First-class Dons take heart as fortunes change at last Stavrum off the mark as Skovdahl's new-look side break their league duck at Pittodrie

Ian Broadley
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9 Dec 1999

Aberdeen..... 3, Hearts ..........1

Aberdeen claimed their first league victory of the season at Pittodrie to give hope that there is at last a revival in their fortunes.

Their superiority over Hearts was undeniable and provided emphatic evidence that the protracted transfer strategy employed by manager Ebbe Skovdahl is about to yield dividends.

The North East fans left convinced after the second successive triumph that their relegation problems will soon be a thing of the past with their recent Arabian imports, Rachid Belabed and Hicham Zerouali, indicating their worth when appearing as second half substitutes.

Defender Mark Perry, who has consistently lived up to expectations since moving from Dundee United, was recalled to replace injured Argentinian Juan Cobian, the only change forced on Skovdahl, but Tynecastle counterpart Jim Jefferies had more weighty decisions to occupy him.

The Slav Gordan Petric, signed for #500,000 from AEK Athens, was thrust immediately into the fray but persisted in playing an offside strategy with which his team-mates seemed only vaguely familiar.

Colin Cameron, free of suspension, was restored along with Gary Locke while Juanjo was stood down along with Gary McSwegan, who had a hamstring problem.

The loss of striker McSwegan was significant as he had scored hat tricks in his last two games against the ailing North East club.

The inconsistencies which have bedevilled both teams were obvious and a cold, swirling wind did nothing to restore much-needed composure within their respective ranks.

Aberdeen's opening goal was a classic example of the silliness Jefferies has faced recently.

When, in the tenth minute, Cato Guntveit, threaded a ball through to Eoin Jess there was no cover to negate the threat of the player always most likely to pose the main threat.

Jess was then able to run through unchallenged, round keeper Roddy McKenzie, and steer the ball into the net.

Only seconds later keeper Jim Leighton was left exposed but still was able to block a close-range attempt from Stephane Adam.

In 25 minutes Leighton was again bereft of cover but this time Adam failed by the narrowest of margins to meet a cross from Locke and once again Aberdeen's defence heaved a sigh of relief.

There was no escape five minutes later when an Adam cross was headed in by Scott Severin who escaped the attentions of both Andy Dow and Derek Whyte.

This time Leighton made his feelings known about the frailties of the men in front of him.

Hearts should have been in charge by the interval, but Leighton again came to their rescue when a corner from Steve Fulton was missed by Whyte and he was alert enough to the danger to beat the ball away in some desperation and frustration.

Aberdeen made their contribution to the excitement when Dow and Jess combined for Norwegian Arild Stavrum to test the Hearts keeper, who was forced to concede a corner From the inswinger by Jess, Fulton was forced to scramble the ball off the line to prevent further damage.

Within five minutes of the restart Petric had demonstrated the contribution he can make to the Tynecastle cause.

Casually he drifted out of defence past three rivals then released Adam on the right flank with a measured pass.

The cross to the back post was equally precise, but Cameron's attempt from close-range was denied by a lunging interception from Perry on the goal line.

Aberdeen gained in confidence at their reprieve and their mood was fortified by the introduction of latest acquisition Zeroualin.

Within seconds of replacing the anonymous Robbie Winters, the Moroccan had endeared himself to the fans.

In the sixty-third minutes his astute long-range attempt, his first touch in his first game since his #450,000 transfer from Fus Rabat, was spilled by McKenzie and Stavrum followed up to bury the the loose ball.

Before the cheers had stilled, Zerouali had ensured victory.

This time he picked out the Guntveit with a marvellous through ball and the midfielder shrugged off his marker before despatching a low accurate drive from 20 yards past McKenzie.

Skovdahl brought on a his second Arabian acquisition, the midfielder Belabed, for Dow in 75 minutes, and this switch met with instant approval.

The midfielder hit the bar from the edge of the area after a telling pass from Jess with Hearts'resistance only nominal.

Jefferies brought Juanjo and Gary Wales on for Locke and Adam but there was no response and the manner of his side's capitulation must be a serious concern.

Aberdeen: Leighton, Perry, Whyte, Jess, Winters, Dow, Bernard, Anderson, Guntveit, McAllister, Stavrum.

Subs: Esson, McGuire, Rutkiewicz, Belabed, Zerouali.

Hearts: McKenzie, Pressley, Naysmith, Locke, Ritchie, Fulton, Adam, Cameron, Jackson, Petric, Severin.

Subs: Rousset, Murray, Juanjo, Wales, Jones.

Ref.

J.

McCluskey.

q Dundee United last night signed Antoine Preget - rated as a #1m player just a few months ago - on a short-term deal and the 27-year-old Frenchman, who is most comfortable in a left wing-back role, could go straight into Paul Sturrock's side when they meet Dundee in Sunday's televised Tannadice derby.

Preget, who impressed the United manager in a recent closed-door game, almost joined Austrian club Sturm Graz earlier this year, but he said: ''That deal didn't work out because my French club wanted so much money for me.

''But I am glad it has gone this way because finding a club in Britain means I have fulfilled a dream.

I always wanted the chance to play here because I like the physical way the game is played.'' When his move to Champions League qualifiers Sturm Graz fell through, because his French club Chateauroux demanded #1 million, Preget played out the two months of his contract and became a free agent.

He was briefly on trial with Dundee and and also impressed at Raith Rovers, who were unable to match his wage demands.

Taken from the Herald