The Scottish League Cup Final - Aberdeen v Inverness Caledonian Thistle

:00:46. > :00:56.Football makes its mark in history in many ways. The most enduring are

:00:57. > :01:05.etched in silver. The last trophy for Aberdeen was 18 years ago. A

:01:06. > :01:13.European cup winners cup. For the titles. Scottish league cups.

:01:14. > :01:20.Scottish cups. Then nothing but pain and disappointment. 20 years ago,

:01:21. > :01:26.Inverness Caley Thistle did not even exist, against all the odds, a new

:01:27. > :01:33.team was formed, fighting from the bottom to the top, making their mark

:01:34. > :01:44.as giant killers. Derek McGuinness is firing up Aberdeen once again.

:01:45. > :01:51.Passionate and exciting. Hoping to reshape history. John Hughes is

:01:52. > :02:04.determined to lead Inverness Caley Thistle to their greatest ever

:02:05. > :02:14.achievement, with a never say die team. Who will make their mark

:02:15. > :02:24.today? Both teams searching for silverware. Celtic Park is the

:02:25. > :02:31.venue. Winning would be a special way to mark 20 years in existence

:02:32. > :02:37.for Inverness Caley Thistle. 1995 since Aberdeen at last put something

:02:38. > :02:43.in their trophy cabinet. They are the favourites at this time around.

:02:44. > :02:53.Hampden Stadium is a work in progress ahead of the Commonwealth

:02:54. > :02:57.Games. Unable to host cup finals, the Scottish Cup final be here in

:02:58. > :03:08.May, the league cup final is just 30 minutes away. The league cup will be

:03:09. > :03:14.won and lost for the 68th time. It has produced tales of the unexpected

:03:15. > :03:20.in recent years, Saint Mirren and Kilmarnock the latest names to

:03:21. > :03:28.appear on the trophy. Who will be next? We will know soon. The match

:03:29. > :03:32.is live on the BBC. I am joined by men who hold legendary status with

:03:33. > :03:39.the club is contesting today, Willie Miller and Charlie Christie. First,

:03:40. > :03:46.the all-important cup final team news. Mark McGhee is alongside Liam

:03:47. > :03:53.McLeod. We should get straight to the team

:03:54. > :04:02.news. There is a blow to Aberdeen. Peter Pawlett has been so

:04:03. > :04:06.influential and misses out. It is a blow for us all. I was

:04:07. > :04:13.looking forward to seeing him on this stage. A great young player,

:04:14. > :04:20.and a big this appointment. -- disappointment.

:04:21. > :04:24.Somebody had to miss out for Inverness, John Hughes delivered the

:04:25. > :04:35.news to Aaron Dorans. He does make the bench. It is a tactical

:04:36. > :04:42.decision. Congested midfield, try to stop Aberdeen too much possession.

:04:43. > :04:48.Danny Devine takes the place of Warren, suspended. Aberdeen are

:04:49. > :05:00.looking to win a trophy for the first time since 1995. A first ever

:05:01. > :05:04.major final four Caley Thistle. If we are to believe the bookmakers,

:05:05. > :05:12.you could just about hand Aberdeen the trophy. But things do not always

:05:13. > :05:18.work out the logical way. The thoughts of our pundits. A big blow

:05:19. > :05:23.for a player who has came through the Aberdeen system, and they blew

:05:24. > :05:28.to the team, because of the way he has been playing for them.

:05:29. > :05:33.Peter has had injury problems throughout his career. But it looked

:05:34. > :05:41.as if he would be OK for the final. For him personally, it must be

:05:42. > :05:46.really disappointing. And he has been instrumental in getting this

:05:47. > :05:52.team to the cup final. John Hughes will not be distraught. But an

:05:53. > :06:02.eyebrow raised regarding the Caley Thistle line-up, Aaron Dorans is not

:06:03. > :06:07.in the starting 11. It is to keep the game narrower, I think. He will

:06:08. > :06:16.be thinking of the 1-0 game at Pittodrie. The midfield was

:06:17. > :06:19.congested and that suited Thistle. Is part of the problem the fact that

:06:20. > :06:26.many people have handed Aberdeen the trophy already? That comes with the

:06:27. > :06:33.success, the relative success they have had already this season.

:06:34. > :06:37.Expectation gets higher and higher. You can see the with huge support

:06:38. > :06:42.they have brought today, there is a lot of expectation that they will

:06:43. > :06:48.lift the trophy. So far the players this season have done very well in

:06:49. > :06:53.dealing with that pressure. There is a Caley Thistle connection in the

:06:54. > :06:59.Aberdeen team. We spoke to a trio who would love to get the better of

:07:00. > :07:02.their old team. Aberdeen was once the place to be in

:07:03. > :07:09.terms of Scottish football silverware. Now former Inverness

:07:10. > :07:15.Caley Thistle players are planning their own masterpiece.

:07:16. > :07:22.There is no point in settling for just a semifinal. You want to win

:07:23. > :07:28.things. That is what the manager reminds us, this isn't good enough,

:07:29. > :07:32.keep going, keep regressing. If you want to be an Aberdeen player, get

:07:33. > :07:40.two finals and when finals and a regular occasion, eventually

:07:41. > :07:48.challenge for the title. Derek McInnes has reignited a double act

:07:49. > :07:55.who are on fire at Pittodrie. The three of us linked up pretty well up

:07:56. > :08:04.there, with Richie Foran. The squad that is here as well, we have guys

:08:05. > :08:11.whose legs are nearly gone! And Willo Flood in the middle. Barry

:08:12. > :08:21.Robson's from all love affair truly began during the Alex Ferguson

:08:22. > :08:25.years. -- football love affair. I remember some great players that I

:08:26. > :08:31.watch with my dad and my uncles. Willie Miller, Alec McLeish, Gordon

:08:32. > :08:40.Strachan, who obviously I worked with after that. Aberdeen have been

:08:41. > :08:44.in that shadow for a lot of years. It is never easy to bring that

:08:45. > :08:53.success back, especially the way the modern game is going with money. But

:08:54. > :09:00.our researchers has been pretty good. The manager has devoted

:09:01. > :09:07.everything to Scouting and things that are done in the background. We

:09:08. > :09:13.have legs, a lot pace, good ability spread throughout the team. When you

:09:14. > :09:21.combine all that with hard work, you have a real chance. The manager said

:09:22. > :09:26.we were a work in progress. We have done well getting to a cup final,

:09:27. > :09:33.and done well in the Scottish cup, but I still think there is a lot

:09:34. > :09:35.more to come. When you have the likes of Jonny Hayes, Niall McGinn,

:09:36. > :09:42.playing up here, Harry in the middle, Willo Flood, you feel that

:09:43. > :09:50.more than likely you will get a couple of chances every game. Myself

:09:51. > :09:57.and Adam won the first division with Inverness, but to win a League Cup,

:09:58. > :10:03.and to have the chance to do well at Scottish Cup these are very exciting

:10:04. > :10:10.times for Aberdeen. I am a lot older than these two. Hopefully they have

:10:11. > :10:18.years ahead to win things. I just cannot stress enough how good the

:10:19. > :10:30.feeling is when you do win things. Robson, Rooney, Hayes. They are

:10:31. > :10:37.attacking weapons for Aberdeen. How important is a strong and sturdy

:10:38. > :10:42.defence? Really important. Anderson and Reynolds have been outstanding

:10:43. > :10:47.at the heart of defence. I know Russell Anderson particularly well.

:10:48. > :10:52.A player developed by the club. He has gone on to great things, with

:10:53. > :10:58.Aberdeen, and when he made his move to Sunderland. They have a good

:10:59. > :11:07.understanding and blend with each other really well. And when they

:11:08. > :11:13.break, they break quickly. Well, they have pace, haven't they? And

:11:14. > :11:17.you have Niall McGinn as well, the strength of Adam Rooney added at the

:11:18. > :11:25.turn of the year, it makes them a formidable outfit going forward.

:11:26. > :11:31.Rooney is so fast to react. He is level with Frazer Wright went all

:11:32. > :11:36.wins the ball. But his reaction is quicker than the defender. As soon

:11:37. > :11:41.as she is in that position, you are confident he will score a goal for

:11:42. > :11:47.you. Aberdeen lacked that prior to him coming in. What strikes me about

:11:48. > :12:00.those pictures, defensively, and in attack, is the passionate about the

:12:01. > :12:07.club. -- passion. There is no doubt that there is real desire. And a lot

:12:08. > :12:13.of ability also. The blend of experience and youth, great energy

:12:14. > :12:18.throughout the team, and a desire, defensively, to keep clean sheets.

:12:19. > :12:24.They have done that magnificently this season. If Inverness Caley

:12:25. > :12:27.Thistle go forward and leave themselves exposed, Aberdeen can

:12:28. > :12:34.take advantage with the energy and quality they have going forward. And

:12:35. > :12:41.you worry about the absence of Warren, with all the attacking

:12:42. > :12:46.promise Aberdeen have. Apart from the last three league games, he has

:12:47. > :12:56.been terrific. There was a setback against Celtic and Dundee United,

:12:57. > :13:00.but he is a big miss for us. I think though it is in the midfield area

:13:01. > :13:07.where Thistle really need to work to get a result today. Looking outside,

:13:08. > :13:24.it is not quite simply red, but there is a Dons domination.

:13:25. > :13:35.We are the famous Aberdeen! Come on the Dons! Jonathan had a chat

:13:36. > :13:43.earlier on with three Aberdeen players. He has also had a foot in

:13:44. > :13:48.the Thistle camp. The rise of this club has been

:13:49. > :13:51.remarkable. Formed 20 years ago, they have risen through the ranks

:13:52. > :14:03.and allowing major force in Scottish all. -- football. They reached this

:14:04. > :14:14.final in the most remarkable way. Down to nine men! I came on and

:14:15. > :14:23.thought, just get a touch. It has gone in, incredible! I didn't really

:14:24. > :14:26.celebrate. I turned around and all the boys were running in different

:14:27. > :14:33.directions, seemed to not know what to do. But we were confident on

:14:34. > :14:40.penalties, we had practised the day before. Draper has sensationally

:14:41. > :14:49.sent nine man Thistle into the final! There were tears in our eyes.

:14:50. > :14:59.The player saw him much it meant to the manager. What kind of impact has

:15:00. > :15:05.he had? He told us what he wanted to do and why he was here. He has

:15:06. > :15:22.trained how -- changed how we train and play, but has not kicked any

:15:23. > :15:26.doors or punch Denny walls. It has been quite incredible from where

:15:27. > :15:30.Caley Thistle where 20 years ago, just coming into existence, did you

:15:31. > :15:37.ever think sorts of things would be possible at this club? When I first

:15:38. > :15:43.came in, just over five years, we had no full-time physiotherapist, no

:15:44. > :15:50.lunch after training, may be a part-time team,

:15:51. > :15:53.lunch after training, may be a it has changed massively,

:15:54. > :16:00.expectations about how well we can do, top six where we want to be. You

:16:01. > :16:05.seem settled, what is the best thing about being a player for Inverness

:16:06. > :16:09.Caley Thistle? the dressing room, great bunch of players, with

:16:10. > :16:14.manners, respect for each other, you do not have to shout and ball at

:16:15. > :16:20.them, they do that themselves. The best dressing room I have been in.

:16:21. > :16:24.How much is there between the two sides, a lot said about Aberdeen,

:16:25. > :16:29.but Inverness the team pushing Celtic harpist in the league? We

:16:30. > :16:36.have beat them at the tawdry, they have been as at home. Again, -- at

:16:37. > :16:44.Pittodrie Stadium. Again, we feel good. Aberdeen are favourites, but

:16:45. > :16:47.with that comes pressure. Many Aberdeen supporters going down the

:16:48. > :16:52.wanting to win the game, not happy unless they win the game. Our

:16:53. > :16:58.supporters will go down to join them no matter what happens. The Cup

:16:59. > :17:02.final, in my eyes, would be the biggest achievement I could ever

:17:03. > :17:07.make in my career. I do not know if I could make it to finals again, I

:17:08. > :17:15.do not know if I can, you never know, but we will give it 120%.

:17:16. > :17:19.20 goals for Billy McKay this season, really impressive, but only

:17:20. > :17:26.three since Christmas. But you take your eye off him at your peril. He

:17:27. > :17:31.is the most valuable player, without doubt. Sometimes, not moving too

:17:32. > :17:38.much in the box, finding little pockets to play in. To get 47 goals

:17:39. > :17:42.in two seasons is the nominal. -- phenomenal.

:17:43. > :17:49.This one is a fantastic finish, so quickly against Ross County, the

:17:50. > :17:56.ball coming across quickly, a great finish. Just a natural born

:17:57. > :18:01.finisher. It is all different types of strikes, such against Hearts

:18:02. > :18:07.here. Not just movement. But composure, huddling into the far

:18:08. > :18:12.corner. The second one against Hearts was even better. He is moving

:18:13. > :18:16.with the defender, all different types of goals, the confidence to

:18:17. > :18:21.hit balls in early, like Charlie was saying, he was a sign of a very good

:18:22. > :18:26.striker. And in tight areas, like the corners, the ball comes to them

:18:27. > :18:31.and he has that knack, something you cannot put a price on. You only have

:18:32. > :18:37.to listen to Richie Foran to understand the importance, a quiet

:18:38. > :18:45.menace about him. They would like two, one for central midfield, one

:18:46. > :18:51.up on. Such a vital part. And what Caley Thistle are about. They are

:18:52. > :18:55.about camaraderie, a willingness to work. He has an ability to both

:18:56. > :19:07.defend and attack. Whether he plays midfield, whatever,

:19:08. > :19:11.he is so versatile, and a huge personality and influence within

:19:12. > :19:17.that Caley Thistle squad. And John Hughes was without Richie Foran, and

:19:18. > :19:23.he has to tinker with the team and with the tactics and formation, and

:19:24. > :19:35.that will not be up everybody's Street. Yes, he even went with 4-2,

:19:36. > :19:47.going back to a four - 2-3-1 today. -- 4-2-3-1. Is a dot in the game has

:19:48. > :19:55.been held in high regard up north. -- his ability in the game. they

:19:56. > :19:59.have only been around for 20 years, first Cup final, more to this than

:20:00. > :20:06.the game, huge occasion foreign Burness who needs to enjoy this. --

:20:07. > :20:11.this is a huge occasion for Inverness. And there would be nice

:20:12. > :20:19.if there were more of their fans. Maybe 7500 here today. But it is a

:20:20. > :20:28.special day and they will be hoping for a happy ending. It is

:20:29. > :20:33.interesting to look back, Charlie, to the year 2000, when you had had a

:20:34. > :20:40.rather special Tuesday night here, when super Calle went ballistic that

:20:41. > :20:48.night. -- Caley. Is a disappointing to have so few fans? It is to me, I

:20:49. > :20:54.thought 10,000 would be unfeasible number, I take my heart of that

:20:55. > :21:03.matter take my hat off to the people coming down today. 40,000 is

:21:04. > :21:07.phenomenal for Aberdeen. But it is a big stepping stone for the club

:21:08. > :21:12.today, another rung on the ladder, and hopefully the next time we come

:21:13. > :21:17.to a Cup final will not be too far away and we will have in excess of

:21:18. > :21:22.10,000. The story of Caley Thistle is wonderful, I remember them as a

:21:23. > :21:25.Highland league team, and their chairman suggesting when the

:21:26. > :21:30.amalgamated and became Caley Thistle that they would play in the top tier

:21:31. > :21:34.one day and I remember having a little chuckle and I was probably

:21:35. > :21:40.wrong, he was right, in the Top Gear, top of the league, in the Cup

:21:41. > :21:45.final, quite an incredible 20 years. And it could be crowned today,

:21:46. > :21:49.whether the land there first major trophy, and major day for John

:21:50. > :21:54.Hughes and Derek McInnes, asked some questions.

:21:55. > :22:00.I know you hoped Peter Pawlett could be involved, not proven to be the

:22:01. > :22:08.case? No, even to the end of the week, we thought he would be fine.

:22:09. > :22:15.With the growing, -- groin, some training and nine the area -- some

:22:16. > :22:19.training and ideally again, but it was honest often to come forward,

:22:20. > :22:24.but a huge blow for Peter, for ourselves, as he has been a key

:22:25. > :22:28.player and up key part in getting is here. Disappointment is someone

:22:29. > :22:35.else's opportunity. But he will get the chance to play in other Cup

:22:36. > :22:42.finals. A sea of red at Celtic Park. What is your message to keep these

:22:43. > :22:49.bands Harvey-- keep these fans happy? Do your best, it is on the

:22:50. > :22:53.pitch we will win it, not because of fantastic backing. We can use that

:22:54. > :22:57.to inspire us, should relish that, and I think the players will brace

:22:58. > :23:02.that and help them perform better. But it is what is done on the

:23:03. > :23:09.pitch. The players performing, do things right, still the game as the

:23:10. > :23:21.same as any other, tough opponent in Inverness. All the best. Thank you.

:23:22. > :23:29.Aaron Doran on the bench, what was the tactic? All tactical. It is all

:23:30. > :23:36.tactical, the team is picked for the best intentions to win the football

:23:37. > :23:40.match. Fully, that will be the case. What will be your final words to the

:23:41. > :23:45.players trying to create some history? Have no regrets, but

:23:46. > :23:51.control your emotions, finishing with 11 players on the pitch. We

:23:52. > :23:55.want to get in tackles, and hopefully that will be the case, but

:23:56. > :24:05.control your emotions and have no regrets. All the best. -- all the

:24:06. > :24:09.best. Thank you. I am in the presence of greatness,

:24:10. > :24:13.the Aberdeen fans winging their will in the song, maybe you should

:24:14. > :24:22.conduct, how I view an Aberdeen fan but Schumacher how do the pre-match

:24:23. > :24:27.nerves compare? You always get a little update the food begins, big

:24:28. > :24:36.matches, but as a fan, I am pretty comfortable. -- you always get a

:24:37. > :24:42.little edgy before the football begins. But these people expect that

:24:43. > :24:47.trophy to go back to Aberdeen, but respect to Caley Thistle, are very

:24:48. > :24:51.good and strong side, putting up a strong side. If Aberdeen are at

:24:52. > :24:56.their best, they will win, but have to be at their best to beat a very

:24:57. > :25:02.good Inverness Caley Thistle said. Positive signs for the red Army,

:25:03. > :25:06.including some contract extensions by Derek McGinest and Tony Doherty.

:25:07. > :25:13.It has been worked well to get guys signed up all stop -- Derek McInnes.

:25:14. > :25:19.We have spoken a lot about expectation from Ike with and within

:25:20. > :25:25.Aberdeen, -- from outside Aberdeen. This is a massive game and also

:25:26. > :25:28.Charlie spoke about this being another rung on the ladder foreign

:25:29. > :25:34.Burness, huge for them as well, because if they can win this, who

:25:35. > :25:39.knows what stage they could progress and moved to. -- for Inverness. A

:25:40. > :25:45.lot riding on this. Widowed oversimplify it that, if this is a

:25:46. > :25:50.free flowing match, that would suit Aberdeen and Inverness would prefer

:25:51. > :25:54.it to be an ugly game? I can see where you are coming from, but not

:25:55. > :25:58.the differential between the sides people are making out. With Aberdeen

:25:59. > :26:04.being the bigger club, winning European trophies, the vast number

:26:05. > :26:13.of supporters, not a huge amount between the two clubs on the part.

:26:14. > :26:18.-- on the park. Aberdeen have they had a shot at goal in one previous

:26:19. > :26:24.game. But Aberdeen could tip the scales, but not by much. The games

:26:25. > :26:28.between them and a line that point. Absolutely, that game was a fine

:26:29. > :26:33.example of why Inverness deserve respect, playing exceptionally well,

:26:34. > :26:38.a lot of good football, just a slightly different line-up to what

:26:39. > :26:42.they have this afternoon. They outplayed Aberdeen and, on the

:26:43. > :26:45.night, I did not think that was possible, did not think Caley

:26:46. > :26:52.Thistle good iPlayer Aberdeen, and the team did, so that is a warning

:26:53. > :27:01.to Aberdeen. -- I did not think Caley Thistle could outplay. You get

:27:02. > :27:05.the impression John Hughes and Inverness will thrive on the

:27:06. > :27:15.underdog label. Hi-macro I think he likes to play up to that. I do not

:27:16. > :27:20.think it is a case of, if the game is crabby, it suits Inverness and

:27:21. > :27:28.Aberdeen supports open and expansive. -- is scrappy. Just the

:27:29. > :27:38.one to make sure that Aberdeen does not get the upper hand. It is League

:27:39. > :27:44.Cup final day and we are almost there.

:27:45. > :27:49.Football's most enduring memories are edged and silver. 18 years since

:27:50. > :27:54.their last trophy, Derek McInnes fires up Aberdeen once again,

:27:55. > :28:03.passionate and exciting. -- etched in silver. Formed just 20 years ago,

:28:04. > :28:06.John Hughes is determined to lead Inverness Caledonian Thistle to

:28:07. > :28:13.their greatest ever achievement with a spirited never say die team. The

:28:14. > :28:19.story will have another glorious chapter written! Aberdeen against

:28:20. > :28:26.Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Who will make their mark to date? The

:28:27. > :28:29.68th League Cup final, Aberdeen against Inverness Caley Thistle at

:28:30. > :28:37.Celtic Park, talking you through Mark McGhee and Liam McLeod.

:28:38. > :28:43.A wonderful atmosphere, a battle of the North, Aberdeen from the East

:28:44. > :28:49.against Inverness Caley Thistle of the Highlands, a battle of the

:28:50. > :28:56.League Cup, is it going up the A9 or A90 this evening? The road to

:28:57. > :29:01.Aberdeen is one it has been on five times before, not having the

:29:02. > :29:04.privilege for a while, the Dons the thug was excess of club in this

:29:05. > :29:08.competition despite almost a generation of supporters not knowing

:29:09. > :29:14.what it feels like to win silverware. -- the third most

:29:15. > :29:16.successful club. It has been season after season of anti-climax and

:29:17. > :30:01.disappointment. Russell Anderson would Richie Foran

:30:02. > :30:07.lost a cup final at Motherwell. They were hammered by Rangers. Russell

:30:08. > :30:14.Anderson is the only survivor from an Aberdeen last played in a cup

:30:15. > :30:24.final. They lost both cup finals that season. A stunning display from

:30:25. > :30:34.the Aberdeen support. 40,000 of them supporting their team. Unfortunately

:30:35. > :30:42.for them, there is no Peter Pawlett. He has been brilliant at this season

:30:43. > :30:50.but succumbs to an injury. Robson, Hayes, Rooney, up against their old

:30:51. > :30:55.team. Caley Thistle are without influential centre half Gary,

:30:56. > :31:01.suspended. Aaron Dorans will be disappointed not to start. Billy

:31:02. > :31:11.McKay has 20 goals this season, but just three since the tomb of the

:31:12. > :31:19.year. -- turn. Aaron Dorans does feature with the substitutes. The

:31:20. > :31:31.referee, 32-year-old Stephen Maclean. A first major final for

:31:32. > :31:39.him. This could be quite an afternoon. The last time these clubs

:31:40. > :31:45.met Aberdeen edged a seven goal thriller underneath the Caley

:31:46. > :31:48.Thistle Stadium floodlights. Jamie Langfield has kept 19 clean sheets

:31:49. > :31:57.of this season, what price another one today? And not bad at the other

:31:58. > :32:07.end either, 17 green shoots managed. -- clean sheets. Mark McGhee, what

:32:08. > :32:10.do you make of it? It has to be said, Inverness have a great

:32:11. > :32:15.following, but an outstanding effort from the Aberdeen fans. A

:32:16. > :32:26.recognition of how long they have waited for this data, round. -- this

:32:27. > :32:43.day to come around. The 68th Scottish League Cup final. A first

:32:44. > :32:48.for Inverness, Aberdeen 's 13th. Inverness have never gotten the

:32:49. > :33:07.better of Aberdeen in a cup tie. One draw, four losses. We are under at

:33:08. > :33:17.Celtic Park. -- underway. Jonny Hayes is already in the waters. --

:33:18. > :33:26.wars. He has gone over and landed on his shoulder. Hopefully nothing too

:33:27. > :33:33.serious, with just seconds gone. He is so influential for Aberdeen. His

:33:34. > :33:42.former team-mate at Caley Thistle, Adam Rooney has joined the team. But

:33:43. > :33:48.this does not look good for Hayes. She landed heavily on his shoulder.

:33:49. > :33:53.But he is sitting up now and it looks like he may recover. A great

:33:54. > :33:59.opportunity for these boys to make a reputation for themselves, but

:34:00. > :34:11.themselves in the history books. Hayes could be the man to supply

:34:12. > :34:16.that. New deals signed at Aberdeen on Friday, adding a couple of years

:34:17. > :34:23.to the management's contracts. Good turn, looking for Rooney. Aberdeen

:34:24. > :34:35.beginning the game on the front foot. They got the ball forward from

:34:36. > :34:43.the throw-in, the shot was wayward, but a good positive start for

:34:44. > :34:53.Aberdeen. The Dons were victorious on this ground just a month ago,

:34:54. > :35:10.knocking Celtic of the Scottish cup. -- out of. Back to back 5-0 defeat

:35:11. > :35:20.for Inverness and recently for the first time in their history. Vincent

:35:21. > :35:29.has got the nod ahead of Dorans today. A first touch of the ball for

:35:30. > :35:37.one of the old heads, Robson. Russell Anderson. Jonny Hayes is

:35:38. > :35:47.back on and moving freely. Just outside your picture. Anderson takes

:35:48. > :35:55.the high road, looking for Rooney. Onto the chest of Niall McGinn. They

:35:56. > :36:07.composed figure in the Aberdeen midfield, Reynolds. Jonny Hayes

:36:08. > :36:15.really is struggling with that shoulder. At times Billy McKay has

:36:16. > :36:24.looked detached from the rest of the team. Marley Watkins for Thistle. A

:36:25. > :36:38.first for a deep into Aberdeen territory. -- foray. Raven. Tansey.

:36:39. > :36:48.Scorer of a wonderful goal against Heart of Midlothian. His second

:36:49. > :36:58.spell at the club. Reynolds, trying to shepherd McKay. Back towards

:36:59. > :37:02.Langfield. Jamie Langfield will be happy with that early touch of the

:37:03. > :37:08.ball. He has now thrown it out of play. Jonny Hayes is really

:37:09. > :37:19.struggling. It looks like it could be game over. Another serious blow.

:37:20. > :37:24.They already lost Peter Pawlett. This is the confirmation. There is

:37:25. > :37:29.no way you can continue today. Cammie Smith is the most likely

:37:30. > :37:38.replacement for the Irishman, Hayes. What a serious blow. Tragic for the

:37:39. > :37:42.lad himself. He has started with enthusiasm, going for a ball he

:37:43. > :37:47.probably did not need to go for. And he is going to go off. What a blow

:37:48. > :38:02.for the team, and a shame for the Blair himself. -- player. You can

:38:03. > :38:08.see he is visibly upset. Cammie Smith will come on, he was excellent

:38:09. > :38:13.against Dumbarton last week. He will have been disappointed not to start,

:38:14. > :38:25.but he is as good as doing that now, coming on just five minutes into the

:38:26. > :38:32.game. Shades of Eoin Jess, coming on as a substitute in the League Cup

:38:33. > :38:40.final in 1995, just 18 years of age. -- 1989. He was set up for a shot,

:38:41. > :38:46.he might have hit the target, but you see the importance of getting

:38:47. > :38:51.somebody close to Adam Rooney. I feel he is too far away from the

:38:52. > :38:54.rest of his team already, whereas Niall McGinn is getting close to

:38:55. > :39:02.Rooney, and that will be important for Aberdeen. The last time Aberdeen

:39:03. > :39:06.were in a major cup final they lost a player to injury in the early

:39:07. > :39:16.minutes, it was the last game ever for club legend Jim Leighton. That

:39:17. > :39:24.jinx has struck again. They cannot let it play on their minds. Cammie

:39:25. > :39:28.Smith will have sat on the bench thinking, maybe I will get a run out

:39:29. > :39:33.in the second half, but instead he has the whole game. Aberdeen must

:39:34. > :39:43.now go on with the same determination with which they

:39:44. > :39:58.started. Shinnie, and Aberdonian. Caley Thistle player, formerly of

:39:59. > :40:05.Birmingham City. Divine. -- Devine. Watkins under pressure from

:40:06. > :40:11.Considine, drag all the way from his left back position. He did well to

:40:12. > :40:25.win and that free kick, he was not favourite. He did well to get

:40:26. > :40:32.himself the free kick. Caley Thistle know that they can blow the Aberdeen

:40:33. > :40:36.feel-good factor to bits today. All the pressure has been on the Dons

:40:37. > :40:50.since they made it to this showpiece occasion. Flood clears it.

:40:51. > :41:17.McKay. Again, he manages to find Shinnie. Good play by Barry Robson.

:41:18. > :41:21.Devine, who Got 25 minutes when John Hughes made a change, taking Gary

:41:22. > :41:36.Warren off, knowing that he would lay in his absence. -- play.

:41:37. > :41:42.Heavy with the touch. Now it is McKay. Not the ideal ball to Draper

:41:43. > :41:51.but it might still come to Watkins... Anderson is they are. And

:41:52. > :42:07.a good job he was, McKay was waiting for the scraps. Just a little bit

:42:08. > :42:11.complacent. A good opportunity. The first opportunity for the

:42:12. > :42:21.Highlanders. Langfield organising the defence. McGinlay for Aberdeen.

:42:22. > :42:27.The Dons are one of the best counterattacking teams in the

:42:28. > :42:42.country. Good challenge by Raven, the pressure is off.

:42:43. > :42:49.Lots of people have Aberdeen down as favourites today. Some feel they

:42:50. > :42:57.might crumble under the expectation of the sheer number of fans. I don't

:42:58. > :43:00.think that is the case. We heard the players talking before the game,

:43:01. > :43:11.there is a really positive attitude with the players and management.

:43:12. > :43:20.Logan. Flood. Jack. Assessing his options. That was clever, if you can

:43:21. > :43:30.get there. He wanted a run from Considine as well. Probably the

:43:31. > :43:34.defender was entitled to stop him. He did not quite make the full

:43:35. > :43:46.distance, but I great idea, great little money. -- dummy. If this game

:43:47. > :43:52.goes all the way to extra time, Aberdeen have won the less change

:43:53. > :43:56.they can make. Yes, but they will be hoping to win in 90 minutes, not

:43:57. > :44:03.worrying too much about extra time at this stage. He is an important

:44:04. > :44:10.player and a source of chances, a maker of goals. That is more of a

:44:11. > :44:11.blow than whether they can bring somebody on during the last half

:44:12. > :44:33.hour. Certainly, Inverness at this stage

:44:34. > :44:37.are not showing any nerves. There is no lack of structure to their game,

:44:38. > :44:45.they have set themselves up in a certain way and are doing well at

:44:46. > :44:53.the moment. Through to Watkins, but Considine clears. Devine. Always a

:44:54. > :45:02.good place to give away a free kick, the halfway line. Let the centre

:45:03. > :45:06.forward now you are there. We spoke about the need to be physical in

:45:07. > :45:20.this game, the Aberdeen players can expect to be tackled. Shaleum Logan,

:45:21. > :45:33.on loan from Bedford. Pressing for Inverness so far.

:45:34. > :45:43.Not a bad ball from Cammy Smith. A fabulous Ball, almost onto the

:45:44. > :45:49.penalties but, Smith arriving, maybe the wrong, you would have liked to

:45:50. > :45:54.see Rooney on that, but a terrific break down the left-hand side, and a

:45:55. > :46:00.good ball from Ryan Jack, as well as Andrew Considine. Inverness with the

:46:01. > :46:06.first chance, no they are equalling chances. Derek McInnes looking for a

:46:07. > :46:16.piece of silverware in his first full season. He has not been in

:46:17. > :46:26.charge even a year, after replacing Craig Brown. What a job he has done

:46:27. > :46:35.in the subsequent almost 12 months. The towering draper against Jack. --

:46:36. > :46:42.Draper. You saw him already with a free kick. The one that blocked. He

:46:43. > :46:46.is a threat, someone taking up Aberdeen's attention in their own

:46:47. > :46:59.box, and could be a danger to Aberdeen this afternoon.

:47:00. > :47:12.Derek McInnes said the best 25 minutes for Aberdeen this season

:47:13. > :47:19.came against the match against Inverness. Aberdeen scored in the

:47:20. > :47:23.second half, taking it to 4-3. A 20 minute spell when Aberdeen scored

:47:24. > :47:31.for macro goals when Inverness could get nowhere near them. -- scored

:47:32. > :47:44.four goals. An easy one that time for Reynolds.

:47:45. > :47:57.Willo Flood, looking ever so well. A good challenge thereby Ross Draper.

:47:58. > :48:02.-- there by. Inverness midfielder getting close to Aberdeen. Doing

:48:03. > :48:07.brilliantly to win it back, then passing it straight back to Willo

:48:08. > :48:09.Flood, they need to keep the ball for longer, Inverness, using up

:48:10. > :48:26.energy trying to get it back. One thing Adam does for Aberdeen,

:48:27. > :48:34.that outlet, not wearing number nine, but a classic number nine.

:48:35. > :48:42.Absolutely, pushing the back four, stretching them. That was not a bad

:48:43. > :48:50.ball, if Watkins could just have got there. The Inverness back four being

:48:51. > :48:54.forced to go deeper, creating space in the midfield, giving opportunity

:48:55. > :48:56.for midfield players to support and get our word. A very important

:48:57. > :49:09.player for them Adam. Jamie Langfield there. Another major

:49:10. > :49:43.appearance. John Hughes watching on, hoping his

:49:44. > :49:53.team can draw first blood from this James Vincent corner kick. This is

:49:54. > :50:00.where Draper is effective, not only winning it, but blocking for others.

:50:01. > :50:04.Vincent, surrounded by red and white, and it was a handball, and it

:50:05. > :50:27.was off Draper. I think it was. Willo Flood protesting his innocence

:50:28. > :50:31.there. The early injury was a disappointment for everyone, I

:50:32. > :50:38.think, but the game has started well, played at a tempo, both sets

:50:39. > :50:44.looking like they want to win the game, sometimes there can be a fear

:50:45. > :50:56.of losing, but both teams up but it. It has the makings of a great game.

:50:57. > :51:02.Josh Meekings with the kick, but it ended up too close to the keeper.

:51:03. > :51:07.Willo Flood and Jamie Langfield dealing with what has been thrown at

:51:08. > :51:12.them, just double-cross balls. Who will blink first? -- just simple

:51:13. > :51:42.cross balls. Nice play that time from Mark

:51:43. > :51:47.Reynolds. Aberdeen want to play from the back, but Inverness coming on,

:51:48. > :51:52.and then the likes of Mark Reynolds is forced to play a longer ball,

:51:53. > :51:56.meaning at this stage, leaving that, letting Jamie Langfield kick the

:51:57. > :52:02.ball, because after that first ball out to the back four, Aberdeen

:52:03. > :52:05.putting themselves under pressure. I would let Jimmy Lange field kicking

:52:06. > :52:15.the ball and starting with Adam Rooney. -- Jamie Langfield kicking

:52:16. > :52:24.the ball. Aberdeen's 28th major final. Anderson is there from

:52:25. > :52:33.Russell Anderson, but Reynolds was there -- a snip from. Who is

:52:34. > :52:38.handling it better just now? I think it is even Stevens. The tactic John

:52:39. > :52:44.Hughes has given to close Aberdeen down is working, at times Aberdeen

:52:45. > :52:47.nipping it back, being patient, looking dangerous, Aberdeen going

:52:48. > :52:53.forward, looking good on counter attack. Both teams approaching it

:52:54. > :52:54.slightly differently. But both making good chances, opportunities

:52:55. > :53:12.to score, but it is even Stephen. Watkins with a challenge again,

:53:13. > :53:15.resulting in an Aberdeen free kick. Every outfield Aberdeen player in

:53:16. > :53:19.Inverness territory. Ryan Jack taking it, doing well. Trying to

:53:20. > :53:59.keep it going. Trying to clip it through there for

:54:00. > :54:04.Rooney. Robson having to be really up against Billy McKay. One there

:54:05. > :54:14.working in Caley Thistle's favour. I think the fans the pace of McKay up

:54:15. > :54:23.against Russell Anderson. -- the fans see the pace. David Raven,

:54:24. > :54:41.started his career at Liverpool. Making their way there through the

:54:42. > :55:04.red and white balloons. Good controlled by Barry Robson.

:55:05. > :55:16.Just trying to angle it out towards Robson. Devine taking the chances

:55:17. > :55:21.there. -- taking no chances. A great time from Shaleum Logan. --

:55:22. > :55:36.turn. Barry Robson, Ryan Jack, already,

:55:37. > :55:43.you can see one of them possibly the key to unlocking Inverness, making

:55:44. > :55:49.one of those passes. Robson got it back, but got very late by Richie

:55:50. > :55:55.Foran, and the referee wanting to speak to their Caley Thistle

:55:56. > :56:01.captain. I do not think there was any intent there, just the change

:56:02. > :56:11.that caught him out. A word of warning for Foran. For this. No

:56:12. > :56:17.contact of note, but it is a free kick. Has reversed the ball towards

:56:18. > :56:21.the right-hand side, on his left foot, anticipating him going out the

:56:22. > :56:27.other side, sliding underneath them, but no contact. Jack leaves it for

:56:28. > :56:46.Robson. Is it over? It was! Goal-line

:56:47. > :56:50.technology, I am afraid, looking like it was going straight then, of

:56:51. > :56:57.the post, off the line, good defending. -- off the post. It

:56:58. > :57:08.looked at one point as if it had crossed the line.

:57:09. > :57:23.Never crossed the line, am afraid. No debate, Aberdeen come again, the

:57:24. > :57:29.first corner, Anderson... That was a chance, two free kicks, Ryan Jack

:57:30. > :57:39.taking one, Robson the other, Mark Reynolds winning both headers, dine

:57:40. > :57:43.with a great chance. -- down with. This might like a fire under this

:57:44. > :57:51.League Cup I know, not a great clearance, Dean Brill getting away,

:57:52. > :58:00.Anderson then of the post, Richie Foran was there, but of the post. .

:58:01. > :58:05.It was going to hit the side netting. As it came across the line,

:58:06. > :58:10.they looked surprised, but it stayed out and they managed to clear it.

:58:11. > :58:15.Russell Anderson scored a goal against Celtic earlier in the

:58:16. > :58:24.season, a wonderful volley, almost at it again there.

:58:25. > :58:35.Robson has caught Foran again, this time Foran going into the book,

:58:36. > :58:41.lucky not to be sent off against Hibernian midweek. Like what was

:58:42. > :58:46.said about keeping your emotions and control, keeping your discipline.

:58:47. > :58:51.His left foot gives away under the surface, slipping and sliding under

:58:52. > :58:56.him, like the previous challenge, no intent, but catching him more that

:58:57. > :59:01.time. The referee had no choice but to book him. Loves the game against

:59:02. > :59:08.Aberdeen, very nearly an Aberdeen player, almost signed for them.

:59:09. > :59:15.There were issues surrounding Richie Foran at the time. He ended up with

:59:16. > :59:22.Motherwell instead before finding a home Caley Thistle. An Aberdeen free

:59:23. > :59:29.kick, Robson with it. Does not find a team-mate, which is unusual. The

:59:30. > :59:35.point is I thought it was Ryan Jack trying to get round the back, but

:59:36. > :59:40.was blocked by Draper, not able to get there in time. Try to take a

:59:41. > :59:45.free kick, but Ryan could not get on the end of it. Derek McInnes

:59:46. > :59:47.thinking his team had struck the first blow a few minutes ago, but

:59:48. > :00:17.hitting the post. Aberdeen are now 3-1 in chances.

:00:18. > :00:23.Inverness have had the ball across the six yard box, there have been

:00:24. > :00:37.opportunities already, and it does look like a game in which we will

:00:38. > :00:58.get goals. Waiting for movement. Devine, Tansey. Shinnie. Meekings,

:00:59. > :01:17.Could have missed the final himself. Had a red card downgraded to yellow.

:01:18. > :01:25.Willo Flood. Rooney. Meekings. Taking control. Quite an

:01:26. > :01:33.inexperienced centre half pairing. Certainly, not much first-team

:01:34. > :01:43.football for Meeking, they are both 21, he and Devine. But the other end

:01:44. > :01:50.with Marley Watkins. McKay. Went down, not happy with the referee,

:01:51. > :01:58.who had a good view of that. Flood, tracked by Shinnie. A terrific

:01:59. > :02:04.recovery. But Inverness really must be wary of Aberdeen on the

:02:05. > :02:14.counterattack. Some retribution on the Inverness skipper. Being told to

:02:15. > :02:22.calm down by the referee. For an really must be careful. Obviously he

:02:23. > :02:29.was booked. But he must keep his discipline, they don't want anybody

:02:30. > :02:51.sent off. Is this a foul? I don't think so. It breaks for Ross

:02:52. > :02:57.Draper. Watkins. Shinnie. , corner. Terrific run, you can see why he

:02:58. > :03:07.scores goals. It will be Shinnie to take. Lots of movement. Draper can

:03:08. > :03:23.keep it alive. Russell Anderson for company. Devine. Not living up to

:03:24. > :03:28.his name with that cross. It was a little bit hopeful. I go back to

:03:29. > :03:34.your question earlier, is it even Stevens? I think so, though Aberdeen

:03:35. > :03:54.have had the best chances, Inverness remain very much in this. Niall

:03:55. > :04:06.McGinn. Rooney. Shinnie is there. A shout for Anderson. Robson. Well

:04:07. > :04:10.played by Barry Robson. He is the influence that Aberdeen need on a

:04:11. > :04:19.day like this. The level he has played out, the games he has played

:04:20. > :04:27.in, a big influence on Aberdeen. Watkins, stepping away from

:04:28. > :04:34.Considine. A good couple of minutes for Inverness. We described Aberdeen

:04:35. > :04:37.is the good counterattacking team, but that had the makings of a good

:04:38. > :04:51.counterattack and they still have pressure on the Aberdeen back four.

:04:52. > :05:07.Marley Watkins, spent some of his youth career at Swansea and Chelsea.

:05:08. > :05:19.Draper. Good tenacity from Watkins. Brilliant from Jack. Sustained a

:05:20. > :05:27.head injury at Motherwell, came back earlier than expected. Doubts about

:05:28. > :05:37.whether he would be available for this showpiece. Robson. Rooney runs

:05:38. > :05:45.ahead. That was a decent idea, a diagonal run. He tried to just drop

:05:46. > :05:54.it short, but just did not get on the end of it. But a decent idea.

:05:55. > :06:06.Flood. Richie Foran. Devine. Vincent. He has looked like a good

:06:07. > :06:15.signing. Was injured for a couple of months, came back. He has found that

:06:16. > :06:27.little gap just in front of McKay. He has found a bit of space.

:06:28. > :06:53.Mark Reynolds. Considine to his left. McGinn. Decide to lay it off

:06:54. > :06:59.to Jack Logan. Flood is at close quarters. Watkins comes across.

:07:00. > :07:10.Battling with Willo Flood. Kept in by the Irishman. Smith.

:07:11. > :07:26.Niall McGinn. A lot of possession for Aberdeen, can they do anything

:07:27. > :07:33.with it? Logan. Rooney goes down, shake off the head from Stephen

:07:34. > :07:43.Maclean! A goal kick. I think he is right. I think he makes contact with

:07:44. > :07:54.the ball. He touches the ball and goes down, it is not a penalty kick.

:07:55. > :08:03.A great decision by the referee. Ten minutes to half-time. Lots of big

:08:04. > :08:14.decisions from the referee in the first half. A first major cup final

:08:15. > :08:23.for him. An awkward bounce for cancer diary. -- Considine. You

:08:24. > :08:31.don't want to give away unnecessary free kicks. Part of the armoury is

:08:32. > :08:38.getting Draper up there, creating pressure, hoping for a loose ball,

:08:39. > :08:40.and that is an absolutely unnecessary free kick were there

:08:41. > :08:50.needs to be a little bit more discipline in those situations.

:08:51. > :08:59.David Raven over this. Not the best delivery. Always favourite,

:09:00. > :09:27.Meekings. Flood. He was caught late by Richie

:09:28. > :09:36.Foran. Already been booked, remember. He needs to be very

:09:37. > :09:41.careful. None of the challenges I have seen from him have been any

:09:42. > :09:44.attempt at all. That really was a nothing one. He needs to be

:09:45. > :09:49.disciplined or he will catch someone again. You do not want to lose this

:09:50. > :10:05.game because you are down to ten men. Robson, Smith, Watkins the

:10:06. > :10:08.stronger of the two. Both managers will be looking at the moment,

:10:09. > :10:15.reasonably happy. Aberdeen might feel they should be in the lead by

:10:16. > :10:20.now, they have had the best chances. But generally both will be satisfied

:10:21. > :10:24.to be in the game. They have not shown any nerves, the game started

:10:25. > :10:31.quickly, the injury was a bit of a dampener, but since then, chances at

:10:32. > :10:38.both ends, a good cup final so far. It could go either way. Flood loses

:10:39. > :10:45.out to Watkins, now it is Richie Foran. A little bit too much for

:10:46. > :11:03.Vincent, who keeps it alive. Tansey. Finding Draper. Raven. Devine.

:11:04. > :11:11.Draper. Jack, pulled out of the tackle initially. Got it back in any

:11:12. > :11:22.case. Smith finds Jack. Both from the Pittodrie youth academy. And

:11:23. > :11:33.another from the youth academy, just longer ago, Russell Anderson.

:11:34. > :11:36.Anderson's first season at Aberdeen when a youngster, was the last time

:11:37. > :11:45.they won the silverware. Niall McGinn, going through the gears. To

:11:46. > :11:59.Smith. Robson. Tansey, ambitious. Flood again. Considine. Flood to

:12:00. > :12:07.Robson. A little shimmy from Robson, did not get the power on it.

:12:08. > :12:15.Rooney was following in. A good take. Another shot from Aberdeen. In

:12:16. > :12:19.the last ten minutes McGinn has become more influential, more

:12:20. > :12:25.active, even when he has not had the ball, across the front line, even

:12:26. > :12:32.coming deeper into his own half. He is becoming an influence in the

:12:33. > :12:43.game. Raven, Vincent, Draper, straight to Smith. Flood. Just over

:12:44. > :12:52.five minutes to half-time. Sometime will be added on for the injury to

:12:53. > :13:06.Jonny Hayes earlier. Robson, it came him last. -- came off. That 4-3

:13:07. > :13:10.Aberdeen victory in the Highlands was part of the build-up to a busy

:13:11. > :13:15.festive period. A game of two halves as they say. And victories for

:13:16. > :13:46.either team either side of that. Jack. The last three League Cup

:13:47. > :14:03.finals have been tight affairs. Rangers - Celtic, and then Saint

:14:04. > :14:13.Mirren against hearts... Is Dean Brill get something on ethics

:14:14. > :14:20.commission . He is a great defender who must release the Bologne little

:14:21. > :14:22.quicker. Let Flood Robson deal with the ball, pass the ball, get it

:14:23. > :14:40.wide. A shout for handball from the

:14:41. > :14:51.Aberdeen supporters against Raven. It matters not, they have the ball

:14:52. > :14:58.back. Jack, takes it down. Logan, for Robson. Inverness, every time

:14:59. > :15:07.Aberdeen get the ball, around about the halfway line, Inverness are in

:15:08. > :15:17.their faces, immediately. Good pressing from the Highlanders when

:15:18. > :15:24.they have not got the ball. When the Dons get to the half line -- halfway

:15:25. > :15:33.line, begins their campaign to get the ball back. A foul, Against

:15:34. > :15:40.Reynolds. Unnecessary, you have to be more disciplined, led the players

:15:41. > :15:48.go back to what is team, forced the ball back in there, do not force

:15:49. > :15:55.these unnecessary free kick. Will there be an opener before half-time?

:15:56. > :16:09.Draper joining the attack. Threat in the air. Devine and Foran in there

:16:10. > :16:20.as well. I saw one for Anderson there. No surprise, Richie Foran is

:16:21. > :16:28.involved. -- a sore one. Mark Reynolds has to be careful, giving

:16:29. > :16:34.away free kicks. That was too wide. One of them they will get right.

:16:35. > :16:38.They keep getting sight of it, one of those chances, they will get the

:16:39. > :16:45.ball. They need more discipline in these wider areas. Inverness fans of

:16:46. > :16:50.the other end of Celtic Park. Behind the goal of Dean Brill, two minutes

:16:51. > :16:55.added on at the end. Another free kick goes the way of the

:16:56. > :17:17.highlanders. Three minutes from the half-time whistle.

:17:18. > :17:28.Anderson towering over Billy McKay there. Devine, singing to handle the

:17:29. > :17:55.situation in the Cup final pretty well.

:17:56. > :18:06.Josh Meekings, was he got by Adam Rooney? Yes, he was. Confirmation

:18:07. > :18:11.given of stoppage time. If you are joining us, Jonny Hayes went off

:18:12. > :18:15.early in June, Aberdeen with an early chance, Inverness ending the

:18:16. > :18:25.first half pretty strongly. -- went off early injured. Wonderful

:18:26. > :18:29.challenge there from Willo Flood, claiming it perfectly, but Aberdeen

:18:30. > :18:37.giving it straight back to the Highlanders. A terrific tackle

:18:38. > :18:42.inside the box from Willo Flood, almost set the team of on a counter

:18:43. > :18:48.attack, but giving the ball away too quickly. When it came into the feet

:18:49. > :18:54.of McKay, a jazz to run with the ball, he took the ball, -- a chance

:18:55. > :19:04.to run with the ball. But not able to create the chance. Watkins

:19:05. > :19:06.looking for Raven, but fetched by Considine, the final minute of the

:19:07. > :19:25.first half. Setting Adam Rooney away, Devine is

:19:26. > :19:32.underneath it. Smith went for it, as did Meekings. McKay doing well to

:19:33. > :19:58.get that ball under control. Tansey was trying to get Watkins in

:19:59. > :20:04.behind Considine. And the half-time whistle. Derek McInnes heads up the

:20:05. > :20:09.tunnel immediately, facing a big blow early on when Jonny Hayes had

:20:10. > :20:12.to go off with a shoulder injury, Russell Anderson closest to breaking

:20:13. > :20:23.the deadlock today, a wonderful effort flash -- flush off the post.

:20:24. > :20:28.Anderson hooked it towards goal, Foran clear that of the line, Adam

:20:29. > :20:30.Rooney thought it was over, the half time in the Scottish League Cup

:20:31. > :20:44.final, nothing between them. Yes, the 2014 League Cup final is

:20:45. > :20:49.still goalless, of two a measurable start for Jonny Hayes and Aberdeen,

:20:50. > :20:57.almost glory for Russell Anderson. -- off to. One off the post, and no

:20:58. > :21:05.penalty said the referee after Adam Rooney hit the deck here at Central

:21:06. > :21:15.Park that wacko Celtic Park. 0-0 at the moment, let us get half-time

:21:16. > :21:21.thoughts. -- here at Celtic Park. Willie Miller, how do you think your

:21:22. > :21:27.old team have done Western Mac old team -- have done? Old team question

:21:28. > :21:34.right I think they have done well. Some cheap free kicks. We have

:21:35. > :21:38.looked good, some and tidy in the midfield, giving the ball away on a

:21:39. > :21:43.few occasions, which has not helped, but the game is quite

:21:44. > :21:47.tight. Not causing Jamie Langfield too many problems, but we need to do

:21:48. > :21:53.something creatively in the second half perhaps, but they should be

:21:54. > :22:00.happy defensively. Russell Anderson, he likes Celtic Park, scoring a

:22:01. > :22:05.magnificent ball down here not too long ago, and had the opportunity

:22:06. > :22:10.there, got it well, superb strike, little unfortunate it came off the

:22:11. > :22:14.post, I do not know why Richie Foran was on the other posts, he just

:22:15. > :22:20.happened to be there. Aberdeen has had the better chances. He played

:22:21. > :22:25.OK, but I am with Charlie, there is not much in the game. If you are an

:22:26. > :22:35.Inverness abortive, you would be happy. -- supporter. They are right

:22:36. > :22:39.in it. Absolutely, compared to last week, it is clear. They have

:22:40. > :22:45.stretched the game, working for them. Billy McKay has been a very

:22:46. > :22:49.effective one up front for them, holding it well, winning quite a few

:22:50. > :22:57.balls in the air, limiting Aberdeen in the final heard, the back four of

:22:58. > :23:00.Inverness and not having much to chase behind them. And with that

:23:01. > :23:05.these lost with Peter Pawlett missing before the game, and with

:23:06. > :23:10.Jonny Hayes injured in the first minute, has affected Aberdeen in

:23:11. > :23:15.terms of penetration. A real double blow to Aberdeen, beat Apollo before

:23:16. > :23:21.the match, then barely begun by the time Jonny Hayes went off.

:23:22. > :23:26.Absolutely, it is that these he is lacking now. These are the two quick

:23:27. > :23:31.players looking to get forward to support Rooney and they are not

:23:32. > :23:35.there. That is definitely lacking. Niall McGinn has gone off the boil

:23:36. > :23:43.recently as well, his form has not been as good, not been as affective

:23:44. > :23:47.as he should've been . But the huge blow for Aberdeen, not putting Caley

:23:48. > :23:52.Thistle under pressure, the pay is lacking, and major concern to Derek

:23:53. > :23:58.McInnes, I would imagine. Chat outside will be about the penalty

:23:59. > :24:03.decision, and most of us were in two minds. You're not, Michael?

:24:04. > :24:11.No doubt, this is a penalty. It is last week when Adam Gunning was

:24:12. > :24:17.brought down. Josh Meekings is not seen, you can clearly see there is

:24:18. > :24:24.contact with each other's knees there. You could argue that Adam

:24:25. > :24:29.Rooney would not get the ball, a bad touch, but anywhere else on the

:24:30. > :24:35.pitch, that is a free kick, 100% a penalty.

:24:36. > :24:44.Charlie is not convinced? He is not controlling the ball. I think he has

:24:45. > :24:46.not control the ball and I am not convinced there was much contact

:24:47. > :25:02.there. Adam was looking for it. 70-30 against it. Willie Miller,

:25:03. > :25:08.argued 50-50? There is some contact. Rooney did not have control of the

:25:09. > :25:13.ball, no doubt, it was going out, and the referee must have taken that

:25:14. > :25:17.into consideration. But when you are a defender in the penalty box, and

:25:18. > :25:23.you go for a ball like that, you need to get the ball.

:25:24. > :25:32.But he has put on self that position. For those reasons, I am 50

:25:33. > :25:37.- 50. If that was midfield, and the guys check each other, you would get

:25:38. > :25:42.a free kick, no question, it is inside the box, same rules apply, no

:25:43. > :25:47.different rules, that is a penalty, there is contact there, it should

:25:48. > :25:53.have been a penalty for Aberdeen. A crying shame, literally, for Jonny

:25:54. > :26:00.Hayes, visibly upset, he must have been really looking forward to this.

:26:01. > :26:07.Looking back, he will probably wish he did not go in for the challenge.

:26:08. > :26:12.But he isn't easy as big, he wants to be part of the game and its

:26:13. > :26:17.build-up. And he has went in but it, made that decision, falling

:26:18. > :26:24.awkwardly. You could see a the time he was hurt, and a huge blow for

:26:25. > :26:26.him. The way he landed, the likelihood was it was not going to

:26:27. > :26:40.be much more of the game by him. And everyone in here, as soon as we

:26:41. > :26:43.start, we thought he would not be in the game. But the adrenaline is

:26:44. > :26:48.rushing, desperate to get involved, and he has had to go off injured.

:26:49. > :26:53.Aberdeen getting the ball in the net, that was the big draw in the

:26:54. > :26:55.background, Inverness starting well, capitalising on Aberdeen giving the

:26:56. > :27:08.ball away. Vincent has proven to be a diamond

:27:09. > :27:13.at the moment, creating problems. It is not like Billy to get in front of

:27:14. > :27:18.a defender, I thought he might take a step back, trying to get in front

:27:19. > :27:23.of him, but good defending, showing the capability of causing problems.

:27:24. > :27:30.But not too much of that since? We have shown too much respect

:27:31. > :27:37.midfield, and I agree that Niall McGinn does not look too much on the

:27:38. > :27:41.boil. We need to be tighter in the midfield, which is by John has five

:27:42. > :27:46.guys in there, to keep Aberdeen facing the wrong goal, then if you

:27:47. > :27:53.get the ball, you can get a ball through. Cammy Smith replaced Jonny

:27:54. > :28:00.Hayes, and could have made an instant impact.

:28:01. > :28:09.It was a super cross from Andrew Considine. Young Cammy, he is very

:28:10. > :28:14.good on the ground, it was a wonderful cross in, Adam Rooney, a

:28:15. > :28:23.real opportunity. Cammy Smith? Not surprised it went off the bar.

:28:24. > :28:34.CROWD CHANTS. You should say hello to some of your

:28:35. > :28:40.fans there. Thank you. And some levelling things up? Absolutely,

:28:41. > :28:48.Aberdeen have some guys missing, but in possession, guys like Willo Flood

:28:49. > :28:52.and Barry Robson, Ryan Jack, all very nice in possession, but not

:28:53. > :28:57.quick enough. Inverness have been difficult to break down, but need to

:28:58. > :29:01.pass quickly remove the midfield about. It has been too slow at the

:29:02. > :29:06.moment, keeping possession, which is bearing up, but need to get it

:29:07. > :29:13.quicker and in between the lines. -- which is fear in our. This law is --

:29:14. > :29:19.a bit too slow is the possession. And maybe a wrong yellow card

:29:20. > :29:25.because of losing fitting, but he is on the tightrope the way he plays. I

:29:26. > :29:29.think he was led off with the first one, because he slept, and was

:29:30. > :29:35.booked in the second one, but Richie Foran has to be careful, playing

:29:36. > :29:41.that way, he is 33, you may have to sit out one or two challenges. And

:29:42. > :29:44.Russell Anderson Dunning into a goal machine, almost had another

:29:45. > :29:57.memorable one? He has had a fantastic season.

:29:58. > :30:01.Unusual to see him in the box. That was magnificent, if you take any top

:30:02. > :30:08.striker, and vitamin that position, and he manages to dig that one out.

:30:09. > :30:14.-- put him in that position. An absolute superb example of how to

:30:15. > :30:21.strike the ball on the volley, unusual for him to do that, but it

:30:22. > :30:26.was so close. Wonderful strike. It looked like it could have spun in if

:30:27. > :30:31.Richie Foran had not been there. Then another chance from Adam

:30:32. > :30:37.Rooney. Just attack too far in front. It has not fallen enough, he

:30:38. > :30:53.is on the back foot. He is off balance. Stretching all the time.

:30:54. > :31:03.Difficult one for him. Gary Warren not playing, that is definitely a

:31:04. > :31:09.factor. That is a concern for us. Just backtracking to the Russell

:31:10. > :31:12.Anderson shot, the instinct of Richie Foran to be in the right

:31:13. > :31:19.place at the right time for Inverness. It is just his instinct,

:31:20. > :31:25.he felt as if, I need to get back and add some cover. If he was not,

:31:26. > :31:41.it could have rebounded from the other post and gone in all -- gone

:31:42. > :31:48.in. His role is interesting, he drifts in behind Billy McKay. We

:31:49. > :31:55.have seen it so far today, Vincent has started on the left side,

:31:56. > :32:01.playing in what you would class as a number ten position. It is causing

:32:02. > :32:10.the Aberdeen midfield problems. Start on the left, drift in. It is

:32:11. > :32:14.causing Aberdeen problems. Robson, now standing on the right-hand

:32:15. > :32:21.side, he wants to drive in and cover him all the way. But Flood and Jack

:32:22. > :32:24.are already in the middle of the pitch marking up, so Aberdeen are

:32:25. > :32:31.finding it difficult knowing who to pick up. They will have difficulty

:32:32. > :32:36.countering that, it could lead to something in the second half. John

:32:37. > :32:41.Hughes could go on the other direction and bring on some genuine

:32:42. > :32:49.width. Exactly, and I think Dorans would be ideal. Bringing him on, if

:32:50. > :32:54.it is still level with 25 minutes to go, that is a good option. And we

:32:55. > :33:03.know that Nick Ross can have an impact. The philosophy would have

:33:04. > :33:10.been, keep it tight for an Allah. If it is 0-0, they will be happy. --

:33:11. > :33:17.keep it tight for an hour. They have guys that can thrive on space. Ross

:33:18. > :33:23.and Dorans can hopefully come on and take advantage of tired legs.

:33:24. > :33:30.Aberdeen have already had to commit Cammie Smith as a sub. When you look

:33:31. > :33:36.at the bench, who else could be significant? You are right, they do

:33:37. > :33:39.not have many game changers on the bench, Derek McInnes will hope he

:33:40. > :33:47.does not have too be in that position, making changes to change

:33:48. > :33:51.the course of the game. From an Inverness point of view, they

:33:52. > :33:56.started well. I was looking out for nerves, but they have shown none

:33:57. > :33:59.whatsoever. Aberdeen have been slightly better, had the better

:34:00. > :34:08.opportunities, but John Hughes will be delighted. It is an intriguing

:34:09. > :34:19.game. It is difficult to see which way it will go. Inverness have more

:34:20. > :34:23.than handled themselves. John Hughes will have wanted to keep it tight

:34:24. > :34:31.then try to get a little bit more width after an hour. And Willie is

:34:32. > :34:36.right, no nerves from Inverness, which you might have expected after

:34:37. > :34:39.recent results. As the game goes on, they will grow in confidence,

:34:40. > :34:46.Aberdeen will have to deal with that. The teams are emerging for the

:34:47. > :34:50.second half. There will have been a lot of debate during the interval

:34:51. > :34:57.about this, was there enough contact them for that to be a penalty? The

:34:58. > :35:01.referee thought not. Russell Anderson has gone closest to

:35:02. > :35:05.breaking the deadlock so far with a right foot volley which struck the

:35:06. > :35:11.inside of the post before Richie Foran was in the right place to deal

:35:12. > :35:15.with it on the line. 0-0 so far, let's return for the second half, to

:35:16. > :35:23.Mark McGhee and Liam McLeod. In the next 45 minutes we will find

:35:24. > :35:28.out who will In the next 45 minutes win the first

:35:29. > :35:38.piece of silverware in Scottish but all this season. -- Scottish

:35:39. > :35:48.football. No further changes at half-time. The 35th meeting between

:35:49. > :35:57.these teams. The third time they have met in the League Cup. Aberdeen

:35:58. > :36:07.have won both so far. 3-0 in 1998, 4-1 in 2007. No matter who wins this

:36:08. > :36:18.one, it will be a fourth different winner of the trophy since 1994.

:36:19. > :36:32.Rangers, Kilmarnock, Saint Mirren, then one of these two. Barry Robson,

:36:33. > :36:36.he had a decent first-half. Russell Anderson showed real agility in

:36:37. > :36:45.hitting the post. That is too long. Mark McGhee. As the game started you

:36:46. > :36:55.could not quite call it. Nothing between them really. Slightly

:36:56. > :36:58.different in style. Aberdeen trying to bully, Inverness trying to take

:36:59. > :37:05.opportunities when Aberdeen make a mistake. Get the ball up to Billy

:37:06. > :37:22.McKay, she has done terrifically well against two bigger lads. McKay

:37:23. > :37:30.at that time on Reynolds. Aberdeen are second in the premiership,

:37:31. > :37:37.Thistle are for. -- fourth. Tansey and Flood come together. Tansey did

:37:38. > :37:41.well. A decent free kick to give away. Quite deliberate, knew he

:37:42. > :37:55.would not get the ball, just went with him. Aberdeen minus two of

:37:56. > :38:09.their semifinal heroes. As and Paul. -- Hayes and Pawlett. Not a good

:38:10. > :38:13.shot, but it was an opportunity coming from a deep free kick

:38:14. > :38:22.launched into the centre of the box. That shows the importance of keeping

:38:23. > :38:27.your discipline. Stay on your feet. It is quite a story for Russell

:38:28. > :38:31.Anderson. Left Aberdeen in 2007, injury problems throughout his time

:38:32. > :38:40.at Sunderland and Derby County, came back to Aberdeen, and it is not just

:38:41. > :38:44.about the number of games since, but the level at which she has played

:38:45. > :38:51.at. Mr consistent at the back for the Dons.

:38:52. > :39:10.It is Draper, for Inverness. Caught by Flood. There was a stage when I

:39:11. > :39:17.thought Russell's career might be over. He would have had an even

:39:18. > :39:27.greater career but for the injuries he suffered. Away by Jack. Pressure

:39:28. > :39:42.from Vincent. Flood is there. Cleaned up by Marley Watkins. There

:39:43. > :39:45.is plenty needle. It is a cup final. If there wasn't that combative

:39:46. > :39:54.attitude and people preparing to be physical, there would be something

:39:55. > :40:08.far wrong. This is a cup final. Free kick by Langfield. Robson does well.

:40:09. > :40:16.Richie Foran finds Shinnie. The second half, similar in style to

:40:17. > :40:25.what we saw in the opening 45. Smith emerging victorious, the ball was

:40:26. > :40:40.taken by Shinnie. Considine wins it back for the Reds. Niall McGinn.

:40:41. > :40:48.Draper was being fouled. Free kick from Inverness. Finding Watkins.

:40:49. > :40:58.Billy McKay. A good run forward from Vincent. Goes to Raven instead.

:40:59. > :41:13.Tries to cross. Flood as they are. Considine. Niall McGinn. Macari.

:41:14. > :41:25.Reynolds was the barrier. Small margins. For the first time,

:41:26. > :41:45.Inverness have more men in the box. Barry Robson. Jack, to Flood. The

:41:46. > :41:48.guys in the studio were talking at half-time about whether Aberdeen

:41:49. > :41:55.were being quick enough coming forward. Sideways passing in the

:41:56. > :42:00.midfield, trying to get Adam Rooney in the game, and Cammie Smith is the

:42:01. > :42:07.man to try to do that. There is the national coach. Gordon Strachan.

:42:08. > :42:21.Enjoying proceedings, McKay feigns Vincent, but did he get the ball?

:42:22. > :42:30.The referee was very close. Stop start. Seven minutes into the second

:42:31. > :42:50.half. The latest decision that the referee has had to make. Against

:42:51. > :42:56.Vincent. Free kick, taken quickly. There is nowhere really for Russell

:42:57. > :43:09.Anderson to go. McKay chasing the Dons skipper. Rooney. That breaks

:43:10. > :43:17.nicely for Shinnie. He has McKay ahead of him. Incomes Anderson.

:43:18. > :43:26.Marginally, Inverness have started the second half better. They must be

:43:27. > :43:35.careful, Aberdeen, not to allow the game to become stretched. They just

:43:36. > :43:43.have to be a little bit careful. That is a corner. They cannot try to

:43:44. > :43:47.counter attack every single time they win the ball, at times you must

:43:48. > :44:00.just pass it out, get it to Rooney, world like that. -- build.

:44:01. > :44:17.Shinnie. Clattering into Considine. Still in play. Tansey. It looked

:44:18. > :44:43.like he had overrun that slightly. Barry Robson thought that was an

:44:44. > :44:47.Aberdeen ball. Some of the best performances from Aberdeen this

:44:48. > :44:50.season have come against teams that have attacked them, not against

:44:51. > :45:04.opponents who have sat in. But Inverness are doing their fair share

:45:05. > :45:10.of attacking right now. Devine. Good play by Watkins, to Draper. Good

:45:11. > :45:20.covering by Reynolds. Inside to Jack. He is having to go backwards.

:45:21. > :45:31.Trooper closing down Reynolds. -- Draper. Reynolds jitters, Watkins

:45:32. > :45:40.was offside, which is why Reynolds delayed the run. I think he has the

:45:41. > :45:49.decision right in the end. Almost blocked, the ball went to Raven, but

:45:50. > :45:58.the need to be quicker, get rid of the ball.

:45:59. > :46:08.It has been the quality in the final third in open play that Aberdeen

:46:09. > :46:15.have struggled with. Absolutely, Mike Reynolds needs to hold it up

:46:16. > :46:21.upfront, give his midfield time, even to get beyond him. -- Mark

:46:22. > :46:34.Reynolds. And Aberdeen are not getting out. Logan losing out to

:46:35. > :46:42.Vincent on the outside, getting the throw. Cammy Smith, barely getting a

:46:43. > :46:50.touch of the ball in this deck and period. -- second period. Inverness

:46:51. > :47:00.fans trying to put Aberdeen off there from behind the goal.

:47:01. > :47:13.Was Smith caught by Tansey? No. Cammy Smith get boot to get on the

:47:14. > :47:16.ball, but Caley Thistle not letting him. The referee not interested

:47:17. > :47:33.there in the appeals of Aberdeen. Billy McKay did brilliantly there.

:47:34. > :47:38.Three Aberdeen players trying to defend against them, but still

:47:39. > :47:50.managing to wrestle the ball back to one of his own players. As this -- a

:47:51. > :47:54.zest about Caley Thistle that has been the four weeks. -- been there

:47:55. > :48:20.for weeks. I think he will be editing that from

:48:21. > :48:29.the playback, should Inverness go on to win this. I do not think... He

:48:30. > :48:31.looked down at the ball, and I do not think he fancied heading it with

:48:32. > :48:54.his left boot, and he had no choice. Only really religion had therefore

:48:55. > :49:00.Logan, -- only really Rooney to hit. The formation and Aberdeen

:49:01. > :49:23.causing problems. Not much space around the penalty area.

:49:24. > :49:34.Space opening up for Aberdeen at last. Graeme Shinnie to deny Logan.

:49:35. > :49:39.The speaking to Aberdeen fans and football yesterday, B1 speaking

:49:40. > :49:45.about Peter Pawlett. And here is McGinn, you cannot underestimate the

:49:46. > :49:58.importance of the players not out there. And Jonny Hayes coming off

:49:59. > :50:04.within minutes, Peter Pawlett not playing at all, huge blows for

:50:05. > :50:15.Aberdeen. Caley Thistle finds calling for handball there. -- fans.

:50:16. > :50:25.James Vincent all over Ryan Jack, closing down options. Reynolds

:50:26. > :50:29.looking for Rooney, Aberdeen pushed into the long ball almost all stop

:50:30. > :50:43.Inverness doing that well, letting them come so far. Keeping them in a

:50:44. > :50:46.position. Billy McKay between them. Corralled into this corner, putting

:50:47. > :50:54.pressure on the ball, forcing a long pass. Good play by Inverness. That

:50:55. > :51:12.is one hour gone, could be another hour if there is extra time.

:51:13. > :51:18.Langfield keeping an eye on that, drops it, but bailed out by

:51:19. > :51:27.Anderson. Horrible for Jamie Langfield! A major let off for

:51:28. > :51:39.Aberdeen. Caley Thistle will take confidence from that as Reynolds

:51:40. > :51:45.fouls McKay, and are good moment for Inverness. A difficult moment for

:51:46. > :51:51.goalkeepers, not much to do, flapping at that one, needs to be

:51:52. > :51:55.more decisive, but got away with it. And Reynolds outstretched right leg

:51:56. > :52:02.on Billy McKay, the foul that led to the free kick. Last week against

:52:03. > :52:08.Dumbarton, Jamie Langfield dropped one or two, helped out by his

:52:09. > :52:13.captain on that occasion as well. Over 30 yards out, they should not

:52:14. > :52:18.be a threat to Jamie Langfield, but they need to be aware of the second

:52:19. > :52:24.ball off the post or the bar, the ricochet, and we have to defend the

:52:25. > :52:33.second ball as well. Jamie Langfield forced into the save. The gifts

:52:34. > :52:41.possession straight back to Caley Thistle. -- he gifts. A good opening

:52:42. > :53:01.16-17 minutes to the second half for Inverness.

:53:02. > :53:11.Adam Rooney is increasingly looking like an isolated figure up for

:53:12. > :53:16.Aberdeen. Aaron Doran should be on in a moment for Caley Thistle. James

:53:17. > :53:22.Vincent will be the player to make way by the sounds of things. I think

:53:23. > :53:28.the start of the second half, Inverness have taken possession away

:53:29. > :53:33.from Aberdeen. John Hughes has said to them at half-time I think that

:53:34. > :53:37.any doubts they may have had where dispelled in the first half by their

:53:38. > :53:43.performance, no to try and find another game, and I think they have

:53:44. > :53:48.done that. -- now to try. At this moment, they look like the likely

:53:49. > :53:54.team. Aaron Doran, from County Court, would have been gutted to

:53:55. > :54:00.have been left out at the start. -- County Cork. Now playing for the

:54:01. > :54:03.remainder of the game. It is a free kick for Graeme Shinnie, but away by

:54:04. > :54:21.Anderson. A lot of the pace out of the

:54:22. > :54:25.Aberdeen team, that we would normally see on a weekly basis,

:54:26. > :54:52.coming up with new ways of attacking their opponents.

:54:53. > :54:59.It is the way the game has been played, is that sitting Caley

:55:00. > :55:11.Thistle better? I think Caley Thistle at the moment, Tansey and

:55:12. > :55:25.Draper not giving Ryan Jack Willo Flood the chance to get the ball

:55:26. > :55:39.down and make passes. Considine has a long throw on him. Meekings

:55:40. > :55:50.conceded it. The short option for Smith. Aberdeen were in the final

:55:51. > :55:56.third inside their own half year. -- here. An awkward one for Anderson,

:55:57. > :56:23.Doran was in behind him. Oh, dear! Aberdeen have to stretch

:56:24. > :56:28.Inverness across the pitch, if they stretch the ball quickly from one

:56:29. > :56:31.side to the other, because as long as it is going through the middle,

:56:32. > :56:37.Inverness John Nimmo, bodies in there, more ambition, -- Inverness

:56:38. > :56:41.are in a strong position in the middle. Aberdeen need to get the

:56:42. > :56:54.ball down the side. John Hughes seems quite happy.

:56:55. > :57:05.Billy McKay knows Aaron Doran has pace, intelligently done by Robson.

:57:06. > :57:11.Their defence of Inverness has been terrific, The Times McKay has been

:57:12. > :57:15.isolated, but he has done well at times to put Aberdeen under

:57:16. > :57:21.pressure, allowing him to get ten behind the ball, -- to get time

:57:22. > :57:27.behind the ball, making it difficult for Aberdeen. Humming towards the

:57:28. > :57:48.final quarter of the 90 minutes -- coming towards.

:57:49. > :58:05.Logan went long, but it was too high for Rooney. Rooney in Abilene is --

:58:06. > :58:12.in brilliant space, but only if McGinn could have found him. Better

:58:13. > :58:22.from Aberdeen, Rooney finding himself in an Aberdeen, but who are

:58:23. > :58:30.from Ryan Jack again. -- but poor. It is the first time we have seen

:58:31. > :58:35.open play and Adam Rooney in a good area. You'll he ended up running a

:58:36. > :58:41.bit wide, ended up almost in the corner. Give his team an opportunity

:58:42. > :58:46.which no one was able to get on the end of, but motoring courage in for

:58:47. > :58:50.Aberdeen. Nicky Low will come on for Aberdeen in a minute or two, not

:58:51. > :59:07.sure who is coming off yet. Barry Robson?

:59:08. > :59:14.Good possession from Aberdeen, better from them in the last couple

:59:15. > :59:22.of minutes, Robson with an ambitious effort. That was over, 35 yards out,

:59:23. > :59:27.it will take a good strike from there to score. They need to keep

:59:28. > :59:32.passing the ball. You said before he took that shot, better possession,

:59:33. > :59:37.keep the ball. Cammy Smith who came on in the first half, coming off in

:59:38. > :59:41.the second half to be replaced by Nicky Low. Hard decisions sometimes

:59:42. > :59:48.for a manager, putting the player on, a little bit of a change, so I

:59:49. > :59:53.do not think it can be ruled to Anfield, the light coming on, doing

:59:54. > :59:58.well, looking willing to come on the ball. -- it cannot be ruled to

:59:59. > :00:03.Anfield. He made a decent contribution was to was out there.

:00:04. > :00:08.-- too unfair. Jonny Hayes with a soldier -- with a shoulder injury,

:00:09. > :00:13.we spoke to him and he does not think he has broken anything, but it

:00:14. > :00:24.is a collarbone problem, he could be out for a good few weeks. But Nick

:00:25. > :00:34.Lowe, he looks as though he could do a job in midfield. The Dons

:00:35. > :00:42.supporters really rate him. Just one change left for Aberdeen, Thistle

:00:43. > :00:49.have a couple, 20 minutes to go. 0-0, nothing between them. The

:00:50. > :00:58.closer we get to full time, the more nervous it becomes all -- and Adam

:00:59. > :01:39.Rooney is on his own opportunity for Aberdeen. It shows

:01:40. > :02:07.the importance of staying concentrated. Craig Brown, elder

:02:08. > :02:31.statesman. Succeeded by Derek McInnes.

:02:32. > :02:49.Shinnie. Anderson. Richie Foran wins a free kick. 51,143 inside Celtic

:02:50. > :03:00.Park today. 40,000 supporting Aberdeen. A good crowd. A fantastic

:03:01. > :03:07.atmosphere, both supports deserve a lot of credit, they have come a long

:03:08. > :03:14.way. Langfield, changed his mind, comes again. Nervous moments for

:03:15. > :03:18.Aberdeen. They had some against Dumbarton last week. When Thistle

:03:19. > :03:26.get the ball in the box, it is the same thing. Mark Reynolds is playing

:03:27. > :03:34.a dangerous game. He has got a hold of the jersey Draper. The linesman

:03:35. > :03:38.could clearly see it being tugged. He has got to be careful, he could

:03:39. > :03:48.give away a penalty for absolutely nothing. It could be crucial. That

:03:49. > :03:54.kind of decision. That is strong from Rooney. He has got jack to the

:03:55. > :04:07.right. This is him now. Now Nicky low. Robson. Lowe Full is Inverness

:04:08. > :04:28.are well drilled at the back. Better. They are keeping the ball.

:04:29. > :04:32.It came from Rooney. He kept the ball for his team, gave them a

:04:33. > :04:42.platform. Now they have a corner kick. Anderson and Considine wait.

:04:43. > :04:51.They scored at that end in the Scottish cup match against Celtic

:04:52. > :04:54.here. There was a push. You sometimes wonder where the free kick

:04:55. > :05:08.is, but referees see things when everybody is pooling and fishing. --

:05:09. > :05:16.pulling and pushing. Just a little push from Adam Rooney. Just over 15

:05:17. > :05:26.minutes to go. It looks like a game where one goal might decide that.

:05:27. > :05:34.Inverness are only here because Nick Ross scored the deep into stoppage

:05:35. > :05:44.time against Heart of Midlothian when they were down to nine men.

:05:45. > :05:52.This is right in the melting pot. Inverness have had a fantastic half

:05:53. > :05:57.hour. Have they run out of energy? Do they still have the energy to

:05:58. > :06:05.maintain it? Aberdeen are starting to claw their way back into it.

:06:06. > :06:11.We'll John Hughes be disappointed that they have not really tested

:06:12. > :06:14.Jamie Langfield? I think he will be, they have been on the front foot

:06:15. > :06:26.without managing to create a clear-cut chance. Richie Foran.

:06:27. > :06:34.McKay. Good defending by Mark Reynolds. Not for the first time

:06:35. > :06:38.this season. Flood. That was for Robson. In goes Richie Foran. They

:06:39. > :06:58.throw to Inverness. Combative players, going for the

:06:59. > :07:11.same ball. Richie Foran will fight to the last today. Greg Tansey.

:07:12. > :07:21.Shinnie. Shrugging off Lowe. Anderson heads clear. It falls for

:07:22. > :07:45.Robson. An extra half an hour is a big possibility. Nicky Lowe. Logan.

:07:46. > :08:09.Flood, inside for Jack. Lowe Full. He got an early winner against Ross

:08:10. > :08:18.County in a league game. The Dons are seeing more of the ball now.

:08:19. > :08:26.Reynolds. McGinn. Not that much movement ahead of him. Flood. The

:08:27. > :08:36.easy ball to Ryan Jack who has a pop, saved, and saved again from

:08:37. > :08:43.Rooney! Robson goes down and wins a free kick just outside the box.

:08:44. > :08:50.Better play again. We talked about working the ball wide. Eventually

:08:51. > :08:58.they came inside and got a good shot. A really dangerous position. A

:08:59. > :09:07.wonderful area for Aberdeen to try to exploit. Inverness about to make

:09:08. > :09:10.a substitution. The crucial goal scorer from the semifinal penalty

:09:11. > :09:16.shoot out, as replacement for Watkins. In the meantime, Aberdeen

:09:17. > :09:33.free kick, level with the penalty shot. It is for McGinn. Only fresh

:09:34. > :09:39.air. Willo Flood. Towards Anderson, but too high. That was from the

:09:40. > :09:46.training ground, that free kick. We saw similar from the Scotland team

:09:47. > :09:50.against Estonia when Charlie Mulgrew and Charlie Adam worked a free kick

:09:51. > :10:01.just as McGinn did they are, but it did not quite reach. Off goes

:10:02. > :10:07.Watkins. He has done a power of work. Perhaps tired. And a proud

:10:08. > :10:12.moment for 22-year-old Nick Ross. Playing for his local team. He got

:10:13. > :10:18.that crucial equaliser against Heart of Midlothian in the semifinals,

:10:19. > :10:25.deep into stoppage time. He would have loved to have started today but

:10:26. > :10:29.there are still plenty of football to be played this afternoon as we

:10:30. > :10:44.head towards the final ten minutes of normal time all -- with more to

:10:45. > :10:55.lose with every minute that passes. Inverness kicked another free kick.

:10:56. > :11:02.It is getting to that stage, Mark, we, if you score, there is not much

:11:03. > :11:14.time to see it out. Yes, and nerves start to come in when the other team

:11:15. > :11:27.get near your golf. -- goal. Strong play from Considine. A push from

:11:28. > :11:33.Rooney, Meeking was not happy. And Aberdeen ball. Awkward for Devine,

:11:34. > :11:41.he ended up leaving it. Get away with it. Aberdeen have scored 14

:11:42. > :11:49.times in the last ten minutes of matches this season, John Hughes

:11:50. > :11:58.will be aware of that. Anderson underneath it. It takes an awkward

:11:59. > :12:12.bounce which Devine heads away. Considine. McGinn. That is not a bad

:12:13. > :12:25.switch. The Northern Irishman finds Logan. Jack. Logan. When Aberdeen

:12:26. > :12:37.lost to Partick Thistle recently, Logan did not play. Rooney. Robson.

:12:38. > :12:41.Aberdeen, stroking their chins a little bit here, trying to work out

:12:42. > :12:51.how to get past this thick blue wall. Inverness are resolute, but as

:12:52. > :12:55.the game approaches its conclusion, they are less likely to be able to

:12:56. > :13:02.break from this deep position, so Aberdeen must remain patient and

:13:03. > :13:06.keep passing the ball. Flood, Jack, has to be quick, Dorans for company.

:13:07. > :13:25.Logan. Aberdeen attacking the end of the

:13:26. > :13:37.ground that they are fans are at. Barry Robson the sizes up another

:13:38. > :13:44.one. Forced to save again, Brill, that was the best effort of the

:13:45. > :13:50.match from Barry Robson so far. Aberdeen have by far had the best

:13:51. > :13:56.chances of the game. Inverness tested Jamie Langfield when he had a

:13:57. > :14:06.flap at a cross early on. Flood making a run. It is left for

:14:07. > :14:09.Considine, not a good touch. Had that been better, that could have

:14:10. > :14:15.been a shot on goal, it could have been the League Cup. What an

:14:16. > :14:24.opportunity, I think you took it with his right foot which is not his

:14:25. > :14:31.best. Now, he took it with his left. As you say, it could have probably

:14:32. > :14:38.won the cup. But Aberdeen have stolen the initiative back. Both

:14:39. > :14:47.sets of supporters are cranking up the volume. Six minutes to go, plus

:14:48. > :15:02.injury time. If it stays like this, extra time. Reynolds, towards

:15:03. > :15:10.Rooney, but too much on it. I think the Aberdeen supporters have sensed

:15:11. > :15:15.their team have found some energy. In numbers, they cannot get up the

:15:16. > :15:20.part as much as they can, Inverness, so Aberdeen can keep them

:15:21. > :15:30.camped in their at least until the final whistle. Having to manage with

:15:31. > :15:41.less men for both teams and previews -- in previous games. Caley Thistle

:15:42. > :15:49.supporters away to the right. What a day it is the their club. Only two

:15:50. > :15:56.decades old and a major national Cup final. Five minutes from time,

:15:57. > :15:59.though. If there is to be a goal now, you would think that would seal

:16:00. > :16:18.the trophy. Handball, but missed. It is a Caley Thistle

:16:19. > :16:23.corner. He makes that spring to the front post. Giving themselves an

:16:24. > :16:29.opportunity. He beats Russell Anderson to the ball at the near

:16:30. > :16:34.post, an opportunity to score, but blocked, added as a corner tech.

:16:35. > :16:41.This is where Inverness have to be careful. -- it is a corner kick. Do

:16:42. > :16:53.not switch off, Niall McGinn is there, they cannot take their eyes

:16:54. > :17:01.off him. It is in the air, Richie Foran claimed it, I think he was

:17:02. > :17:10.foiled. -- fouled. Steven MacLean not interested. I think it is Andy

:17:11. > :17:26.Considine, is it? Definitely two hands. And Richie Foran is raging!

:17:27. > :17:33.It definitely had his hands, arguments therefore a penalty, --

:17:34. > :17:34.there for a penalty, but maybe balancing out from previous

:17:35. > :17:47.decisions. The best defences in the

:17:48. > :17:54.Premiership. That has been given state to Niall McGinn, and a goal

:17:55. > :17:58.kick, I thought Josh Meekings had touched that initially, and a

:17:59. > :18:06.massive chance for Aberdeen goes a-begging. I thought he was going to

:18:07. > :18:13.school there. The defender doing well to put him under pressure. He

:18:14. > :18:20.tries to lift it over him, but he has to do better. Josh Meekings had

:18:21. > :18:27.his team-mates all over him, it came off the defender. No corner. Just

:18:28. > :18:37.wonderful defending from Josh Meekings in any case. It might not

:18:38. > :18:42.-- might not be credited for that, because he did not go for the

:18:43. > :18:57.corner. Two minutes, plus stoppage time. Nothing each.

:18:58. > :19:14.Reynolds controls. Aberdeen fans baying for blood. But no foul.

:19:15. > :19:21.-thereby McKay on Anderson. Just that the row being given? -- that

:19:22. > :19:38.was their by. Billy McKay went straight to the

:19:39. > :19:46.assisting referee on the near side. Not happy the free kick was given.

:19:47. > :19:55.It is looking like extra time, Mark McGhee. I will take it, enjoying

:19:56. > :19:59.this, at a recognised -- terrifically contested Cup final.

:20:00. > :20:06.Different style, Inverness defending themselves against Aberdeen. Nicky

:20:07. > :20:14.Low Goodson on Dean Brill, but Dean Brill got there just before. --

:20:15. > :20:22.Nicky Low goes in. there have been chances at both ends, mostly

:20:23. > :20:30.Aberdeen, but a terrific final. Does Nick Ross have any last-minute

:20:31. > :20:33.heroics up his sleeve question waiting to find out how much

:20:34. > :20:49.stoppage time has been added. McGinn has it, but many Inverness

:20:50. > :21:16.players. And three minutes added at the end.

:21:17. > :21:22.It dropped nicely for Aaron Doran, Caley Thistle on the counter now,

:21:23. > :21:45.just over one minute to go. If 14 macro -- if Doran had got it

:21:46. > :21:53.through McKay there. One end to the other right now. Still in play.

:21:54. > :21:59.Richie Foran had no right to win that ball. And he has won Inverness

:22:00. > :22:05.a free kick, and what an area and what a free kick to concede by Shae

:22:06. > :22:12.Logan. unnecessary, but the boy is tired, running a long way to get

:22:13. > :22:19.back in there. Foran came down, but a free kick being given to put the

:22:20. > :22:30.team and the pressure in these last seconds. Aberdeen not going to be

:22:31. > :22:38.given another chance. In a game by Graeme Shinnie, the referee spotting

:22:39. > :22:43.something. Russell Anderson and Draper, I think, having a wrestling

:22:44. > :22:49.match, I do not know who issues bonds of old. But it has happened

:22:50. > :22:55.throughout the game. -- I do not know who is responsible. It is a

:22:56. > :23:03.retake of the free kick. Inverness still have a chance. Anderson

:23:04. > :23:17.playing a dangerous game there. Anderson marking Draper.

:23:18. > :23:27.It is looking like extra time. In fact it is. The Scottish League Cup

:23:28. > :23:32.final ends goalless after 90 minutes. There has been nothing

:23:33. > :23:38.between Anderson, the best chances without a doubt link to Derek

:23:39. > :23:42.McInnes' Aberdeen, but John Hughes' side so well drilled, quite the

:23:43. > :23:47.opposite in their previous two games, the match against Hibernian,

:23:48. > :23:52.the back-to-back losses by Celtic and then of course to Dundee United

:23:53. > :24:00.last Sunday. It means we have another 30 minutes to enjoy. Or

:24:01. > :24:04.insular if you support these games -- or endure if you support these

:24:05. > :24:15.teams. Maybe not surprising if the are so

:24:16. > :24:24.inseparable, another half hour to come, and maybe a penalty shoot out

:24:25. > :24:34.to follow. Who is your money on, Charlie? I think the last 20

:24:35. > :24:42.minutes, Caley Thistle dropping ten yards of the game. Could the midweek

:24:43. > :24:53.fixture be a factor question mark --? I think so. Aberdeen seemed to

:24:54. > :24:59.be in the ascendancy. Some good opportunities, such as the Niall

:25:00. > :25:04.McGinn effort. Not sure if you took the flexion. -- took the flexion.

:25:05. > :25:11.Aberdeen look to have more energy and strength. -- deflection. It is

:25:12. > :25:16.difficult to call, full marks to Caley Thistle giving it everything

:25:17. > :25:22.they could possibly have given for their manager. And on the back of

:25:23. > :25:27.recent results, they have to be applauded for that, but Aberdeen

:25:28. > :25:32.looking stronger. We saw Richie Foran and the referee not quite

:25:33. > :25:39.kissing and making up, but having some exchanges, all about the

:25:40. > :25:44.penalty claim we saw. One in the first half, but what about the

:25:45. > :25:48.challenge by Andy Considine on Richie Foran?

:25:49. > :25:59.With arms all over the attackers, you're giving opportunities. For me,

:26:00. > :26:05.that is a penalty kick. The first half was one for Aberdeen, that was

:26:06. > :26:13.certainly one for Inverness. It is pretty blatant, two arms round about

:26:14. > :26:20.Foran, I think, and Andy Considine taking a chance there. I think the

:26:21. > :26:27.referee can look at that one. Let us look at Nile McGinn's Janz. He could

:26:28. > :26:33.have won it for Aberdeen. -- Niall McGinn's Janz. --

:26:34. > :26:47.Chance. The ball seems to change, he will be disappointed with that. That

:26:48. > :26:53.just about sums up the day for Niall McGinn, it has not been his days so

:26:54. > :27:02.far, lacking urgency. And whether it was the flexion -- deflection, it

:27:03. > :27:10.just has not happened. Another 30 minutes, no back to Mark and Liam.

:27:11. > :27:13.-- now back. Extra time has been required in 15

:27:14. > :28:08.of the previous doing well to get to the showpiece

:28:09. > :28:15.final. He has not been as influential as he might have hoped,

:28:16. > :28:23.Niall McGinn, but he is the one that might make a pass and might make a

:28:24. > :28:28.run or he might score the goal, even though he is missing what looks like

:28:29. > :28:31.a glaring opportunity. He still looks to have energy, which is

:28:32. > :28:45.important. Inverness still hemming Aberdeen in

:28:46. > :28:49.here. Richie Foran having a discussion with his team-mates,

:28:50. > :28:59.taking over from John Hughes just before extra time got underway. And

:29:00. > :29:05.Aberdeen ball. -- an Aberdeen ball. Aberdeen have won the League Cup

:29:06. > :29:18.after extra time before, beating Rangers in 1989, Paul Mason with two

:29:19. > :29:51.goals that they at Hampden. -- that day.

:29:52. > :30:03.Good play by Draper. Trying to find McKay. From open play, Caley Thistle

:30:04. > :30:08.have not really troubled Aberdeen. Most of the time they only have one

:30:09. > :30:15.option, McKay, and unless they get it to him, they do not create

:30:16. > :30:18.clear-cut chances. But they have times when his movement has been

:30:19. > :30:34.really good and if they got the ball to him, he could either one. Be the

:30:35. > :30:42.one. RU looking at Mark Reynolds for the national team? We'll look at all

:30:43. > :30:48.Scottish players. Peter Pawlett is another one. We have our eyes on any

:30:49. > :31:05.players who can benefit us, that is for sure. This is Reynolds. These

:31:06. > :31:15.two have had pretty much the best defences all season, despite Celtic

:31:16. > :31:38.running away with the league. Jack for Robson. Devine, just as enough.

:31:39. > :31:50.A foul against McGinn. John Hughes has done a terrific job of preparing

:31:51. > :31:55.his team today. The shape they have started with, keeping their

:31:56. > :32:00.positions, Tansey and Draper, doing a terrific job, Richie Foran,

:32:01. > :32:10.McKay, physically, they have been outstanding in the middle of the

:32:11. > :32:14.park. John Hughes and Russell Latapy were on opposing League Cup final

:32:15. > :32:34.side once upon a time, Rangers versus United. -- Ayr Utd. Jack. He

:32:35. > :32:48.really has not had a look in. Robson, to Jack. McGinn. He is going

:32:49. > :32:56.to shoot. Nicky Lowe is asking, why did I not get the pass? Tired legs.

:32:57. > :33:10.I think at this stage of the game, he just wanted to get the shot away.

:33:11. > :33:14.McGinn did have Lowe to his right. Such a good chance he had for

:33:15. > :33:26.Aberdeen in the last few minutes of normal time, Niall McGinn. A shove

:33:27. > :33:33.their own Draper. -- there on Draper. The best outlet for Caley

:33:34. > :33:41.Thistle is free kicks right now. They can float them in and have such

:33:42. > :33:52.an aerial threat. Frustration for Richie Foran. Those sorts of free

:33:53. > :33:58.kicks will be opportunities, so they must do better than that. The centre

:33:59. > :34:04.half has gone all the way up, an opportunity to get a head on it.

:34:05. > :34:12.Caley Thistle came through after extra time and penalties on the

:34:13. > :34:22.semifinals. Aberdeen, early in the competition, required a penalty

:34:23. > :34:40.shoot out against Alloa. That was way back in August.

:34:41. > :34:59.Nick away by Nick Ross. Considine. Tansey with a mess, that has allowed

:35:00. > :35:18.Niall McGinn to run at Devine, was he in the box? Right on the edge

:35:19. > :35:27.says the referee! You can see it in the super slow motion. Just outside

:35:28. > :35:34.the box. Right on the edge. But that is what Aberdeen need from Niall

:35:35. > :35:37.McGinn, to nick the ball up and run. He has put his team in a right good

:35:38. > :35:45.position, a big opportunity for Aberdeen. They have capable players.

:35:46. > :35:55.Robson has scored from free kicks in the past. A huge moment in this

:35:56. > :36:04.game, potentially. McGinn and Robson stand over it. McGinn believing it.

:36:05. > :36:13.The left foot of Barry Robson. Former Caley Thistle player. It is a

:36:14. > :36:22.let down. We have seen him do it. We know he has it in his locker. A good

:36:23. > :36:26.opportunity. He is better than that, Barry Robson. The Inverness

:36:27. > :36:35.supporters behind the goal enjoyed that. Thistle making their final

:36:36. > :36:40.change of the match. A proud moment for a man in our studio, Charlie

:36:41. > :36:49.Christie, that is his boy, Brian, about to come on. And he really does

:36:50. > :36:57.look the business. Richie Foran. One last salute of the Thistle

:36:58. > :37:06.supporters. A huge moment for Christie. 18 years old. Already

:37:07. > :37:19.seems to be a favourite with the Thistle supporters, as his father

:37:20. > :37:26.was. And still is! Richie Foran can go off with a lot of credit. He has

:37:27. > :37:31.brilliantly led his team during this game. It is now to an 18-year-old to

:37:32. > :37:36.try to win them the game and what a story that would be. But I think

:37:37. > :37:51.Richie Foran did really, really well. Ten minutes into extra time

:37:52. > :38:02.now. The challenge by Lowe, on Christie. Does he have something up

:38:03. > :38:14.his sleeve, like his old man did in a Scottish cup tie here in 2000?

:38:15. > :38:19.That famous victory over Celtic. Graeme Shinnie, with an up and

:38:20. > :38:28.under. It has become scrappy in extra time. But there is so much to

:38:29. > :38:34.lose. Tired legs and tired minds. If somebody makes a mistake, falls

:38:35. > :38:43.over, you have lost a cup final. Flood try to slip it forward to

:38:44. > :38:54.McGinn, Raven was there, now it is Dorans, taking on Jack. Draper.

:38:55. > :39:02.Ross. Dorans. They are finding pockets. That is a free kick, and

:39:03. > :39:11.that is an opportunity as well. We make excuses for them, they are

:39:12. > :39:23.tired, but will Mark Reynolds room that tackle? -- rue. The substitute

:39:24. > :39:29.is given Inverness a different dimension to the one James Vincent

:39:30. > :39:37.gave them before. Jamie Langfield, organising his wall. We were talking

:39:38. > :39:43.about fine margins. Three Inverness players stand over this one.

:39:44. > :39:53.Christie, Tansey, Shinnie. It is Tansey! It is over. Same result as

:39:54. > :40:01.the Barry Robson free kick. Test of the goalkeeper. Put it in an area

:40:02. > :40:05.where somebody might get a ricochet. But to clear it over the

:40:06. > :40:14.bar, at this stage, you must do better. Tansey trying to arch it

:40:15. > :40:24.away from Jamie Langfield. Arts did away from the goal in the end. --

:40:25. > :40:32.arched it. Rooney ventures it and keeps it in play. There has been no

:40:33. > :40:55.real change to the way the game has been played in extra time. Much as

:40:56. > :41:15.we saw in the 90. Couple of minutes of the first period to go. Ross.

:41:16. > :41:24.Dorans. Ross. Tackle from Flood, but it still breaks for Caley Thistle.

:41:25. > :41:34.Dorans again. Goes for gold... Langfield taking no chances! The

:41:35. > :41:42.first real safety has had to make. -- real save he has had to make. It

:41:43. > :41:57.is a good save, he moves his feet quickly and puts it behind. Dorans,

:41:58. > :42:01.Meekings. He knows and that was an opportunity. Plenty behind the

:42:02. > :42:10.header, but could not hit the target. Has not scored this season.

:42:11. > :42:18.It would be some occasion to get your first. One minute being added

:42:19. > :42:40.on at the end of the first period of extra time. It is McKay. Considine.

:42:41. > :42:54.Robson came short. For Considine again. He ran into a cul-de-sac.

:42:55. > :43:02.Back to Robson. Rooney. But there was never any danger of that

:43:03. > :43:10.troubling the goalkeeper. Who is the happier manager? They have both put

:43:11. > :43:17.down their notebooks and pencils, they have just resigned themselves

:43:18. > :43:32.to seeing this finishes. -- how this finishes. But nobody can tell at

:43:33. > :43:40.this moment in time. Have time in extra time is imminent. There is the

:43:41. > :43:47.end of the first period of extra time. We are now closer to finding

:43:48. > :43:51.out who is going to win. We are closer, time wise, because there is

:43:52. > :43:59.15 minutes between a potential penalty shoot out. How do you assess

:44:00. > :44:04.things when it is still so close? There is a danger that the game

:44:05. > :44:08.becomes stretched. You win possession, try to run up the other

:44:09. > :44:13.end, lose the ball, suddenly you are all over the pitch. You need

:44:14. > :44:20.patience and to make the other team work. If Aberdeen can get the ball

:44:21. > :44:32.to Rooney or McKay that is their best shape. That will leave them

:44:33. > :44:40.wide open to a soft goal. Still plenty of smiles from Aberdeen. They

:44:41. > :44:47.will make a change, Scott Vernon. He scored a hat-trick against Falkirk

:44:48. > :44:52.in an earlier victory in the competition, a 5-0 win against the

:44:53. > :45:06.championship side. Although he has put his jumper back on. Joining the

:45:07. > :45:14.team talk. Aberdeen's Cup finals, they have had to play extra time on

:45:15. > :45:21.five occasions, a replay against Dundee United, lost. They have won

:45:22. > :45:33.two of the five extra time finals. Against Celtic in 1976, 1977, and

:45:34. > :45:42.against Rangers in 19 89-1990 -- 1989-1990. Scott Vernon not coming

:45:43. > :45:48.and right now, but an option for a penalty shoot out. Rooney still

:45:49. > :45:54.looking like he can get a goal. McGinn still has an energy. Maybe

:45:55. > :46:01.waiting for the moment to bring Vernon on, possibly if it goes as

:46:02. > :46:13.far as a penalty shoot out. How is your nerves? The supporters'

:46:14. > :46:20.nerves will be shredded. 15 minutes of actual football still to be

:46:21. > :46:28.played. The penalties will be taken away to your right. The goal is just

:46:29. > :46:34.in front of the Inverness Caley Thistle supporters. Both teams would

:46:35. > :46:46.rather get it done before then. David Raven finds Nick Ross. Niall

:46:47. > :46:55.McGinn for Aberdeen closing down so well. Ross Draper all over him. Ross

:46:56. > :47:01.Draper has been terrific, getting it forward up to Billy McKay,

:47:02. > :47:09.physically in both boxes, doing a great job in the middle of the park.

:47:10. > :47:20.Raven trying to feed it back there. Just a lucky there. -- just unlucky

:47:21. > :47:24.there. The Dons looking at their best if they get into the right

:47:25. > :47:42.areas. It was not the way, but is now from

:47:43. > :47:56.Tansey. A free kick quickly taken. Inverness in a hurry here. Billy

:47:57. > :48:02.McKay has been on the periphery of this final. Not really getting the

:48:03. > :48:08.ball in the latter stages. Just sliding up the side. Keep your team

:48:09. > :48:14.up the pitch, instead surrendering possession, and no Aberdeen back in

:48:15. > :48:29.the game. -- and now. Hoisted away by Tansey, McKay in an offside

:48:30. > :48:34.position, so could not go for it. Draper again, a colossal presence in

:48:35. > :48:40.the Inverness engine room, Ross Draper, and that change will be made

:48:41. > :48:51.for Aberdeen, Scott Vernon coming on for Andrew Considine. What do you

:48:52. > :48:57.make of that? He is a player you obviously know well, Scott Vernon.

:48:58. > :49:09.He can score a goal. He might just put it in the back of the net. No

:49:10. > :49:18.foul by Daniel Devine. In towards Vernon, but a through to Dean Brill.

:49:19. > :49:54.-- but away through. Still the noise around Celtic Park,

:49:55. > :50:00.but this is the quiet it has been all afternoon. I think that is the

:50:01. > :50:02.nervousness coming through, the fans holding their breath. Anderson all

:50:03. > :50:32.over the place. The pen Aberdeen into their own

:50:33. > :50:49.penalty area. -- they pen. That was Doran, but blocked once more.

:50:50. > :51:03.It is just impossible to call. The fact is, if either team can get the

:51:04. > :51:08.ball into the opposite 18 yard box, there is a chance. But they are

:51:09. > :51:14.tired, concentration starts to move, physically affected, if Aberdeen can

:51:15. > :51:21.get it up there, Scott Vernon has fresh legs and could make the

:51:22. > :51:32.difference. Aaron Doran through to McKay, but the flight will go up. --

:51:33. > :51:46.the flag. Tired legs we spoke about, but he was just offside.

:51:47. > :52:00.Vernon Windsor. -- wins it. Daniel Devine looks like he has played at

:52:01. > :52:08.the heart of the Inverness defence for years. Looking pretty solid.

:52:09. > :52:23.Willo Flood slept, allowing Ryan Christie in. Trying to get Aberdeen

:52:24. > :52:29.away here. It is an Aberdeen free kick, courtesy of Graeme Shinnie,

:52:30. > :52:36.and a yellow card as well for Shinnie. He has put so much into

:52:37. > :52:44.this game, really has. He was not going to be able to chase them into

:52:45. > :52:51.the corner, so here was-- so he was prepared to give away the free kick

:52:52. > :53:01.on behalf of his team. And there is the yellow. A touch cynical from

:53:02. > :53:07.Graeme Shinnie. They have managed extra time in a semifinal with two

:53:08. > :53:13.players less, did Caley Thistle. Aberdeen have a free kick. It

:53:14. > :53:22.minutes to go. Graeme Shinnie looks as if he is really struggling.

:53:23. > :53:28.Robson takes. But it was too high for everyone. Disappointing free

:53:29. > :53:33.kick, not a great opportunity, on that long diagonal, but

:53:34. > :53:39.nevertheless, put it into the area to give someone the chance, make

:53:40. > :53:44.them defend it. Too many free kick from both teams coming from longer

:53:45. > :53:49.distances and not being asked to defend them, running out for goal

:53:50. > :54:02.kick, offer the goalkeeper. The clock ticks down further.

:54:03. > :54:28.That was Devine, but sliced it away, the man from Belfast.

:54:29. > :54:39.Not much movement for Logan, does get it eventually from Vernon, and

:54:40. > :54:48.back to login again. -- back to Logan. Inverness picking up the

:54:49. > :54:54.scraps at the edge of their own penalty area. David Raven cleared

:54:55. > :54:57.and managed to pick out a team-mate in Doran as well. Aberdeen trying to

:54:58. > :55:34.finish extra time strongly here. That was poor. He has been less

:55:35. > :55:40.involved in the second half, and an excellent time, Billy McKay, because

:55:41. > :55:47.they have not got the ball to him, not giving him service, not giving

:55:48. > :56:00.him opportunity. Maybe put it in an area where he could make the result.

:56:01. > :56:20.Willo Flood was looking for Scott Vernon.

:56:21. > :56:32.Puts it out for the goal kick, but went the wrong way. Floating a bit

:56:33. > :56:40.too far, but Barry Robson out I'd is an opportunity to put in a cross

:56:41. > :56:46.that may give Scott Vernon or Adam Rooney a chance. Derek McInnes was

:56:47. > :56:52.famously left out of Walter Smith's Rangers' League Cup final team in

:56:53. > :57:12.1996 played here. He scored several times in the run-up to that.

:57:13. > :57:22.He goes down in the edge of the box, and other free kick and a very good

:57:23. > :57:27.area. Ross Draper, whose penalty took Caley Thistle into the final,

:57:28. > :57:34.will be booked here. His first mistake, it's good because late, but

:57:35. > :57:40.it was a tired lines as he went back inside. -- tired lunge. And a roar

:57:41. > :57:45.from the Aberdeen supporters, sensing this might be their glory

:57:46. > :57:58.moment, minutes away from extra time. Just over three minutes to

:57:59. > :58:09.play. Low and Robson over it. The Inverness Caley Thistle wall move

:58:10. > :58:22.back. Low or Robson. No could be their moment. It is Nicky Low and it

:58:23. > :58:30.was over again. Massive moment therefore Nicky Low -- there for.

:58:31. > :58:36.The headlines were there for him, but just in that area the quality

:58:37. > :58:42.has not been there. These free kicks, corner kicks, not a lot of

:58:43. > :58:51.pressure put on defences, goalkeeper not tested enough. Penalties looming

:58:52. > :59:02.large now. Inverness trying to change that. It is Nick Ross. And it

:59:03. > :59:11.is a free kick. Russell Anderson, what does he make of that? He was

:59:12. > :59:18.pointing up the field, but he could not argue that was a free kick. From

:59:19. > :59:24.an Aberdeen free kick and chants, took Caley Thistle having similar up

:59:25. > :59:31.the end, slightly further out than the Aberdeen free kick we saw a

:59:32. > :59:37.minute ago. The Aberdeen skipper will take up a position inside the

:59:38. > :59:43.penalty area. Like Aberdeen, Inverness have plenty of options

:59:44. > :59:49.from the set these. Tansey, Luke 13-- Draper and Doran possibly.

:59:50. > :59:56.Moving towards the final minute of stoppage time, extra time rather, in

:59:57. > :00:06.the 2014 League Cup final. This could be for the Cup. The worst we

:00:07. > :00:12.have seen yet. The highest one to date. Such a pity, because these

:00:13. > :00:18.situations are such an opportunity to score a winning goal. Into the

:00:19. > :00:30.last veterans of back-up I know, into the top corner, at least make

:00:31. > :00:38.the keeper the save. -- make a save. Is there one last chance in this Cup

:00:39. > :00:44.final question a deep into the final minute. Could not get it over the

:00:45. > :00:59.head of Josh Meekings, Willo Flood. One minute of stoppage time added

:01:00. > :01:14.on. Picked up by Ross Draper. A free kick to Aberdeen. We go into the

:01:15. > :01:25.final minute. Approaching a penalty shoot out. Barry Robson will float

:01:26. > :01:32.this into the box. Aberdeen will get a last chance from normal play.

:01:33. > :01:44.Robson takes. Scott Vernon leaps and wins it. But it goes past. We edged

:01:45. > :01:54.closer to a shoot out. Could not quite get it on target. Man of the

:01:55. > :02:00.match? Several of the Inverness boys deserve a mention. Robson has been

:02:01. > :02:09.excellent for Aberdeen. But I will choose Ross Draper. He has been an

:02:10. > :02:15.anchor. It is penalties, folks. The League Cup final will be decided by

:02:16. > :02:19.a shoot out. Aberdeen against Inverness Caley Thistle. The Dons

:02:20. > :02:25.came closest, hitting the post in the first-half. It feels like a very

:02:26. > :02:34.long time ago. It is time for heroes and villains. 0-0 after extra time.

:02:35. > :02:40.Aberdeen and Inverness Caley Thistle have had their chances to win this

:02:41. > :02:48.in open play. Those chances have gone after two hours of trying. It

:02:49. > :02:53.will all come down to penalty kicks. Holding your nerve as much as

:02:54. > :03:01.anything else. It is tense, dramatic, exciting, but not if you

:03:02. > :03:05.lose. They have both had penalty shoot out victories in the

:03:06. > :03:11.competition this season, Aberdeen defeated Alloa, Caley Thistle

:03:12. > :03:20.defeated Heart of Midlothian. Who do we favour in the studio? Michael,

:03:21. > :03:34.Willie, and firstly Charlie. We know who Charlie favours ex-Commissioner

:03:35. > :03:43.-- and will be hoping his son does not miss one. Fingers crossed. You

:03:44. > :03:46.are looking over the shoulder of the manager to see what names he has

:03:47. > :03:56.scribbled down, perhaps hoping your name is not on it! Usually you know

:03:57. > :04:00.before kick-off who will take the penalties. Though it might change

:04:01. > :04:08.during the course of the game. It can be about confidence. But it is a

:04:09. > :04:21.horrible position to be in. I have been there on a few occasions

:04:22. > :04:25.myself. Let's not mention Berlin! I did not want to take a penalty that

:04:26. > :04:33.night, but as captain it was my responsibility. But it can be great

:04:34. > :04:43.for goalkeepers, one of them will be a hero. And physical fitness comes

:04:44. > :04:52.into it. If you are tired, you will be mentally tired, which can have an

:04:53. > :04:59.effect. I would be sure Barry Robson will take one. His delivery is

:05:00. > :05:04.normally fantastic, but his set pieces today have not been the same

:05:05. > :05:16.standard. Will his confidence levels be as high as normal? That has a

:05:17. > :05:23.huge airing on it. -- bearing. Is it a football lottery at this point,

:05:24. > :05:30.Charlie? I really think it is. The goalkeeper guesses correctly and you

:05:31. > :05:37.can win it. Jamie Langfield is readying himself for what is to

:05:38. > :05:39.come. Penalty shoot out time. It will be described by Mark McGhee and

:05:40. > :05:48.Liam McLeod. Three times before a penalty shoot

:05:49. > :05:56.out has settled the League Cup final. McKay with the first one,

:05:57. > :06:06.against Langfield, saved! Advantage Aberdeen! It was a poor penalty. Not

:06:07. > :06:11.struck decisively. You need to have practised. You need to know, when

:06:12. > :06:18.you walk, exactly what you are going to do. Where you are going to put

:06:19. > :06:28.it. Strike it with conviction. That was indecisive. No conviction. Barry

:06:29. > :06:45.Robson for Aberdeen. A chance to put them ahead in the shoot out. No

:06:46. > :06:50.mistake! I like a big run up. You give yourself space, time to relax.

:06:51. > :06:57.Build momentum. He has scored a good penalty. Caley Thistle wonder they

:06:58. > :07:06.are shoot out against hearts in the semifinal. Aberdeen defeated Alloa.

:07:07. > :07:20.Greg Tansey will take the second for Inverness. They missed their first.

:07:21. > :07:27.Tansey, who scored in the semifinal. Puts it over! It is going horribly

:07:28. > :07:41.wrong in the shoot out for the Highlanders. Langfield not needed

:07:42. > :07:51.for that one. It really is advantage, Aberdeen. Especially if

:07:52. > :07:58.Mickey Lowe can fire this past Brill. This would put Aberdeen 2-0

:07:59. > :08:08.up, within touching distance of their first silverware in almost two

:08:09. > :08:18.decades. Mickey Lowe, who came on as a substitute for Smith earlier. What

:08:19. > :08:34.a moment. And he scores! They are very close now, the red Army. A

:08:35. > :08:39.great penalty from Lowe. It sent Brill the wrong way. Nick Ross knows

:08:40. > :08:47.what it means for Caley Thistle. He has got to score. And he does!

:08:48. > :08:56.That's certainly did not lack conviction. A great penalty kick.

:08:57. > :09:08.Inverness make it 2-1 in the shoot out. But Aberdeen have taken one

:09:09. > :09:14.less penalty. Scott Vernon, to lump an enormous amount of pressure on

:09:15. > :09:21.the next Caley Thistle taker. It is a brilliant penalty again. Wonderful

:09:22. > :09:29.spot kick from Vernon. Now, Aaron Dorans has to score. A great penalty

:09:30. > :09:36.kick. Just opens his foot up, slides it, with a bit of power. Great

:09:37. > :09:44.penalty. If Dorans misses, Aberdeen have won the League Cup. It is as

:09:45. > :09:54.cool as you like. There is still life in the shoot out. But for how

:09:55. > :09:59.much longer? Stewart Milne knows Aberdeen are so close to that long,

:10:00. > :10:05.long-awaited trophy. If there is anybody would want to take it, it is

:10:06. > :10:11.this man. A penalty to win the cup, you would put your money on him. Six

:10:12. > :10:19.goals from eight games before today, Adam Rooney, a chance to win

:10:20. > :10:25.the cup for Aberdeen... And he does! Two decades of pain, hurt, and

:10:26. > :10:33.ridicule at the hands of others, is over for Aberdeen! Derek McInnes has

:10:34. > :10:40.guided them to silverware within one year of taking the job. The sleeping

:10:41. > :10:45.giant of Scottish football has finally woken from its slumber. A

:10:46. > :11:03.memorable season has a silver lining woven into it now. The chairman

:11:04. > :11:25.celebrates. The 1950s, 1976, 1985, 1989, 1995, Reid 2014. A sixth

:11:26. > :11:33.League Cup has been one. Heartbreak for the Highlanders. Caley Thistle

:11:34. > :11:39.were resolute throughout. Condolences passed on by their

:11:40. > :11:45.supporters, they have heartbreakingly lost out. We can now

:11:46. > :11:56.speak to an Aberdeen hero, Barry Robson. You did it the hard way. How

:11:57. > :12:06.do you feel? We won, that is all I am interested in. I am lucky enough

:12:07. > :12:13.to have been here before, but this means as much. The boys showed

:12:14. > :12:16.tremendous spirit under pressure. It is a credit to the players and

:12:17. > :12:25.management that we have brought this back to Aberdeen. What does the

:12:26. > :12:32.backing of the fans mean? We are delighted to have won it for them.

:12:33. > :12:38.Derek McInnes has given Pittodrie 18 to be proud of again. A city will

:12:39. > :12:47.rejoice tonight. -- given Pittodrie a team. And a Scottish cup semifinal

:12:48. > :12:52.against Saint Johnstone to come, a potential Scottish Cup final back

:12:53. > :12:57.here in May. Second place in the league is achievable. 40,000

:12:58. > :13:02.supporters have come down to Glasgow for this game and know that. We are

:13:03. > :13:09.with Derek McInnes. How does it feel?

:13:10. > :13:15.Absolutely ecstatic. You see what it means to so many people. We were

:13:16. > :13:19.well aware of what it meant to get a trophy again and make Aberdeen

:13:20. > :13:23.successful. We burned at the right to be in this final, it was tight,

:13:24. > :13:28.but when it came down to penalty kicks, you need to back yourself,

:13:29. > :13:34.take them with confidence. Thankfully, Jamie saved one. It is

:13:35. > :13:40.unfortunate for Inverness. They made a good final, tight. But our

:13:41. > :13:46.overriding priority was to win the game, no matter how we did it. How

:13:47. > :13:52.did your players handle the pressure of being favourites? We were

:13:53. > :13:57.excellent. We lacked a little bit of pace going forward, with Peter

:13:58. > :14:03.Pawlett missing out, and the real blow for Jonny Hayes. That took our

:14:04. > :14:06.dynamic away from us as an attacking force, but I thought we were the

:14:07. > :14:16.better team in terms of controlling the game. The mental strength of

:14:17. > :14:24.these boys, not one minute did doubt them. They were more than strong

:14:25. > :14:28.enough to handle the occasion. The Northern lights of old Aberdeen

:14:29. > :14:31.are where they want to be and glittering almost as brightly as

:14:32. > :14:35.those lights will be the Scottish League Cup trophy when it is on its

:14:36. > :14:42.way back to a seriously deprived Pittodrie trophy cabinet. 18 years

:14:43. > :14:49.of nothing wiped out in one glorious afternoon. It finishes, at Celtic

:14:50. > :14:52.Park, the League Cup final, Aberdeen and nil -Lil Caley Thistle, the Dons

:14:53. > :15:13.winning 4-2 on penalties. -- 0-0. It has been a long time coming,

:15:14. > :15:20.November 1995 when they last had a trophy in their possession. There is

:15:21. > :15:27.Jonny Hayes, who had to go off so early on, pain and tears for him,

:15:28. > :15:31.but joy for everyone in red as March 2014 becomes another big date in the

:15:32. > :15:36.calendar for Aberdeen Football Club. Willie Miller, home are you

:15:37. > :15:41.feeling? Wonderful for the fans, 40,000 odd down this afternoon,

:15:42. > :15:47.readily enjoying it, it went quiet towards the end, into extra time,

:15:48. > :15:53.but their faith has been rewarded by this team lifting the trophy. I must

:15:54. > :15:58.raise Inverness Caley Thistle as well for their effort this

:15:59. > :16:03.afternoon. It was not a classic game, but very competitive, John

:16:04. > :16:09.Hughes obviously disappointed, but not by the effort from his team.

:16:10. > :16:15.Charlie, a really painful way to lose? It is, credit to Aberdeen,

:16:16. > :16:21.showing the size of club that they really are, the second biggest club

:16:22. > :16:27.in the SPL at the moment proving that today. The frustrating thing

:16:28. > :16:32.for me was Dean Brill could not get close to the penalties, they were so

:16:33. > :16:37.well taken, Adam Rooney quite fitting, ex-Inverness player,

:16:38. > :16:43.football can be a funny game. It was him who put Inverness on the map,

:16:44. > :16:50.then scoring the winning penalty. But the dead Inverness proud. I do

:16:51. > :16:57.not think it will be too long before they are back in a Cup final. -- but

:16:58. > :17:03.they did Inverness proud. Not the greatest game, but everyone in red

:17:04. > :17:09.not caring. Yes, the one resounding thing you heard was it was winning

:17:10. > :17:16.that mattered, which is what they have done, I huge milestone for the

:17:17. > :17:23.club to get this trophy, such a long time, and it was about winning this

:17:24. > :17:29.game and they have done it. Time for Aberdeen to pick up their prize.

:17:30. > :17:37.The Aberdeen players loving this. As well be might. The trophy on its way

:17:38. > :17:47.out to the park. Red and white ribbons. Anton from the SFPL, who is

:17:48. > :17:53.arranging the trophy for the presentation. Not quite what we see

:17:54. > :18:01.normally at Hampden Park. Jim Leighton and Derek McInnes there.

:18:02. > :18:06.They do not have the facilities at Celtic Park for the normal trophy

:18:07. > :18:13.presentation, so the podium in the middle will have to do, but Aberdeen

:18:14. > :18:19.don't care. They do not clear where or when. -- do not care. Want you

:18:20. > :18:27.make of the Aberdeen revolution, Mark, a club you know well? -- what

:18:28. > :18:34.do you make? They have done so well. Ross Draper getting man of the match

:18:35. > :18:39.award. He was absolutely terrific, the demise in what Inverness were

:18:40. > :18:45.about, pulling them around, forcing them around, working as hard as

:18:46. > :18:53.anyone on the field. Caley Thistle players, a cliche in football, the

:18:54. > :19:00.worst round losing is the semifinal, but I do not think so, it is the

:19:01. > :19:07.final, their first major final. It can only hold them in good stead,

:19:08. > :19:12.giving them the belief that they are here and now, a team that can

:19:13. > :19:17.compete in Scotland, can win trophies, all fully back with an

:19:18. > :19:23.opportunity to do it in future seasons. -- of fully. -- hopefully.

:19:24. > :19:29.The praise they will be given not amounting to much, even given the

:19:30. > :19:37.runners-up medals. Some relatives there. We should mention John

:19:38. > :19:43.Hughes. We have spoken about Derek 's fantastic job in the improvement

:19:44. > :19:50.in the team and club fortunes, which will insure, and I do not think this

:19:51. > :19:56.is just a blip. They could be in another final at the end of the

:19:57. > :20:02.season, and they will go on and prove things. They have themselves

:20:03. > :20:07.the right runner. Ryan Esson, former Aberdeen keeper, involved the last

:20:08. > :20:13.time Aberdeen were in a Cup I not, or not involved as it ended up

:20:14. > :20:18.being, part of the squad but left out by the then manager. The

:20:19. > :20:24.referees getting the mentors as well. The referees were excellent.

:20:25. > :20:30.Maybe one penalty missed when Anderson was all over the back of

:20:31. > :20:36.Foran. One in the first half I still disagree with, going down too

:20:37. > :20:41.easily, I do not think it was a penalty, but otherwise a fantastic

:20:42. > :20:47.game for the referee. Aberdeen will step forward to pick up the League

:20:48. > :20:52.Cup for the six time, the third most accessible club in this competition,

:20:53. > :20:57.waiting a long, long time. -- most successful. A whole generation of

:20:58. > :21:01.supporters not witnessing this. But they will step forward having won

:21:02. > :21:08.this on penalties, Willo Flood leading the team cops are -- leading

:21:09. > :21:13.the team, it will be captain last stop Niall McGinn had a great chance

:21:14. > :21:19.as well. Barry Robson, finally winning a medal eyed with the one he

:21:20. > :21:23.won at Celtic. Andrew Considine through thick and thin with

:21:24. > :21:27.Aberdeen. Mark Reynolds, signing a new long-term deal. A great thing

:21:28. > :21:33.about the Aberdeen squad, most signed up to long-term deals. Jonny

:21:34. > :21:38.Hayes in a sling having coming off after a few minutes. Adam Rooney

:21:39. > :21:44.scoring the decisive penalty. Eventually, Russell Anderson will go

:21:45. > :21:50.up to live that trophy, and who can begrudge this honour this would --

:21:51. > :21:55.restored upon him? Derek McInnes within one year taking Aberdeen to

:21:56. > :22:02.an major trophy, but Basil Anderson, at the age of 35, more than 400

:22:03. > :22:07.appearances for the Dons, his club, Aberdeen supporter, -- Russell

:22:08. > :22:15.Anderson. He is from the Granite City, and he will live the 2014

:22:16. > :22:36.Scottish League Cup, which has been won by Aberdeen! -- he will lift.

:22:37. > :22:52.Part head is Park Red this Sunday afternoon. -- Parkhead is Park Red!

:22:53. > :22:58.There can be no argument now. The progress that Aberdeen have made

:22:59. > :23:07.under the new manager. That big piece of silver proving that. That

:23:08. > :23:12.night will be a tear in the eye of Stewart Milne, through thick and

:23:13. > :23:17.thin as well, some horrible times under his chairmanship, the

:23:18. > :23:23.undoubted highlight. CHEERING. Derek McInnes, Tony Doherty's assistant, a

:23:24. > :23:30.big part of the success story as well. So many non-used players,

:23:31. > :23:35.Calvin Zola, Peter Pawlett, such a big mess, which you could see in

:23:36. > :23:41.open play to date. He played his part in the run-up to this. -- Peter

:23:42. > :23:45.Pawlett, such a big miss. Niall McGinn, Player of the Year last

:23:46. > :23:50.season. Alongside Cammy Smith, coming on as substitute for Jonny

:23:51. > :23:56.Hayes after just five minutes. Big special moment for the 18 is macro.

:23:57. > :24:02.Bigger Pollard with Jonny Hayes, both brilliant this season. -- big

:24:03. > :24:09.special moment for the 18-year-old. Peter Pawlett Jonny Hayes there.

:24:10. > :24:13.Russell, you know what it means more than most to lift the trophy,

:24:14. > :24:21.describe it. Incredible feeling, long time coming, very nervous and

:24:22. > :24:27.tense day, as long as the game went on, you wondered if it would go to

:24:28. > :24:31.penalties, but fortunately, doing well, taking some great penalties

:24:32. > :24:37.and we deserve it. Terrific journey under Derek McInnes, describe the

:24:38. > :24:42.difference he has made. You see the players playing full of confidence,

:24:43. > :24:48.everyone knows what they should do, what is expected, and winning breeds

:24:49. > :24:54.confidence, so the more you win, the better you feel at this season has

:24:55. > :24:59.so far been really good. Aberdeen have intentionally another Cup final

:25:00. > :25:06.this season. You would like to think it will not hinder as at least, and

:25:07. > :25:12.maybe it will give us the confidence to finish the season strongly. I

:25:13. > :25:18.will let you celebrate and bring in another hero, I'd Jamie Langfield,

:25:19. > :25:23.not too much to do during the game, but penalty saves crucial in getting

:25:24. > :25:31.the advantage. Yes, penalties can be one way or the other, I was glad to

:25:32. > :25:38.get us in front. Inverness gave it their all. We gave everything we

:25:39. > :25:45.had. I do not think it matters what the result is, as long as you get

:25:46. > :25:52.the Cup. We could not be any happier. You could not do anything

:25:53. > :25:58.else, but you could not let anyone down with their support behind you.

:25:59. > :26:04.We are grateful, it is great for them, great for us, for the club,

:26:05. > :26:09.the chairman, manager. We will enjoy ourselves and deserve it. Well done.

:26:10. > :26:14.Thank you very much. There were up to 8000 reasons to

:26:15. > :26:20.disputed earlier, but Celtic Park is simply red and it is pure and

:26:21. > :26:25.unadulterated joy for the Aberdeen supporters, who have suffered a lot

:26:26. > :26:32.of pain, but today and tonight, Willie Miller, it is all joy. It is,

:26:33. > :26:38.for the fans, for the club, for the directors, everyone working at the

:26:39. > :26:46.club, it is a fantastic club, I have been most of my life, and good to

:26:47. > :26:50.see them in a happy mood. I was going to say just before the

:26:51. > :26:56.presentation, huge word for Russell Anderson, a magnificent captain, he

:26:57. > :27:02.leads by example, it would have been dreadful for him to go through a

:27:03. > :27:08.whole career and not lift a trophy and wonderful to see him lift the

:27:09. > :27:13.trophy and you can see what it means to him, local lad, went through the

:27:14. > :27:19.development setup, gave everything to the club, total gentleman, I am

:27:20. > :27:20.delighted for him and everyone at Aberdeen. Michael, Aberdeen will

:27:21. > :27:50.this triggers long range success? And that is it. We will have

:27:51. > :27:56.reaction from Aberdeen tonight to this success. Thank you to

:27:57. > :28:00.everyone. For Aberdeen, the long wait is over. They have some

:28:01. > :28:14.silverware to celebrate wine leave from Celtic Park. From all of us,

:28:15. > :28:16.goodbye for now. -- to celebrate when leaving Celtic Park.