Adam Rooney resembled a circus performer being shot out of a cannon as he launched himself at Niall McGinn's free-kick on Wednesday night, a manoeuvre honed on the training ground and one which gave Aberdeen a place in the semi-finals of the League Cup and highlighted the worth of the striker to his side this season.
However, it was a pre-match pep-talk from Tony Docherty, Aberdeen's assistant manager, which gave the Irishman the boost he needed.
"Tony Doc said to me before the game that my record was 11 goals in 10 games," said Rooney, whose side defeated Hamilton Academical in the quarter-final. "That is all the cup games, including the Europa League. I seem to love the cup games so I hope they keep coming thick and fast.
"You can work on set pieces all day but if the delivery isn't right then they aren't going to work. It was a brilliant ball in from Niall and I just managed to get my head on it and it went in the top corner. Niall is a great crosser and puts some wonderful balls into the box.
"I feel close to my best form. I feel as well as I can and I've had a good return of goals, so hopefully I can keep that going."
Rooney is unconcerned about which of the other three teams involved in the semi-finals the Pittodrie side will face once the draw is made tomorrow, with Aberdeen bidding to retain a trophy they won last season. It is a triumph which has raised the expectations of fans.
"I don't care who we get in the semi-final," said Rooney. "I just wanted to get there, to get into the hat and now we can look forward to the draw. We have said over the last couple of seasons we are capable of beating anyone, so we look forward to the competition.
"It's not a case of what's easy or hard; everybody is in it to win it and on any given day it can come down to the performance. We put on some big performances last season that managed to get us through.
"It doesn't matter who is in the competition we just have to make sure we are up to our best. We were very proud of our achievements last year and we will battle to retain the trophy."
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