Hearts 0 - 0 Aberdeen

ROB ROBERTSON at Tynecastle August 16 2004

HEARTS and Aberdeen are destined to be intertwined in many ways this season. On the pitch, both sides are likely to be the main contenders to finish third in the Premierleague.

Off it, the property company owned by Stewart Milne, the Aberdeen chairman, has bid £23m for the right to build houses on the Tynecastle site.

It is likely that sum won't be enough to secure the contract, but publicity surrounding his role in the demolition of their spiritual home ensured Milne got a tough time from Hearts fans on Saturday.

He was cornered by a knot of them at the end of the game and police arrived to ensure things didn't get out of hand.

During the match, the animosity between the supporters caused by Milne's bid for Tynecastle led to chants from the visiting Aberdonians of "we've bought your hoose."
The players realised there was no love loss either, as they tried their best to pulverise each other into submission. The 90 minutes was an unrefined, fast and furious spectacle littered with fouls. For all that, it was strangely compelling.

Both sides were evenly matched with a good defence, a tight midfield and absolutely nothing up front. The great atmosphere at Tynecastle also contributed to the occasion. It will be a crying shame when the stadium is bulldozed and the club move to Murrayfield.

For all the excitement, it was a match of few chances. The best effort came when a Derek Adams header was brilliantly tipped over by Craig Gordon, the Hearts goalkeeper. Graham Weir and Ramón Pereira had chances for Hearts and Noel Whelan put in a good shift up front for Aberdeen, but it wasn't a game for the connoisseur.

At the back and in midfield, Aberdeen are looking good. Russell Anderson and Zander Diamond are a formidable young partnership, while Steve Tosh, Markus Heikkinen and the former Hearts man, Scott Severin, form a tight midfield unit. Diamond, who is still only 19, was lucky to stay on the park after a tussle with Pereira, but apart from that, had an excellent match.

He has put his good early season form down to Jimmy Calderwood, his new manager.
"It was flat in the dressing room last season but the gaffer has given us a lift," said Diamond. "We are much more confident as a team. I have now picked up two bookings in two games but I won't be holding back in other matches."

From a Hearts point of view, the lack of inspiration upfront shows how much they rely on Mark de Vries. Without the big targetman, their attacking options were limited. Weir, his replacement against Aberdeen, is a trier, while Pereira is a clever player but looks more like a man who will set up chances rather than score.

In the middle of the park, Michael Stewart, who is on loan from Manchester United, is struggling to come to terms with the pace of the Scottish game. He is still not match fit and came on as a second-half substitute, making little impact on proceedings.
With the start of their UEFA Cup campaign only a month away, the Tynecastle club will be hoping he starts to find some form sooner rather than later. More importantly, they will be hoping de Vries returns soon to first team duty.

Taken from the Herald