Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has backed his Dons players to finish the job at Pittodrie next week despite crashing 2-1 away to Kairat Almaty last night in their Europa League qualifier.

Kenny McLean scored another crucial away goal as the Dons bounced back from a difficult start in Kazakhstan.

They found themselves two down inside the first quarter, but Kenny McLean came off the bench to give them hope in the Europa League third qualifying round.

But Aberdeen could and should have been down and out if it wasn't for some crucial saves from keeper Danny Ward.

McInnes, though, is confident his players will go through after a nightmare start where they found themselves two-goals down inside the opening 22 minutes.

He said: "We said before the game how important the away goal could be. It can prove pivotal. Every time we have managed to score an away goal, we have always progressed. I said to them at half time, go and win the second half and I believe we will win the tie.

"If we play in the manner that we did in the second half for 90 minutes then I feel we have an excellent opportunity to get through. We still have it all to do because we are facing a tough opponent, but the players are wishing the game was tomorrow. They are eager to get on with it.

"We didn't start positively enough and I didn't think we were brave enough. We didn't impose ourselves enough on the game. In the second half everyone saw the Aberdeen team that I wanted to see from the first minute. We prepared properly, we were ready for it. We had to be ready for it and braver and now we need to impose ourselves on the game next week.

"I think Kairat are still favourites because we have to score, but we know one goal could be enough. We will have 20,000 fans at Pittodrie and a squad of players who will do everything they can to qualify.

"The response from my players from going two goals down was exactly what I thought it would be. They didn't roll over and they came out fighting. I believe what I said at half time that if we won the second half, which we did, we can be confident we can get the job done in Aberdeen. Kairat will have to play very well at Pittodrie to go through because we will be ready."