Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin was full of praise for Annan Athletic after Peter Murphy’s side took his top-flight outfit to extra-time.

Annan struck a dramatic equaliser with nine minutes to go in their Premier Sports Cup tie.

Long-serving defender Steven Swinglehurst scored to wipe out the Premiership side’s lead earned by Vicente Besuijen’s second-half goal.

It put Murphy’s Galabankies in sight of a famous upset in the last-16 tie.

READ MORE: Carlisle United hero Peter Murphy will land a bigger job says Aberdeen boss 

But Aberdeen finally turned the screw in extra-time and goals from Luis Lopes, Besuijen and Leighton Clarkson saw the top-flight outfit through with a 4-1 win.

Dons boss Goodwin, speaking to his club’s media channels, said: “It was a difficult night, there’s no getting away from that.

“We were really poor for 45 minutes, never caused Annan too many problems at the back.

“I can’t remember us working the goalkeeper a great deal. We looked a bit laboured.

“Annan didn’t cause us a great deal of problems the other way but it was a very frustrating night.

“But I think Annan deserve a hell of a lot of credit for the way they approached the game.

“They had nothing to lose and it’s quite an exciting night for everybody.

“Peter Murphy deserves a lot of credit for the way he set his team up.

“It’s a very tight park here, every throw-in 40 yards from goal is coming in your box, free-kicks, corners.

“We highlighted the threat they possess on counter attacks and set plays, and we didn’t defend that one as well as we should have, and it’s a great header.

“I thought Annan deserved to take the game to extra-time.”

Goodwin feels Carlisle United legend Murphy is capable of managing at higher levels.

He also believes Annan will soon turn around their league form which sees them second bottom of League Two after five games.

Speaking after a game which saw young Carlisle loan defender Max Kilsby play the full game, Goodwin added: “The bottom line is we’re in the quarter-finals of the cup. There were some very good goals in the end, and our fitness and quality showed in the end.

“But I don’t want to take anything away from Annan. They were excellent.

“They’re struggling in the league at the moment but if they continue to approach games in the manner they did tonight they’ll be absolutely fine.”