Rooney puts Aberdeen into semis
Adam Rooney netted the only goal of the game as Aberdeen overcame the stiff resistance of Hamilton Academical to progress to the semi-finals of the League Cup.
The Dons now move a step closer to retaining the trophy they picked up last year, but the star of the show was Accies keeper Michael McGovern.
There was little he could do to stop Rooney's diving header in the 24th minute but after that he pulled off a string of fine stops to prevent the scoreline being any worse for his team.
For the most part, the two sides cancelled each other out in the opening period, albeit with flashes of creativity from the likes of Johnny Hayes in particular.
It took until the 19th minute for the first real chance of note, and referee Bobby Madden had a big part to play. Madden, who was not endearing himself to the home support, played a great advantage to allow the Dons to launch a counter-attack despite Willo Flood having been pole-axed.
Rooney eventually played in Niall McGinn but, when it looked like he must score, the Northern Ireland international was denied by countryman McGovern.
The Dons were ahead after 25 minutes, though. Grant Gillespie picked up a booking for his foul on Shay Logan, and McGinn sent a perfectly-flighted cross into the penalty area.
Hamilton's defence raced out in a bid to play the offside trap, but they only served to leave Rooney unmarked, and he bulleted a fine diving header into the net.
Hamilton have been noted for their mean defence this term, but they looked in danger of crumbling almost immediately as Aberdeen chased a second goal.
Indeed, McGovern denied Peter Pawlett just a minute after the goal, and then a further sixty seconds later showed astonishing reflexes to turn over the bar after McGinn's low cross was deflected towards goal by Hamilton defender Martin Canning.
McGinn himself could have added the second eight minutes from the break after he received a raking Ryan Jack pass, but his shot flew well over the crossbar.
And it was more of the same after the interval for Aberdeen, with left-back Andy Considine testing McGovern once more with a viciously swerving 20-yard drive which the goalkeeper did well to turn round the post.
The goalkeeper was by far and away the star of the show, and he yet again showed his worth as he spread himself low along the ground to deny Pawlett after a flowing move down the right.
Something had to change for Hamilton, and manager Alex Neil decided it would be a switch in midfield, Jon Routledge replacing Louis Longridge in the engine room.
But before the substitute could make any impact, it fell to McGovern again to keep his side in the game. This time he cut out Pawlett's cross from the left, before Canning cleared as Rooney threatened to pounce.
However, Accies did improve and threatened for the first time when the usually reliable Flood was caught in possession. That allowed Darian MacKinnon to drive forward but his shot was well over Scott Brown's crossbar.
And they were on the attack again after 73 minutes, Antony Andreu ghosting past Considine before seeing his low drive parried by the previously-untested Brown, who had to be at full stretch to stop Andreu again eight minutes later.
But the Dons held on to their slender lead to put themselves into Saturday's semi-final draw.
Source: PA
