It was far from the sort of classic these teams have produced at this venue in the past. Not that Derek McInnes will worry about that.

As the Rangers manager said afterwards, the target was reaching the final - “by hook or by crook” if necessary. McInnes remains on course to win his first trophy at Ibrox. His opposite number might have extracted something of worth from the evening as well, namely saving his job.

Stephen Robinson didn’t give up his own claim to the League Cup, the winning of which while with St Mirren conceivably earned him the Pittodrie post, without a fight.

Defeat to Rangers, even if it a narrow one, will never be accepted by a demanding support. But it was far from the Halloween Hampden horror show many Aberdeen fans were fearing.

Ryan Naderi’s opportunistic winning goal with eight minutes left sent Rangers into the final and was what they deserved on the balance of play. The goal always seemed to be coming but the longer it eluded Rangers, the more it seemed Aberdeen could profit.

Kevin Nisbet will rue hooking a chance over following a corner shortly before Naderi ghosted into the six-yard box to steer home the decisive goal.

Despite the defeat Robinson’s immediate future seems safe for the time being, something that might not be welcomed by everyone in the Red Army. Their understandable trepidation was reflected in the reduced number of fans who had followed Aberdeen down from the north although the kick-off was hardly fans-and-family-friendly on such a significant night in the calendar.

Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Aberdeen supporters sang and danced throughout the half-time interval, when the game was still goalless. Having kept Rangers out and seen their team pose a mild threat themselves, these fans seemed to sense a special night.

When goalkeeper Marius Muller stuck out his right foot to block a strong effort from Badredine Bouanani after 63 minutes, many others, including more than a few fretting Rangers fans, suspected they might be right. Was Muller, the fall guy in the midweek defeat against Falkirk, going to redeem himself on the perfect stage? Appropriately given the date, he was even wearing a mask.

A flying save, from Nico Raskin this time, kept the scores level as Rangers pushed and pushed, leaving gaps at the back. It was impossible to argue that Aberdeen were the dominant side but with a little more composure in the opposition box, who knows?

Aberdeen’s last appearance at the stadium, when they stayed in the game long enough and ended up beating Celtic on penalties to win the Scottish Cup final last year, was a reminder of what can happen given a bit of luck and the right application.

In the end, they paid for a momentary lapse of concentration in their own area. Naderi was allowed to drift into the box to meet James Penrice’s cross from the left. The tall striker hurdled the hoarding and celebrated with the Rangers fans behind the goal but Kevin Kelsy deserved almost as many plaudits. His lung-busting run had got Rangers up the pitch following the breakdown of an Aberdeen attack. The Venezuelan then held the ball up and when Aberdeen cleared, Rangers made full use of the recycled ball. Substitute Dan Neil rolled a pass wide to Penrice, who swept in a cross. Naderi did the necessary.

Both McInnes and Robinson were figures full of pent-up energy on the sidelines. They even look similar, distinguishable from each other by footwear as much as anything.

McInnes wore the regulation Ibrox brogues, shoes worn by many before him and a reminder of the responsibility resting with him to start winning trophies. Many of his recent predecessors haven’t been able to do so and have paid the cost.

McInnes even noted the trophy “obligation” in a pre-match interview. There was an obligation for him to get his team right, that’s for sure. Eyebrows were raised at Neil being dropped. Although he performed below his best against both Hearts and Dundee in his last two appearances, he is stand-in captain and someone who’s already shown his aptitude for the big occasion.

Penrice moved into midfield although he has been a de facto midfielder in recent weeks in any case, drifting into the area from left back to provide another dimension to Rangers’ play. Tuur Rommens stepped back in on the left of the defence. Whatever McInnes’ thinking, things didn’t quite click for Rangers in the opening half, when Aberdeen absorbed whatever was thrown at them.

The fact the manager brought Neil on after 65 minutes for Rommens, with Penrice dropping back into his usual position, was an indication things were not progressing as hoped for the favourites.

Badredine Bouanani did cause some early anxiety with a couple of dangerous crosses while Emmanuel Gyami was a quick and unfortunate Aberdeen casualty after appearing to stumble before launching himself at winger Minsu Kim. The German midfielder limped off behind the goal to be replaced by Stuart Armstrong, surprisingly left out of the starting XI.

Such an unplanned change for Aberdeen was hardly desirable, especially after an otherwise satisfying opening 25 or so minutes when they achieved their first objective: reaching the halfway point of the first half without conceding.

They even began probing forward themselves. Nesta Guinness-Walker came as close as anyone had done to scoring when robbing Dujon Sterling on the left and forcing Ivor Pandur into a save low to the keeper’s left. Having survived renewed pressure from Rangers at the start of the second half, Aberdeen again starting asking questions. Nisbet delayed playing in Mitchy Ntelo following a breakaway and then delayed shooting himself. When he finally did, the ball was deflected wide.

The League Cup was placed on a plinth in the media gantry. In a way, Robinson still has proprietorship. St Mirren remain the holders for a few more weeks at least, won during his time there as manager and against far greater odds than Aberdeen had sought to overcome here. It just wasn’t to be for Robinson this time.