Hamilton were knocked out of the Scottish Cup for the second time this week after Aberdeen secured a 1-0 fifth-round victory at Pittodrie.

Beaten 2-1 by Brechin on Monday, the First Division leaders approached their second chance with relish after the expulsion of their fourth-round opponents.

They created numerous chances against the Dons, but Zander Diamond slotted home against the run of play in the 64th minute to continue Aberdeen's challenge on all fronts.

The plucky First Division outfit finished the stronger with Mark McLaughlin heading wide from Tom Parratt's cross before Jamie Langfield pulled off a last-ditch save from James Grady after the veteran striker had latched on to a long ball.

And Parratt could not keep an injury-time free-kick down as Aberdeen held on to reach the quarter-finals.