Hearts boss Craig Levein rues the penalty decision that led to Celtic's opening goal. And his mood is further soured as he could well be without top scorer Steven Naismith and midfield powerhouse Peter Haring for Wednesday's Edinburgh derby, both of whom are injured.

"We worked very hard on the shape of the team and for an hour or so I was extremely happy," Levein told BBC Sportsound.

"Just at the point where I felt Celtic were getting disappointed and looked a bit leggy, the penalty situation arises and gives them a massive lift and disappoints our players.

"I think the penalty is very, very soft. It changed the feeling of the game. I felt, second-half, we were still just as compact, I was hoping as the game wore on, we could introduce more attacking players in the wider areas as long as we were still in the match.

"The disappointing thing was the two body-blows we got were in a small way down to ourselves so we have to take that on the chin. I feel disappointed we had such a massive support today and we never really got to play to our potential.

"Steven Naismith felt something go in his knee. I don’t know what it is yet. Peter Haring is back to square one with his hernia.

"We’re much, much better than last season with regards to strength in depth. It is a big loss if those two don’t make it but there’s not an awful lot I can do."

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Aberdeen and Rangers last met in the League Cup in 2004 when a certain Steven Thompson netted Rangers' second in a 2-0 win.

However, the last time the two sides played each other in a League Cup semi-final, the Dons prevailed with another regular BBC Scotland pundit, Billy Dodds, scoring twice in a 2-1 win at Hampden in 1995.

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Steven Pressley
Former Scotland defender

It's very tough to call, with the resurgence of Rangers, especially in cup competitions this year, it will be an interesting tie.

Steven Gerrard in his first job will be desperate to get off to a real winning start, they’ve done brilliantly in Europe and they’ll be looking to claim a domestic trophy.

Aberdeen are not quite firing on all cylinders but Derek McInnes has done a remarkable job there over the last three or four years, his record speaks for itself.

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Celtic were scheduled to play St Johnstone in Glasgow on 2 December but that Premiership game will need to be rearranged now that Celtic have reached the League Cup final.

Saints might not be too fussed about that, having shipped six to the champions in Perth a few weeks ago.

Aberdeen are due to play Dundee that weekend, while Rangers are pencilled in to meet Hearts.

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Umar Sadiq has only made three appearances as a substitute for Rangers since his loan move from Roma, amassing around 27 minutes of game time.

The 21-year-old Nigerian scored five goals in 12 games for NAC Breda in the Netherlands last season.

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Aberdeen welcome Scotland defender Scott McKenna back from suspension and there are places in attack for Niall McGinn and Scott Wright.

The men dropping out after last weekend's loss to Hearts are Max Lowe, Dominic Ball and Sam Cosgrove.

Rangers are without forwards Alfredo Morelos, who is suspended, and Kyle Lafferty, who is cup-tied, so Umar Sadiq makes his first start.

Borna Barisic and Graham Dorrans are out and Scott Arfield can only find a place on the bench after returning to fitness.

Aberdeen: Lewis, Logan, Devlin, McKenna, Considine, Mackay-Steven, Ferguson, Shinnie, McGinn, Wright, Wilson.

Substitutes: Cerny, Lowe, Ball, Gleeson, McLennan, Cosgrove, May.

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Worrall, Goldson, Flanagan, Coulibaly, Jack, Ejaria, Candeias, Kent, Sadiq.

Substitutes: Foderingham, Halliday, Ross, Katic, Grezda, Arfield, Middleton.

So, who will Celtic meet in the final on 2 December?

Aberdeen take on Rangers at Hampden in just over an hour's time.

Team news coming up shortly, with a couple of surprises in attack for both teams...

Celtic book their place in the League Cup final.

The first half at Murrayfield was all a bit meh, but Brendan Rodgers' side turned on the style in the second half and could have scored a few more.

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Two goal-line clearances inside a few seconds deny Scott Sinclair a second goal. Clevid Dikamona blocks the first attempt and Jimmy Dunne gets his head to the second.

Hearts will need to suffer two more minutes of stoppage time...

Jimmy Dunne slips as he shapes to block a shot from Odsonne Edouard and stops the ball with both hands and almost catches it before getting to his feet and clearing. Willie Collum waves play on, much to the disbelief of the Celtic striker.

Would we have seen a different outcome at 0-0?

Who is impressing? And who isn't?

Rate the players as Hearts face Celtic in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals at Murrayfield.

More good work from the busy Zdenek Zlamal as the Hearts keeper has to get down smartly to deal with a deflected strike from Kieran Tierney.

Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper at Murrayfield

That's fantastic from Zdenek Zlamal, who somehow gets a hand to a first-time shot from James Forrest. Hearts are being ripped apart here.

Kristoffer Ajer is withdrawn by Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, having fitted back into central defence with ease after a lengthy spell out.

Jack Hendry is on for the last 10 minutes.

Celtic are simply carving Hearts open now and Odsonne Edouard thinks he's scored as his curling shot evades the diving Zdenek Zlamal but Jimmy Dunne gets back to make a goal-saving block.

Hearts make their final change as Olly Lee makes way for Sean Clare. It's about damage limitation for the Edinburgh side now.