Aberdeen defender Max Lowe says he has never experienced anything like Sunday’s intense atmosphere at Hampden.
The Dons pipped Rangers for a place in the Betfred League Cup final thanks to Lewis Ferguson’s late header.
Lowe, on loan at the Dons from Derby, was a first-half replacement for Andrew Considine, who suffered a head injury, and is likely to retain his spot in the team with Considine ruled out of tonight’s Pittodrie match against Hamilton.
The former England under-20 international played at Wembley in last season’s League One play-off final but said nothing compared to Sunday’s meeting with Rangers.
The 21-year-old said: “I was part of the play-off final for Shrewsbury against Rotherham. That was a big experience but it wasn’t like Sunday with the atmosphere and what it meant to the fans.
“The manager mentioned it before the game and the feeling after it made you feel what football is all about.
“I haven’t witnessed anything like it. Back at home there is a lot of rivalry between Derby and Nottingham Forest but it is nothing like the Aberdeen against Rangers and Celtic games.
“It is down to the fans.They made the atmosphere and even walking into the stadium you knew it was a game you wanted to be part of.
“It was great to come on and play my part as the whole squad did.
“We have kept clean sheets against Hibs and Rangers in the cup and hopefully we can do the same against Celtic in the final.”
With cup-final places up for grabs, Lowe is hoping to use any chance he gets in the coming weeks to prove to Dons manager Derek McInnes that he deserves to be part of the team that takes on Celtic at Hampden on December 2.
He said: “I am happy Andy is OK. It was good to see him up and walking about.
“To come on in a game like that, in a semi-final, is massive in my development as a young player. To perform the way we did topped it off really.
“It was a new experience playing against Rangers, first of all, never mind in a semi-final.
“It is squad game and Andy and I understand that it is all healthy competition. He will be pushing me and I will be pushing him.
“We look forward to the Hamilton game and there are a lot more before the final.”
Hamilton Accies attacker Mickel Miller hopes their luck takes a turn for the better.
Accies picked up their first point in four Premiership matches with a 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock last Saturday.
The 22-year-old said: “It is not an easy place to go to but I’m sure that if we keep together and keep our work-rate high we can get something out of the game.”
