Summary

  • Ferguson powers header past McGregor

  • Rangers Kent falls under Shinnie challenge

  • Aberdeen's Considine off with head knock; game stopped for several minutes

  • Sadiq starts for Rangers; Wright in for Aberdeen

  • Christie, Forrest & Sinclair (pen) score as Celtic ease past Hearts

  • GET INVOLVED #bbcsportscot

Live Reporting

Colin Moffat

  1. Roll on the final...

    So, we'll have an Aberdeen v Celtic final at Hampden on 2 December.

    Celtic blew Hearts away with a strong second-half display at Murrayfield, while the Dons were obdurate and well-organised and took advantage of Rangers' sloppy work in the final third.

    You suspect Aberdeen will need to find another level for the final but they've got time to sort out a blunt attack.

    The last two meetings between the sides have finished 1-0, with a win apiece, so it could well be another tight affair.

    Lewis Ferguson scored the only goal at HampdenSNS
    Scott Sinclair opened the scoring for Celtic at MurrayfieldSNS

  2. 'If players don't step up, the manager finds better quality'

    FT: Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Rangers manager Steven Gerrard shoulders much of the blame for today's defeat but also has a warning for any of his players unable to "step up".

    "It’s a disappointed dressing room but I’m out here to take responsibility for that – my players, my tactics, my game plan. If there are any fingers to be pointed let them point at me," Gerrard told BT Sport.

    "We played well but we didn’t have any quality in the last bit of our play. Very similar to the Spartak game on Thursday. We did everything but create clear-cut chances. We huffed and puffed and created half-chanced but that’s not enough in semi-finals. People need to have the courage and responsibility to step up and take them.

    "We congratulate Aberdeen, they’ve smashed-and-grabbed and punished us from a set-piece and they go through.

    "I’m here to take the responsibility I need to take. I pick the XI, I brought in 14 players in the summer. Everything that’s gone on today is on me and I’ll take it.

    "We got into some good positions and either made the wrong decision or showed a serious lack of quality. If these players don’t step up, it’s very simple at a big club: the manager goes and finds better quality."

    Steven GerrardSNS

  3. 'I always thought one goal would be enough'

    FT: Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Delighted Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes is a bit hoarse as he gives BBC Sportsound a quick interview.

    "It’s not normally this exciting on a Sunday," he jokes. "We got put through the wringer. We had to hang in at times.

    "We defended well but Joe Lewis didn’t have too much to do. I just wanted us to try and play the game more in and around their box, we didn’t utilise the pace of our front players enough.

    "I always thought one goal would be enough. Rangers without two recognised two centre-forwards and we’ve been struggling for goals.

    "I thought they ran out of ideas, they huffed and puffed, threw crosses in from too deep, shot from too far out. Once we got the goal, we saw the game out well and got better as it went on.

    "We’ve played St Mirren, Hibs at Easter Road, Rangers at Hampden – not conceded a goal. To win the cup, we’ve got to beat Celtic, there’s not many teams have to win a cup beating that calibre of opposition. If we go and win it we’ve thoroughly deserved it.

    "We’re still struggling to find our best form but the players are working extremely hard.

    "I’ve had a text to say Andy Considine is absolutely fine. No concussion. He landed on his neck and the medical staff didn’t want to take any chances with the pain in his neck. We’ll see how he is tomorrow."

    Aberdeen boss Derek McInnesSNS

  4. FT: Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Aberdeen v Celtic is a repeat of the 2016 final in this competition. On that occasion, Celtic eased to a 3-0 victory to start the Brendan Rodgers' bandwagon rolling.

    Will it be the perfect seven from seven for the Celtic boss or can the Dons find a way to stop the prospect of a treble-treble?

    Brendan Rodgers will have the chance to make it three League Cups in a row in early DecemberSNS

    Brendan Rodgers will have the chance to make it three League Cups in a row in early December

  5. Rangers are the 'forgotten team'

    FT: Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Willie Miller
    Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

    Rangers got into some magnificent areas, in behind Aberdeen, into little pockets, on the goal line, and every time they had the decision to make it was the wrong decision or they played the ball in with a poor quality of cross. Rangers got what they deserved, they are the forgotten team.

  6. 'Aberdeen showed courage'

    FT: Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Willie Miller
    Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

    There's many ways of winning games isn't there, but you don't want to win games like that, back to the wall. You'll take any win, but if you can do it with a bit of flare, if you can do it with domination then that's the way you prefer to do it. You absolutely take the victory, they showed a lot of courage, determination, they dug in, they took everything Rangers had to throw at them

  7. FT: Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Rangers had 15 goal attempts to Aberdeen's four but Lewis Ferguson was the man to make the all-important breakthrough, with a simple header from a corner kick.

    Despite dominating territory, Steven Gerrard's side didn't test goalkeeper Joe Lewis at all. He made one significant save, keeping out a James Tavernier but it was one you'd expect him to make every time.

    Without top-scorer Alfredo Morelos, their attack was blunt.

  8. The Dons party is in full swing

    FT: Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is grinning from ear to ear as his players celebrate on the Hampden turf.

    It certainly wasn't a classic but he'll take it and so will the 10,000 or so Dons fans inside the national stadium.

    There will be a few more than that at the final on 2 December.

  9. FULL-TIME Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    It's an Aberdeen - Celtic final.

    The Dons march on thanks to that late header from Lewis Ferguson.

    Aberdeen are in the finalSNS

  10. Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    The Dons clear their lines after a few wild swipes and stumbles. Is that it?

  11. Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Corner to Rangers... Up comes Allan McGregor.

  12. Four minutes of stoppage time

    Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Can Rangers find an equaliser or will Aberdeen hang on at Hampden?

  13. YELLOW CARD Lewis (Aberdeen)

    Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Towering Aberdeen custodian Joe Lewis is booked for time-wasting as he dithers around after watching James Tavernier's header loop high and wide.

  14. Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Aberdeen are just kicking it anywhere but that seems to be good enough as Rangers huff and puff to little effect.

  15. Rangers 'woeful' in final third

    Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Billy Dodds
    Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

    The quality in the final third has been woeful. They've dominated and there's been waves of attack but come that final third they've been really poor. That's what has let Rangers down today. Aberdeen haven't had a lot in the final third, they've had two chances and scored one.

  16. Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Aberdeen are shoring up further as Dominic Ball replaces striker James Wilson.

  17. 'Certainly not a penalty'

    Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Peter Houston
    Former Scotland assistant manager on BBC Sportsound

    He's knocked it far too far in front of him. Certainly not a penalty kick. I think the referee's called that 100% right

  18. YELLOW CARD Sadiq (Rangers)

    Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    A shocking dive from Umar Sadiq earns the Rangers striker a booking. He got there before goalkeeper Joe Lewis but his touch was poor and he went for a sprawl rather than chasing after the ball inside the penalty box.

  19. 'Ferguson is brave'

    Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Willie Miller
    Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

    It's quite incredible isn't it, how you can turn the game around from being cosh for the majority of it, then you get a corner and it's whipped in. Ferguson he is brave, he gets up, there's no timing or anticipation from the Rangers defence. Ferguson meets it right on the forehead and bullets it into the back of the net. Allan McGregor could have maybe have came but there was plenty of blue jerseys there

  20. Double change for Rangers

    Aberdeen 1-0 Rangers

    Scott Arfield and Glenn Middleton are on for Rangers, with Daniel Candeias and Ryan Jack making way.

    Suddenly, it's the Aberdeen fans singing loudest at Hampden.