ABERDEEN captain Russell Anderson warned against getting carried away after leading the Dons to their first cup final in 14 years.

A 4-0 win over St Johnstone at Tynecastle secured a League Cup Final place against Inverness and continued an excellent first year for Derek McInnes.

The Dons were clinical, taking the lead in the third minute through Jonny Hayes and withstanding pressure before Peter Pawlett scored on a 32nd-minute counter-attack.

Pawlett set up Adam Rooney just after the hour and Hayes struck a fine fourth.

Aberdeen look good for a first top-six league place in five seasons and have a William Hill Scottish Cup clash at Celtic Park on Saturday.

But Anderson, who played in both of Aberdeen's finals in the 1999-2000 season, losing to Rangers and Celtic, said: "We are only six months in, so it's a bit premature. Come the end of this season or two or three seasons down the line then you will know if it was the start of something."

And the 35-year-old vowed to set final fever to aside before the March 16 clash with Caley Thistle.

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright struggled to comprehend how his side lost 4-0 after dominating the first half but hopes it will fire them up for their Scottish Cup fifth-round tie at Forfar on Saturday.

"They are a great bunch of pros," Wright said, adding: "They want to use this as a spur."