falkirk. Fans expect 12/12 points with these fixtures. Played better last night and 'should' have scored four goals. However, we didn't due to the quality of team Robinson has put together.
Malcolm: Another game in which Aberdeen were embarrassing for themselves and their fans. The group of journeymen brought in by Robinson are just not good enough. This is relegation-type performances, selection and tactics are poor and every team home or away must see Aberdeen as an easy three points. I fear Saturday will be embarrassing again as we cannot even park a bus. Robinson continues with his excuses and is not the right man for the job.
Brian: Aberdeen are suffering because of what Dave Cormack and Lutz Pfannenstiel have provided Robinson. The scattergun approach to recruitment is not working. I totally agree with the comment hinting/suggesting that Chris Cadden is a very poor imitation of Nicky Devlin. Part of the solution should be getting back some of those 'farmed out' academy players to 'blood' in the first team.
Mango: Three points off the bottom. Says it all really.
Gordon: I was willing to give Robinson time and it's not always the manager's fault but enough is enough. I just can't see a plan, a shape, a style. Constant change of players doesn't help but Aberdeen are worse than ever. Major changes required but we've said that every season for the last 5 years.
Scott: Very simply, Robinson has to go. He has no plan. He takes off Ayoub Mouloua and brings on Jack Milne last night when we're chasing the game. Utterly clueless. His time is up.
Mike: Since Cormack took over full control, the club has consistently underachieved. Not sure if Robinson is the right man, some very questionable signings of bottom-six players, but under Cormack can any manager do better?
Highlights: Aberdeen 0-1 Falkirk
Watch Falkirk secure a third Premiership win in a row to deepen Aberdeen's gloom. Available to UK users only.
Right-back Chris Cadden, 30, may have added to Aberdeen's injury worries going into Saturday's League Cup semi-final with Rangers after limping off during Wednesday's 1-0 defeat by Falkirk. (Sun, external)
Falkirk made it three wins in six Scottish Premiership games to edge up into the top half of the league as a Ben Krauhaus strike gave them victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Image source, SNSAberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson: "Really disappointed, night and day from our performance on Saturday and ultimately we got what we deserved.
"Four chances that we have to score, they're not hard chances and we have to put them in the back of the net. That would breed confidence and people relax. But we didn't do that.
"I'm not going to pinpoint individuals, as a collective it wasn't good enough and we have to hold our hands up. It's raw at the moment. We have to look at it tonight, there won't be a lot of sleep.
"It should have been better [this season]. Last week we thought we were making progress, but we took two step backwards tonight.
"Hard work and belief, it looked like there was no belief in the second half tonight. That's very difficult to judge but I've seen enough to know it's not good enough.
"I'll just get on with my job. You have to get results, otherwise you know the inevitable.
"I believe given time [we will go in the right direction] but time is not something you get given a lot in football."
Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator
Stephen Robinson faces yet another massive week as Aberdeen prepare to welcome Falkirk to the north east tonight before Saturday's League Cup semi-final with Rangers in Glasgow.
This evening's league game took on more significance following Saturday's defeat at Dundee United where old failings were once again exposed as the Dons suffered more away day pain despite another huge travelling support, albeit there were some signs of encouragement.
Since Stephen Glass replaced Derek McInnes as manager, Aberdeen have only won 23 of their 101 away league fixtures, losing 59, and they've emerged victorious just once this calendar year, so the eventual outcome at a rain and wind-lashed Tannadice was not exactly a shock.
It's well documented the problems at Pittodrie are not skin deep. One of the biggest dangers would be apathy setting in yet the supporters continue to regularly show up in bigger numbers than ever before.
Saturday was the 250th league match of Dave Cormack's chairmanship since he took over on 16 December 2019.
They have won 89 of those 250, a win rate of 35.6%. Given the expenditure across the board in those seven years, that will make for pretty grim reading and there are no real flickers of a consistent uptick no matter how often the club changes manager and playing squad.
And so attention turns to a seismic four days in the club's season and indeed the Robinson chapter of Cormack's tenure.
Robinson isn't getting much luck on the injury front with Mats Knoester joining Connor Ronan and Lewis Mayo on the sidelines. The Dutchman is the last player Robinson needed to be without, particularly for Saturday's semi with Dan Happe suspended.
Falkirk were problematic opponents for the Dons last term with the then newly-promoted Bairns helping themselves to seven of the nine points from the three meetings while on a shoestring budget compared to what has been available for whoever the incumbent has been in the Granite City.
Saturday's semi at Hampden Park will take care of itself, but the fact Robinson's side have already shipped 17 points from their 10 league outings will alarm the fanbase as the first quarter of the season draws to a close and the Northern Irishman's team sit just four points off the bottom of the table.
Last season, the three Scottish Premiership games between Aberdeen and Falkirk featured just four goals (1 Aberdeen, 3 Falkirk); only Celtic v St Mirren had fewer in 2025-26 (3).
As a sole manager, John McGlynn has lost none of his five league games against Aberdeen (W3 D2), two with Hearts (W1 D1) and three with Falkirk (W2 D1).
After their 2-1 win over Hibernian, Falkirk could earn back-to-back away victories in the top flight for the first time since May 2009.
Aberdeen have won just one of their past eight league meetings with Falkirk (D2 L5), a 1-0 victory in April 2010.
Aberdeen have lost five of their past six midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) home games in the Scottish Premiership (D1) since a 2-1 win over Rangers in October 2024.
Image source, SNSAberdeen defender Mats Knoester (thigh) and midfielder Connor Ronan (knee) will see specialists while centre-back Lewis Mayo suffered a stress fracture in a foot and will be ruled out for a minimum of two months.
Centre-back Dan Happe and midfielders Findlay Marshall and Tony Yogane are struggling with illness and Kristers Tobers (knee) is still working his way back.
Falkirk's Ben Krauhaus has overcome a hamstring injury and will be available. Ethan Laidlaw is training following an ankle injury but the game comes too early.
Aodhan Doherty (foot), Joe Gardner (thigh) and Keelan Adams (ankle) remain out.
Aberdeen have opened talks with defender Gavin Molloy, 25, over a new contract. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)
Cal Gilkison
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSStephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Aberdeen host Falkirk in the Premiership on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).
Here are the key lines from the Pittodrie boss:
Robinson has suffered two "huge" blows with Connor Ronan and Mats Knoester ruled out of Wednesday night's match. Ronan has picked up a medial knee ligament injury and Knoester will visit a specialist about a thigh injury.
Knoester's fellow centre-half Lewis Mayo is out for two months with a foot fracture while Dan Happe has only just resumed training after a virus, meaning Robinson "may have to" rush Kristers Tobers back to first-team action.
"The kid's been out a year, and he was due to play in a KDM (Evolution Trophy) game a week ago, which would have put him in a much better position, but he got the virus as well," said the Dons boss. "We're just going to have to play that by ear. If Dan Happe isn't available tomorrow, he might have to."
Robinson believes the key to consistency and a good run of results is finding a settled team and system, something he hasn't been able to do this season: "I think that's been our biggest problem, consistency and team selection. When you have a good run there are normally very few changes between games. Obviously, we've had to keep constantly changing between systems and personnel and that isn't ideal."
Robinson labelled his team's display at Tannadice as "brave" and called his side "enjoyable to watch". On Saturday's defeat, he says: "There was a lot of positive play, a lot of good play. We're starting to see things come together in that forward area. It was very enjoyable to watch on Saturday, so if we're going to lose games, I'd rather lose games like that rather than sitting back and not being brave."
Robinson knows his side are "expected to win" against Falkirk and will face more criticism if they don't.
The Dons boss praised Falkirk and expects a tough test against a "really good side", ading: "They come into it after a fantastic result on Saturday, so they'll come with no fear. If we can produce the performance, we did on Saturday and tidy up some certain things defensively and individually then we'll go into the game confident."
Glen Schreuder
Fan writer
In the face of Storm Beolo a spirited Dons display didn't bring the result the Red Army craved.
In light of another defeat, Stephen Robinson is facing another storm of pressure with three huge games looming.
It's quite ironic this Aberdeen squad, which was hit by a flu virus in the build-up, played some of their best football this season at Tanndice.
However, the defending for Dundee Uniteds goals have left the fans and manager feeling sick. Once again a team haven't had to work hard to score against us. There are still question marks around the top end of the pitch as well.
Every time we look to take one step forward this team takes two steps back.
The run of three games in 10 days starts with Falkirk, uneaten in five, visiting Pittodrie and ends with current bottom side Hibs also coming north.
A League Cup semi-final against Rangers is sandwiched in between and I can't help but feel Robinson needs two good home wins regardless of the outcome at Hampden if he wants any leeway with an increasingly frustrated and restless support.
