JONNY Hayes insists he doesn’t care how Aberdeen get past Falkirk next week – as long as they bag a place in the League Cup last eight.
The Dons haven’t lifted a trophy for nearly 19 years and the Irishman wants to end that agonising wait this season.
Winger Hayes was out cold when his side scraped past Alloa on penalties in the last round at Pittodrie after suffering a sickening head knock.
The Red Army were put through the wringer but Hayes is prepared to go all the way again at Westfield on Tuesday.
He said: “It doesn’t really matter how you get through. I wasn’t even sure if it would have gone to a replay against Alloa.
“But when it comes to the cup competitions the only thing that counts is to be in the hat for the next round.
“Last season we had a replay against Motherwell in the Scottish Cup and it took a last- minute winner to see them off.
“It’s all the same if you get through and the great thing is we have the game against Falkirk to look forward to.
“We want to go as far as possible in the cups.”
Hayes is desperate to get his hands on silverware and he knows the Aberdeen fans have been starved of glory for far too long.
The League Cup win in 1995 remains their last triumph and they have not been in a final since Ebbe Skovdahl’s side reached the League and Scottish Cup showpieces in 2000.
Hayes knows that isn’t good enough and said: “It has been too long for a club of Aberdeen’s size to go without winning a trophy.
“That has to be the aim but there is a long way to go.”
Hayes is determined to play his part and has been challenged by boss Derek McInnes to score more goals.
The former Inverness winger grabbed four last term and was one of the leading men in the SPL for assists.
Now, after scoring in the first game of this campaign, he’s hungry for more.
He said: “Hopefully I can weigh in with my fair share of goals. The manager said he wanted me to get in more attacking positions this year.
“It’s nice to get off the mark already and get a bit of confidence. Hopefully I can add more.”