Aberdeen 0 - 1 Hearts

FRANK GILFEATHER at Pittodrie November 08 2004

ABERDEEN defender Kevin McNaughton was at the centre of a controversial incident which turned this game in favour of Hearts, who leap-frogged, albeit by goal difference, above their hosts in the Premierleague table.

McNaughton handled a Robbie Neilson header from Jamie McAllister's 58th minute corner kick, but he did so, according to players from both sides, after the ball had already crossed the line.

However, referee Stuart Dougal had already produced the red card and awarded a penalty kick before discussing the matter with Neil Brand, his assistant, who had already given a goal, according to the players.

The histrionics surrounding the affair clearly failed to affect Paul Hartley and he hit the only goal of a grizzly game from the penalty spot.

The victory will lift Hearts as they prepare for Wednesday's CIS League Cup quarter-final at Dunfermline, following 90 gruelling minutes which brought five bookings and the controversial red card. Phil Stamp, a powerful presence for Hearts in midfield, was adamant the referee had made a mistake.

"I think it was harsh, because the assistant referee gave the goal," said Stamp. "So, if the referee had spoken to him before sending the Aberdeen player [McNaughton] off he would have recognised the ball had already crossed the line. It would have still been 1-0, but they would have had 11 men.

"Our players spoke to the linesman and told the referee the goal had been given, but he had already sent off the player and awarded the penalty. There was no need for him to be ordered off."

Scott Severin, the Aberdeen midfielder, agreed with Stamp.

"I told the referee the ball was already over the line and that he should just blow his whistle and get on with it," said Severin. "But he wanted to send somebody off, and he got his wish."

The upheaval at Hearts, with the departure of their manager, Craig Levein, and the appointment of John Robertson as his successor, allied to Aberdeen's recent little difficulty in dropping five goals against Rangers, perhaps gave this fixture additional significance.

"Everyone has been going on about what a sensational start to the season Aberdeen have had," said Robertson. "So you don't get nothing for nothing at Pittodrie. You have to fight, and scratch and bite, and that's what we did."

Certainly, both sides had an appetite for the challenge, and when Hartley hit a sweet 30-yard free-kick against the post it rattled Aberdeen into retaliation and seven minutes later Stamp had to rescue the Tynecastle men by booting a Russell Anderson header off the goal-line.

The uncompromising nature of this affair ensured there would be no easy way for the front players on either side to break down defences where there were a number of blocks and deflections to keep each of them occupied.

Aberdeen's Phil McGuire hit the woodwork late in the game, but by then the match had disintegrated into a physical contest, ruined by the events of the earlier part of the second half.

For the Tynecastle side, it was a bright start to their week and Robertson now looks to build on yesterday's victory.

"It gets us back into the thick of things," he said. "We had to dig it out, and we did it. So we'll dust ourselves down and get in with another hard and important game at Dunfermline on Wednesday."

Taken from the Herald