Aberdeen 1 Hearts 4

Hearts outlined their title credentials with a stunning second-half comeback to overwhelm Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Scotland prospect Neil McCann led the way with a 53rd-minute equaliser to cancel out Dean Windass' 22nd minute opener for the home side.

Once level, Hearts dominated and Aberdeen's dismal early season form, disguised, it seems rather than solved by consecutive wins against Hibernian and Motherwell, returned to haunt them.

Austrian Thomas Flogel scored twice, firstly to put the visitors ahead after 65 minutes and again to make the scoreline a resounding 4-1 eight minutes from time.

His strikes sandwiched an own goal from Gary Smith who deflected a John Robertson shot past his own keeper on 77 minutes.

The emphatic nature of Hearts success suggests they have what it takes to stay with the Old Firm, providing the capital challenge to Glasgow dominance the premier division needs.

But for Dons manager Roy Aitken the way his side lost their way in the second half, after a promising first 45 minutes, demonstrates flaws remain in his team and need addressing fast.

Robertson lined-up for his 500th league appearance for Hearts with Frenchman Stephane Adam suspended, while Flogel replaced Jim Hamilton alongside him in attack.

For Aberdeen, Billy Dodds returned to the side after a family bereavement, but Mike Newell (hamstring), Tzanko Tzvetanov (virus) and Paul Barnard (ankle) were all sidelined.

The home side thought they had taken the lead after just nine minutes when Dodds brilliantly converted a Windass cross only to be ruled offside.

After 16 minutes, Windass created room for himself on the left-hand side of the area and defender Paul Ritchie needed to be on hand to block a goalward-bound effort.

Hearts responded at once at Toni Kombouare came close to putting through his own net as he struggled to control his clearance from Neil McCann's drilled cross.

Windass broke the deadlock after 22 minutes slotting in the rebound after Hearts keeper Gilles Rousset could only half-save a powerful David Rowson drive.

On the half hour mark, McCann, tipped for inclusion in the Scotland squad announced on Monday, slipped past two defenders only to see his curled effort drift just wide.

Flogel's 25-yard shot after 32 minutes deflected heavily off Kombouare, sending the ball looping over keeper Jim Leighton and against the crossbar before bouncing to safety.

Hearts seemed to lack a cutting edge before the interval, the ambitious nature of many of their goal-attempts typified by Stefano Salvatori's wayward drive.

But it was a different story after the break as after 53 minutes Gary Locke crossed well from the right for Robertson whose delicate touch put McCann clear to clip the ball home.

The equaliser was deserved reward for an industrious opening half by McCann and at once altered the balance of the match as the Dons' confidence visibly diminished.

Hearts moved ahead after 65 minutes when McCann's neat pass made Flogel's job easy as the defence stood off him, enabling him to pick his spot andsweep the ball past Leighton.

A fine Kombouare tackle denied McCann a possible Hearts third after 71 minutes, but the visitors carried on attacking in numbers.

After 77 minutes, veteran Robertson showed he still has pace by running away from Smith with the defender only managing to divert the shot into his own net.

And Hearts made it four after 82 minutes when Flogel's low half-volley from Salvatori's precise cross to make the final verdict on Aitken's side comprehensive.

Teams

Aberdeen: Leighton, Anderson, Smith, Rowson, Kombouare, O'Neil, Miller (Gillies 71), Jess, Windass, Dodds, Glass.

Subs Not Used: Kiriakov, Kpedekpo.

Goals: Windass 22.

Hearts: Rousset, Locke, Pointon, Weir, Salvatori, Ritchie, McCann, Fulton (Quitongo 88), Robertson (Hamilton 82), Cameron (McManus 88), Flogel.

Booked: Locke, Pointon, Salvatori.

Goals: Flogel 65, 82, McCann 54, Smith 76 og.

Att: 15,100

Ref: J McCluskey (Stewarton).

Taken from sportinglife.com