Dons top the league after soaking up the pressure

JAMES TRAYNOR

21 Dec 1989

Hearts 1 Aberdeen 1

ON A pitch which bore up remarkably well to the ravages of severe weather, Aberdeen survived a traumatic evening in Edinburgh and edged back into the lead at the halfway stage of the premier-division campaign.

The Pittodrie side are top by virtue of a superior goal difference over Rangers.

Aberdeen trotted gingerly on to the Tynecastle surface, made increasingly treacherous by a steady downpour, knowing a draw would suffice, but for an alarmingly long spell it seemed their miserable trend on Hearts' turf would continue.

The Dons have not won at Tynecastle for four-and-a-half years and lethargy in the face of some exhilarating play by Hearts gave the impression they were staggering towards a heavy defeat.

When John Robertson put Hearts in front, Aberdeen must have been worrying more about escaping without embarrassment than regaining the division lead.

Scott Crabbe, Colquhoun, and particularly Robertson, were in mischievous mood and caused all sorts of problems for Alex McLeish and Brian Irvine.

However, as the Tynecastle side continued to be denied suitable reward, the feeling grew that their opponents would wake up and take advantage.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Aberdeen found the urge and after Grant equalised it was they who looked the more likely winners.

Perhaps they would have taken two points had Nicholas and Gillhaus been as industrious as their opposite numbers.

The danger posed by Crabbe was illustrated after only a few minutes when fouled just outside the box.

Crabbe rose and took the free kick himself, curling the ball around Aberdeen's wall.

Snelders sprang to his left, and the ball smacked a post.

Chastened by the sound of leather hitting the woodwork, Aberdeen realised the folly of allowing Hearts to play beyond their own territory and Mason's shot reminded the Tynecastle side to be vigilant at the back.

They tightened up, but did not lose any sense of adventure and Colquhoun's shot from just outside the box zipped narrowly wide of Snelders' goal leaving the Dutchman worried at the number of Hearts attacks.

Irvine sprinted off for treatment after a clash with Crabbe and returned just in time to jab out a leg and take the ball from Colquhoun in the box.

It was a great tackle but only delayed the inevitable.

Snelders was beaten in 20 minutes.

Colquhoun's corner on the right was met by Levein.

The ball appeared net-bound, but Robertson, ever alert, applied a finishing touch.

Bett was booked for dissent but would have been better using his aggression to more productive effect.

The Dons did manufacture a good opportunity, but Grant, who had thundered forward from midfield to meet the ball on the edge of the box, shot straight into the hands of Smith.

Apart from the dry strips which some players wore, little else had changed when the match resumed after the break.

Aberdeen's defence had a beleaguered look and the Hearts front three of Colquhoun, Robertson, and Crabbe were showing no signs of fatigue.

Neither were the likes of Nicholas and Gillhaus -- but then they had been largely anonymous.

After Mason hit the side netting the Dons seemed to take heart and they scored an equaliser on the hour.

Bett played the ball wide to the right where Nicholas, at last looking alert, clipped a cross into the middle and the ball was met by Grant, who bowed his head and beat Smith.

The Pittodrie side finally had come alive and were threatening to score again.

Mackay headed off his own line and then Smith, diving full to his right, knocked away a fierce 25-yard shot from Grant, but the game finished with the rain pouring down and honours shared.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, McKinlay, Levein, McCreery, McPherson, Colquhoun, Mackay, Robertson, Crabbe, Bannon.

Substitutes -- Kidd, Sandison.

ABERDEEN -- Snelders, McKimmie, Robertson, Grant, McLeish, Irvine, Nicholas, Bett, Mason, Connor, Gillhaus.

Substitutes -- Simpson, Van der Ark.

Referee -- D Syme (Rutherglen).