RELIEF was the main emotion for Andrew Considine as he savoured his first Hampden win after a string of disappointments.

The long-serving Aberdeen defender had lost semi-finals to Dundee United, Hibernian, Celtic and Queen of the South before finally emerging as a winner in his side’s 2-0 victory over Morton in the last four of the Betfred Cup on Saturday.

Considine set up the game’s opening goal for Adam Rooney in the 69th-minute. Kenny McLean sealed the win with a second for Derek McInnes’s side two minutes from time. Considine told RedTV: “That’s the seventh time I have stepped out on to that pitch and I have finally managed to get a win, which is great. To have an assist for Adam for the first goal was great too.”

Aberdeen started in determined fashion with a flurry of set-pieces and McLean forced a good save before Jonny Hayes headed against the bar. Morton weathered the storm and Joe Lewis foiled Jai Quitongo on a one-on-one before Rooney headed against the bar in first-half stoppage time. Morton had their best spell just before Considine headed Graeme Shinnie’s cross back across goal for Rooney to nod home, with Morton protesting the front man was offside.

Aberdeen created several more chances and McLean netted on the rebound near the end.

“We knew it was going to be a very tough game,” added Considine, who helped Aberdeen lift the trophy at Celtic Park in 2014. “Morton gave it their best shot and were in our faces.

“They had one really good chance which Joe made an incredible save from. They liked to turn us and got in behind us a few times but I wouldn’t say they created anything too clear cut. We managed to keep them at arm’s length, that’s credit from the front line from Adam to Mark [Reynolds] and Anthony [O’Connor] at the back.

“When you play teams from the lower leagues there is more of an expectation to win, but it can be harder. Once the first 15-20 minutes were over and once they settled into the game, it was tough. But the boys showed their experience and they managed to get over the line.”

Morton boss Jim Duffy said: “I think most people thought it would be a canter for Aberdeen. Some people underestimate the desire and organisation of the smaller clubs. I don’t think by any stretch of the imagination we were going to turn up and be lambs to the slaughter, and I think the players did themselves justice. We asked them not to leave anything on the pitch. They didn’t.

“Supporters want players to play for the jersey. Every single one of them did that. But Aberdeen are a top-class side. They will finish second in the league for probably the third time in a row. They are one of the most consistent clubs and historically one of the most successful clubs. So for us to make it a difficult day for them was the first priority and I think we did that.

“We are probably just a wee bit disappointed that we didn’t take it a notch further.”