BETFRED CUP SEMI-FINAL SPECIAL

RYAN JACK returns to action today at a venue where he has suffered more pain than the knee injury that has kept him sidelined these past two months. Hampden provided the backdrop for many an Aberdeen success during the Alex Ferguson era, but the club have precious few happy memories of recent trips to the national stadium. They haven’t won in six games there since 2000, in fact, and lifelong Dons fan Jack has endured many of those setbacks, including four agonising visits himself as a player. Now he wants to end all talk of a hoodoo ground by lifting silverware in Mount Florida this season. ‘I’m well aware of the poor record at Hampden because I’ve played in a few and not won,’ said club captain Jack ahead of today’s Betfred Cup semifinal with Morton. ‘I’ve played four games there — Dundee United, Hibs and twice against Celtic — and lost them all. I’m hoping to change that on Saturday and put it to bed.’ Arguably their worst result was the 4-3 defeat to Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup semi-final in 2008, but Jack (left) refuses to contemplate losing to another second-tier side today. ‘Times have changed since then,’ he said. ‘It’s different players and coaching staff now. I’ve spoken to the boys this week and nobody is thinking of anything other than a positive result. ‘Aberdeen always look at the Cups and believe we should do well. We aren’t hiding from the fact our fans and the club demand a bit of success. ‘As a player, you want to be competing in finals. You want that 90 minutes to try and lift silverware and celebrate with your fans, family and team-mates. ‘We can’t just turn up and take Morton lightly because they’re from the Championship. It will be a difficult game and we won’t have it all our own way, but it’s certainly a chance for us.’