Hearts 1 Aberdeen 0

Hearts finally kick-started their Scottish Premier League campaign with a hard-fought victory over visiting Aberdeen.

A thunderous first-half volley from Scotland international Colin Cameron was enough to secure the points and allowed Hearts to escape the memory of last week's surprise defeat at Livingston.

Stephane Mahe put in a predictably solid performance on his Hearts debut and if boss Craig Levein can add more players of his calibre the Jam Tarts will hope for a UEFA Cup slot.

Dons boss Ebbe Skovdahl, however, was left facing a battle to stop the confidence draining from his young side.

The Dons have lost two straight games and, with heads dropping after Cameron's strike, it could be yet another long winter in the north east.

One plus point for Skovdahl was the performance of new signing Ben Thornley.

The former Manchester United winger delivered a series of dangerous crosses which, with more accomplished finishing from his team-mates, should have seen the Dons on the scoresheet.

Aberdeen put the Hearts defence under early pressure and won a free-kick outside the box when Scott Severin fouled Derek Young.

A well worked free-kick saw the ball find its way to Thornley, but his effort was blocked behind for a corner.

In the ninth minute Aberdeen's Cato Guntveit linked well with Thornley on the left flank but his cross failed to trouble the Hearts defence.

In what was proving to be a keenly contested encounter Hearts broke the deadlock in the 16th minute.

Skipper Cameron met a knock-down from Kevin McKenna first time and thundered an unstoppable volley past Dons goalkeeper David Preece from 12 yards.

Aberdeen still posed a threat and after 26 minutes Hearts defender Robert Tomaschek was forced to head clear a great delivery from Thornley.

Then home goalkeeper Antti Niemi had to be alert to smother a cross from Guntveit who had found space in the penalty area.

Hearts were forced to replace injured striker Stephane Adam in the 34th minute with Gary McSwegan.

Eight minutes before the half-time break Hearts midfielder Steve Fulton engineered an opening with a tremendous run at the Aberdeen defence but could only hit the side netting with his eight-yard effort.

Aberdeen reminded Hearts of their attacking menace in the 56th minute. Derek Young out-foxed the home defence and delivered a tempting cross which evaded the incoming Roberto Bisconti.

On the hour mark Hearts were forced to withdraw McKenna after a clash of heads with Bisconti, who was fit to carry on.

There was a minor scare for Aberdeen in the 67th minute when goalkeeper Preece conceded a corner after failing to clutch a cross from Gary McSwegan.

Cameron almost grabbed a spectacular second for Hearts seven minutes from time.

He reacted quickly to a punched clearance from Preece and attempted a speculative overhead kick from outside the area which flew just over the crossbar.

Teams

Hearts: Niemi, Severin, Mahe, Webster, Boyack, Tomaschek, Cameron, Mckenna (Simmons 61), Fulton, Wales (Juanjo 81), Adam (McSwegan 35).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, McCann.

Goals: Cameron 20.

Aberdeen: Preece, Guntveit (Bett 69), McGuire, Whyte, McNaughton, Darren Young, Mackie (Tiernan 61), Bisconti, McAllister, Derek Young (Rutkiewicz 79), Thornley.

Subs Not Used: Esson, Solberg.

Booked: McAllister.

Att: 12,696

Ref: B Orr (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com