Derek McInnes yesterday dismissed the notion that his players lacked the self-belief to beat Rangers.

The St Johnstone manager leapt to the defence of his first division side, who took the Ibrox club to a penalty shoot-out in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final, when it was claimed they were ultimately found wanting.

"The boys were desperate to give St Johnstone their first ever Scottish Cup final and go on to win it," McInnes said. "You could see how gutted they were at the end.

"They would love to have become club legends. We came so close and everyone should be congratulated for their efforts. You have to feel for them, especially after last year's disappointments at the same stage."

The former Rangers player also exonerated Jody Moris and Steven Milne, who had penalties saved by the Rangers keeper Neil Alexander.

"There is a skill to taking penalties under that sort of pressure and we prepared with mock-ups during the build-up to the game," he said. "Despite what some of the critics have said, my players didn't lack belief. Their attitude was a real positive for me. We genuinely felt we could go on and win.

"Jody and Goran Stanic were both suffering badly at the end of 90 minutes and I only had one sub left. Jody played on despite his injury.

"Remember we were up against a Rangers team chasing four trophies on a dangerously poor pitch. Our players gave everything they had and came agonisingly close."

Martin Hardie, who was one of the stand-outs for the Perth side at Hampden, added that the only way the team could overcome the agony of losing out on penalties would be to win the first division next season.

The midfielder, who has just signed a two year contract extension, insisted: "We must win the title next season and get this club back to the SPL. It's as simple as that. That's what it will take to compensate for missing out on another final.

"Looking back on two semi-finals last year and now this defeat it seems we don't get any luck at all. We were the better team and should have beaten Rangers. But the better team isn't in the final against Queen of the South.

"Last year we became known as a good cup team and we've beaten most of the SPL teams now. But maybe proved our downfall in the league last season.

"The boys here have proved they can play at a higher level. Now we have to recharge the batteries over the summer and come back ready to hit the ground running. We must win that title."

Centre-back Allan McManus is, meanwhile, resigned to leaving McDiarmid Park in the summer. McInnes has Kevin James, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Steven Anderson and Inverness loanee Stuart McCaffrey all vying for central defensive roles and McManus acknowledged: "I think there's every chance I'll be on my way so Hampden was a good shop window.

"The manager would like to keep me but he has four other centre-halves at the club. If I have to leave it will be hard to take.

"I feel I've been pretty consistent over the past two years. I'd love to stay but I don't make the decisions. I can't force the club to keep me.

McManus won't feature either in tomorrow night's game against Stirling Albion or in Saturday's match against Livingston as he is a booking away from a suspension.