Hearts lose to Aberdeen but regain dignity

Ian Paul

6 May 1993

Hearts 1, Aberdeen 2

SANDY Clark, Hearts' caretaker manager and hot favourite to take over permanently from Joe Jordan, had to endure a losing debut at Tynecastle, but there were compensations to ease his pain.

Hearts, very much outplayed in the first half, came back with admirable determination after the break to level the Aberdeen lead given them by Duncan Shearer and, although they lost out in the end -- as well as losing striker Ian Baird, who was sent off -- they redeemed some of the reputation lost in the 6-0 defeat at Brockville on Saturday.

Most of the 6038 in attendance, despite feeling disappointed at the result, would be relieved to hear earlier in the day that their chairman, Wallace Mercer, from his Cannes base, that Hearts would not sell international defender Alan McLaren to Rangers -- although he did not rule out a sale elsewhere -- but perhaps more important for the Gorgie support was the evidence of some highly promising play from youngsters Tommy Harrison and substitute Kevin Thomas.

Aberdeen had most of the chances early on but failed to take advantage.

A Kane header touched aside by Smith was to set the pattern for the first half which was to prove very much Aberdeen's, even if they did not set up a scoreline to mirror their superiority.

Booth had a chance to open the scoring after 16 minutes but Smith was alert to the danger and the chance was gone.

The striker could have made amends when Kane, having a very effective game, sent him through with a superb pass but he lifted the ball over the bar.

Hearts had to change their line-up in 28 minutes, taking off Foster, who had suffered a leg injury, and bringing on Thomas.

However, Aberdeen's ability to open up the Tynecastle defence eventually paid off after 32 minutes when Smith was beaten by a diving Shearer header from a Connor cross from the left.

Hearts made strenuous efforts to get back into contention after the break and, indeed, were a much better side for all of the second half.

Mackay was booked for a foul on Mason but it seemed a bit harsh considering some of what had gone before.

Hearts were entitled to feel unlucky when a Harrison free kick was headed powerfully towards goal by Thomas, only for Watt to touch it over the bar at the last second.

Even so, Hearts were lucky to keep their full complement of players when Baird took an off-the-ball kick at Irvine and was merely booked for his indiscretion.

But in the next few minutes it would be impossible to keep the striker out of the limelight.

He took full advantage of his reprieve when he sent over a cross for Thomas to steer past Watt for the equaliser in 66 minutes but then blew it all when he was sent off immediately afterwards.

The Hearts man appeared to gesture towards some Aberdeen fans, and the referee, prompted by the linesman, had no option but to send him into the pavilion.

Aberdeen, who had been outplayed at this point, suddenly found another gear and in 71 minutes they went ahead when a Mason cross to the far post was hit past Smith by Paatelainen.

HEARTS -- Smith, Hogg, McKinlay, Harrison, McLaren, van de Ven, Foster, Ferguson, Baird, Mackay, Robertson.

Substitutes -- Mauchlen, Thomas.

ABERDEEN -- Watt, McKimmie, Connor, Aitken, Irvine, McLeish, Mason, Kane, Booth, Shearer, Paatelainen.

Substitutes -- Ten Caat, Watson.

Referee -- W R Morrison (Carluke).

Taken from the Herald