Aberdeen 1 Hearts 0

By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

An early David Rowson goal secured all three points in an emphatic display by Aberdeen.

The win signalled only the Dons' second home victory of the season after taking full points from St Mirren at the beginning of the campaign.

But the 1-0 scoreline flattered the Jambos after a 90 minutes which saw the Dons tear apart the Hearts defence.

Craig Levein's side have fought back to steal a point from both Hibs and St Johnstone in their last two games but could not break down the Aberdeen defence.

The Aberdeen supporters put their differences with Rangers fans behind them to take part in an one-minute silence to mark the Ibrox disaster.

But once this game got underway Hearts wasted no time in trying to put the Dons goal under pressure when Juanjo tried to pinpoint Gordon Durie with a cross in front of goal but the danger was cleared by Thomas Solberg.

But it was Aberdeen who took the lead after just six minutes when David Rowson met Alex Di Rocco's pass to fire the opener past goalkeeper Antti Niemi.

The Jambos tried to retaliate again through Saturday's goal hero Durie and the former Rangers striker tried to chip the ball over Ryan Esson but sent the ball over the crossbar instead.

Just before the half-hour mark Solberg had the chance to double the Dons advantage with a well-struck free kick that sliced through the Hearts wall before deflecting just wide.

But a few minutes later the Aberdeen player gave away a free kick just outside the 18-yard box when he brought down Juanjo. The Spanish whiz-kid stepped up to take the set piece and smashed the shot off the post.

That was quickly followed by a weak attempt from skipper Colin Cameron whose shot from a Durie lay-off was easily held by the Aberdeen goalkeeper.

Arild Stavrum's chip from the edge of the penalty box at the other end of the park was a lot closer but that shot dipped just over the crossbar.

After the restart Aberdeen went all out for the second goal and Di Rocco had a decent attempt just two minutes into the second half from just outside the six-yard box but sent the ball wide.

And in 52 minutes Robbie Winters should have netted for the Dons. Stavrum went on a great run down the right flank before sending the ball into the box to the awaiting Winters.

All that was required was to fire home but Winters somehow sent the ball wide for what must be one of the misses of the season.

Stavrum was proving to be a menace to the Hearts defence and he saw a shot bullet off the crossbar before twice being denied by the goalkeeper.

With just five minutes remaining Hearts battled desperately to take something from the game but is was Aberdeen who looked the team most likely to score again.

Darren Young unleashed a powerful opportunist strike from 20 yards out that Niemi just got a fingertip to.

The first booking for the game came with just a minute to go when Di Rocco found himself the victim of a nasty challenge by Darren Goldie.

Teams

Aberdeen: Esson, Solberg, Rowson, McGuire, McAllister, Derek Young, Whyte, Winters (McNaughton 90), Darren Young, Di Rocco, Stavrum (Dow 83).

Subs Not Used: Preece, Belabed, Clark.

Booked: McGuire.

Goals: Rowson 7.

Hearts: Niemi, Locke, Murray, Pressley, Goldie, Tomaschek, Cameron, Fulton (Severin 54), McSwegan (Kirk 64), Durie (Simmons 83), Juanjo.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Neilson.

Booked: Goldie.

Att: 13,524

Ref: J Rowbotham (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com