HAMILTON keeper Michael McGovern was a hero last night, but he couldn't stop Alex Neil's men crashing out of the Scottish League Cup.

The 1-0 quarter-final loss away to Aberdeen was Accies' second sickening defeat of the week. On Saturday their great start to the season ground to a halt when they lost 2-0 in the Premiership to Dundee.

The Dons now move a step closer to retaining the trophy they picked up last year but the real star of the show was McGovern.

There was little he could do to stop Rooney's diving header, but he pulled off a string of fine stops to prevent the scoreline being any worse for his team.

Hamilton boss Neil praised his keeper, but conceded his side were well beaten.

He said: "Michael kept us in the game. He's been excellent for us this season and if it wasn't for him the scoreline could have been far higher.

"We weren't at our best and disappointingly we're out the cup. We didn't deserve to go through.

"Our thoughts now turn to facing Partick Thistle on Saturday when hopefully we can get back to the standards we've shown already this season.

"There's not too much to get worried about. We need to knuckle down, work hard and hope we can take a result."

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes added: "Although it wasn't emphatic in terms of the result, it could have been three or four in terms of the chances we created.

"The goalkeeper has made two or three top, top saves and we've passed up a few opportunities."

The two sides cancelled each other out in the opening period and it took until the 19th minute for the first real chance of the night. Referee Bobby Madden played a great advantage to allow the Dons to launch a counter-attack despite Willo Flood having been poleaxed.

Rooney played in Niall McGinn but the Northern Ireland international was denied by countryman McGovern.

The Dons went ahead in 25 minutes. Grant Gillespie was booked for a foul on Shay Logan, and McGinn sent a perfectly-flighted cross into the penalty area.

Hamilton's defence raced out in a bid to play the offside trap but they left Rooney unmarked, and he bulleted a diving header into the net.

Hamilton have been noted for their mean defence but they looked in danger of crumbling almost as Aberdeen chased a second goal.

McGovern denied Peter Pawlett just a minute after the goal, and then a further sixty seconds later showed astonishing reflexes to turn over the bar after McGinn's low cross was deflected towards goal by Hamilton defender Martin Canning.

After the break, Dons left-back Andy Considine tested McGovern with a vicious 20-yard drive which the goalkeeper turned round the post.

The Accies shot-stopper again showed his worth as he spread himself low along the ground to deny Pawlett after a flowing move down the right.

Something had to change for Hamilton and manager Neil decided it would be a switch in midfield, with Jon Routledge replacing Louis Longridge in the engine room.

But before the substitute could make any impact, it fell to McGovern again to keep his side in the game. This time he cut out Pawlett's cross before Canning cleared as Rooney threatened to pounce.

Accies created some late chances of their own but the Dons held on to put themselves into Saturday's semi- final draw.