The Dons will make a welcome return to Hampden this week to face Rangers in the League Cup Semi-Final. In the previous six Hampden meetings at the semi-final stage against the Glasgow side, the Dons have prevailed on four occasions. The Red Matchday team look back at the previous meetings at the national stadium.

Season 1955-56
01 Oct 1955 Aberdeen 2 – 1 Rangers League Cup SF 80,000

Rangers went into this one still smarting from a 6-0 hammering by Aberdeen in the 1954 Scottish Cup semi-final that destroyed the Ibrox ‘Iron Curtain’ defence. Aberdeen had a lot to live up to as champions and they did not disappoint in a 2-1 win that was reward for their domination throughout. Despite a late rally from Rangers the Dons saw the game out to reach the Final. Aberdeen had to finish the game with ten men after Graham Leggat was injured following an aerial clash in the Rangers penalty area. Aberdeen did the damage in a first half. Leggat opened the scoring after four minutes after he scored from close range as the ball broke to him after a Paddy Buckley shot was deflected. Bob Wishart scored the Dons second after 40 minutes. The Dons inside forward finished off a slick eight-pass move with a swerving shot from outside of the box. The Dons were the only undefeated side in British football. As League Champions they were leading the way in what was a golden period in AFC history. Aberdeen went on to beat St Mirren in the final.

Season 1966-67
24 Oct 1966 Aberdeen 0 – 2 Rangers League Cup SF REP 38,000
19 Oct 1966 Aberdeen 2 – 2 Rangers League Cup SF 38,600

Aberdeen had been transformed under manager Eddie Turnbull as his ‘Tornadoes’ were on the verge of bringing honours to Pittodrie. Aberdeen went down to Rangers after a replay in what were two highly charged clashes. In the first meeting Aberdeen stared poorly and fell behind by half time. Jimmy Wilson scored in between two Willie Henderson strikes in a first half that frustrated manager Turnbull. The Dons were much improved after the break and deserved to level the tie when Ally Shewan scored in 71 minutes. The Dons had a remarkable let off in the closing minutes when McLean worked his way through to see his effort come back off the crossbar. Both teams were criticised for using late substitutions as replacement players had just been introduced that season. The ruling was designed to replace injured players, not for tactical reasons. In the replay the Dons went down in what was a huge disappointment for the club. They never recovered from conceding an early goal and failed to force a save from Rangers keeper Martin.

Season 1976-77
27 Oct 1976 Aberdeen 5 – 1 Rangers League Cup SF 20,990

Jocky Scott emerged as the Aberdeen hero on the night as he played his finest hour for the club as Aberdeen hammered Rangers 5-1 in what was one of the Ibrox clubs worst defeats since the Dons trounced them 6-0 in a Scottish Cup semi-final at the same venue in 1954. In 1976 it was former Dundee and Scotland international Jocky Scott who was the Rangers tormentor in chief. Aberdeen born Scott was a £25,000 buy from Dundee in 1975 and he was a regular under MacLeod as the Dons had a real cutting edge in forward areas. Aberdeen dominated this semi-final from the kickoff, and they got off to the perfect start when Scott scored his first in two minutes. A great run by Dom Sullivan down the right set up Jocky to gleefully slam the ball past Rangers keeper Stewart Kennedy. Aberdeen continued to press and were rewarded in 14 minutes when Scott struck again. Arthur Graham cleverly slipped the ball through two Rangers defenders and gave Scott an easy chance to score the Dons second. Rangers keeper Kennedy was livid with his defenders, but Rangers hit back a minute later to give them hope when Alex McDonald brought the Ibrox side back into the tie. Rangers then threw everything they had at Aberdeen to get back into the tie, but the Dons defence was rarely troubled, and Arthur Graham should have made it three when he led a quick break by the Dons. There was a blow for the Dons when Joe Smith was injured after a hefty challenge as Rangers efforts increased by any means possible. Smith had to be replaced by seasoned campaigner Eddie Thomson who was brought on to combat the physical approach from the Ibrox side. In 64 minutes Jocky Scott turned provider when he set up Joe Harper who lashed the ball past Kennedy to put Aberdeen 3-1 ahead. It was at that point that Aberdeen really turned on the style and set about embarrassing Rangers with some slick passing that almost cut through the Ibrox defence at will. Two minutes later Drew Jarvie got in on the act and he scored a sensational goal a half volley from inside the box that flew high past Rangers keeper Kennedy. Rangers were reeling and their night of misery was complete when man-of-the-match Scott scored his third and the Dons fifth in the 73rd minute. Job done, Aberdeen continued to dominate possession and long before referee Anderson brought an end to Rangers nightmare. Ally MacLeod would then see his team beat Celtic in the final thanks to Davie Robb’s injury time winner.

Season 1990-91
26 Sep 1990 Aberdeen 0 – 1 Rangers League Cup SF 40,855

After Aberdeen had clashed with Rangers in three epic League Cup Finals between 1987-1989, the sides would again meet at Hampden in 1990, but this time at the semi-final stage. There was little to separate the sides in the opening stages. Rangers sprang a surprise by leaving captain Terry Butcher out of the starting line-up following reports of a bust up at the club. Aberdeen went behind on 30 minutes when Trevor Steven scored what proved to be the winning goal after a lucky break of the ball. His efforts also brought him the man of the match award in what was a disappointing night for the Dons. Aberdeen certainly missed Hans Gillhaus up front although Paul Mason and Eoin Jess never gave up the battle. Aberdeen’s best chance came in eleven minutes when Woods the Rangers keeper prevented Bobby Connor from getting on the end of a Van de Ven cross. Just before the break the Dons best move of the night involving Bett, Mason and Grant ended with Van de Ven’s shot easily saved by Woods. Aberdeen made changes in the second half with Craig Robertson coming on and despite late pressure from the Dons, the Ibrox club held out.

Season 1995-96
24 Oct 1995 Aberdeen 2 – 1 Rangers League Cup SF 26,131

It was after a traumatic spell at the end of the 1994.95 season that Aberdeen came back with a vengeance with Rangers in their sights after an impressive run to reach the last four of the League Cup. Rangers had Paul Gascoigne in their side, but he was relatively quiet as Aberdeen showed a maturity that may have surprised many observers. Rangers failed to get to grips with the Dons midfield of Bernard, Grant and Miller as they controlled the game for long periods. It tough conditions chances were few but when they came around it was the Dons Billy Dodds’ who was in the form of his life and his two goals put Aberdeen firmly in control. Aberdeen never looked in danger but when Salenko scored in 85 minutes it made for a nervous period. On reflection though the Dons saw the game out in style. Eoin Jess was one of the most exciting players to grace Pittodrie in an era when the Dons were struggling to reach previous highs. So often the scourge of Rangers, a club that released him as a youngster, it was Jess whose instinctive ‘keepy-up’ with the ball in the Rangers half sent the Red Army wild with delight as Jess showed real class and no little show-boating to ensure Aberdeen progressed in style. Roy Aitken side comfortably beat Dundee in the final. Like in 1976, the Dons had recovered from almost being relegated to winning the league cup a few months later.

Season 2018-19
28 Oct 2018 Aberdeen 1 – 0 Rangers League Cup SF 46,186

Lewis Ferguson’s late header sealed a famous win for the Dons. Rangers dominated possession for large spells at Hampden, but they failed to create too many clear-cut chances. Aberdeen started well and McGinn created a couple of openings before Andrew Considine took an accidental blow to the head. It took the medics six or seven minutes to tend to the defender and get him off the field on a stretcher. McGregor took out Gary Mackay-Steven and was fortunate to avoid a booking. Then Rangers appealed loudly for a penalty, but referee John Beaton called it right – Graeme Shinnie’s tackle on Ryan Kent was perfectly timed. James Tavernier then forced a good save from Joe Lewis. In the 79th minute McInnes had brought off Scott Wright and sent Stevie May into the action. The Dons had a corner which McGinn swung in. There to meet it ahead of all others was Ferguson who nutted it past McGregor and then wheeled away to celebrate with the Red Army. It was a stunning moment.