Scottish Premier League - Saturday, 27th February 2010
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Hearts pulled off a smash-and-grab at Pittodrie this lunch time, as they gained some revenge for the humiliating 3-0 defeat at Tynecastle earlier in the season. The Dons probably just had the better of the match, with five corners to Hearts’ zero, without creating too many clear cut chances. Hearts were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when the substitute Kingston was shown a straight red for a dangerous challenge on Fyvie. However, Aberdeen failed to exploit this advantage as Hearts snatched the points in dramatic fashion. An overhead kick from Jonsson proved enough to earn the win and pile more misery on the Dons.
The teams ran out bright and early just before 12 o’clock to justifiably less than enthusiastic noises from the Red Army. The Dons started the better though, and were unlucky not take the lead in the 4th minute when Kerr sent a ball over the top of the Hearts defence to Mackie who beat Balogh with a neat chip, unfortunately the striker was just offside.
Hearts had the first shot of the afternoon, Eggert Jonsson firing well over the bar from just outside the box. Mark Kerr was then booked in the 16th minute for what seemed a good strong tackle in which he won the ball. Three minutes later Balogh raced out of his box only to slice his clearance high into the air. With the keeper stranded the ball looked to be falling to MacLean until Jonsson barged him over, and collected a deserved yellow. As Mulgrew stepped up to take the resulting free kick, the ball moved due to the windy conditions, and the shot flew a few yards wide of the post.
On the half hour mark, Mulgrew cleared up a rare venture forward from Hearts with ease, Aberdeen were controlling the play at this point. Foster went close 4 minutes later, the ball broke to him in the corner of the Hearts box, but the versatile defender fired into the side netting. The 36th minute saw, not for the first time in the match, Hearts get away with an obvious hand ball, Jonsson preventing Aberdeen getting the cross in. McDonald was then shown a harsh yellow card by William Collum. However, shortly after, Hearts should have had a penalty when the McDonald pushed Stevenson over inside the box. Aberdeen finished the half with a flourish, Mackie beat Zaliukas with a fantastic first touch, but Balogh was alert and was quick to smother the danger.
The referee started where he had left off in the second half, inexplicably awarding Hearts a throw-in after a late challenge by Wallace on Fyvie. Five minutes later though, Hearts were down to 10 men, Kingston, who had only come on as a substitute at the end of the first half, receiving his marching orders for a high, dangerous challenge which left the 16 year old writhing on the floor. Aberdeen looked energized by this, McDonald’s shot needed a last ditch block from Thomson. Aluko was then brought on for Marshall as the Dons pressed for all three points.
In the 64th minute, Elliot went down in apparent agony after running into Kerr. Miraculously the Hearts player recovered almost instantaneously and was able to get a shot away which deflected high into the air off Mulgrew. Jonsson then had enough time and space in the box to unleash an overhead kick which beat Langfield to put the Edinburgh outfit 1-0 up. As has been the case this season, Aberdeen heads then went down. Derek Young had a great opportunity to put in a dangerous cross in the 72nd minute, but his effort was over hit by some way, as Aberdeen looked to be running out of ideas.
Paton replaced Fyvie as McGhee’s men tried to up the ante for the last 15 minutes. Paton could not make a significant impact though, as the frustrated Dons fans began to drift towards the exits. Hearts were temporarily down to nine men when Wallace required stitches after a clash of heads with Obua. Unfortunately Aberdeen still could not find a way through the powerful Hearts defence. In stoppage time, Mulgrew sent a free kick into the Hearts box but a short scramble resulted in a free kick to Hearts, who managed to see out the rest of the game without any real threats from the Dons.
The players left the pitch to the all too familiar sound of boos, Aberdeen have now gone eight games without a win. Mark McGhee’s emotional walk down the tunnel, said more than words ever could about his commitment the Aberdeen, the Gothenburg Great seemed to wipe a tear from his eye before disappearing down the tunnel.
Ronaldanho
Danny McKay won RedTV's Junior Reporter competition
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