Jambos dig deep to shake off Euro hangover

MARK BONTHRONE
AT PITTODRIE

ABERDEEN 0-1 HEARTS

HEARTS have struggled on their return from European games to domestic action in recent seasons but against Aberdeen responded to last week’s defeat by German giants Schalke in the perfect way as they moved into third place in the SPL courtesy of a hard fought 1-0 win.

It’s safe to assume that after a gruelling 90 minutes against the Bundesliga side in the open expanses of Murrayfield, much of that played with just ten men, that a trip to face the high-flying Dons in their own back yard would not have been the match new boss John Robertson would have chosen for his first domestic game in charge.

However, while the small Tynecastle squad has found it difficult to combine their European exploits with the bread and butter of the SPL in the past, at Pittodrie yesterday they dug deep to battle out a valuable three points that saw them move ahead of their opponents on goal difference.

It wasn’t the best of games, only really springing to life on the hour mark when the visitors were awarded a penalty and the Dons were reduced to ten men when Kevin McNaughton was given his marching orders for a deliberate handball on the line from a Robbie Neilson header.

Referee Stuart Dougal’s decision unusually led to calls from BOTH sets of players to award the goal rather than the penalty as they insisted the ball was well over the line before McNaughton intervened. Had he done so it would have saved the defender from taking an early bath but the appeals fell on deaf ears as he awarded the spot kick which Paul Hartley, again outstanding in the Hearts midfield, duly converted.

Immediately after the goal Ramon Pereira was hauled off by Robertson after picking up a yellow card for protesting that Neilson’s header should have stood.

The manner in which the goal was scored will ultimately matter little to the Gorgie side, however, with Phil Stamp, who made his return from injury at the expense of Joe Hamill, admitting he and his team-mates had a point to prove.

"It was a hard game as Aberdeen have been going very well but the boys felt we had a point to prove and wanted to show people that we are still the third best team in Scotland," said the former Middlesbrough player.

"I think we did that today. We are above them now on goals which is very pleasing because we have had a lot of games and no centre forwards fit for I don’t know how long!

"We have played 18 games already this season and it’s still only November so while some people have been suggesting we have been struggling, we are back in third position where we belong."

On the ordering-off and penalty incident Stamp confirmed he felt the official had made the wrong decision. "I think it was a bit harsh to send the boy off. The linesman gave the goal and if that had stood the lad wouldn’t have got sent-off.

"The ball was clearly in but the way things worked out Aberdeen were reduced to ten men and we scored so they were doubly punished.

"That made life difficult for them but whether staying with 11 men would have made any difference or not in the end I don’t know."

Stamp’s inclusion was the only change to the starting 11 although the Jambos were dealt a blow before kick-off when Mark de Vries’ poisoned toe forced him to drop off the bench altogether.

Any fears the Capital club may be suffering from a Euro hangover were quickly dispelled in the opening minutes as they took the game to their opponents.

With ten minutes on the clock, a long Craig Gordon kick-out was flicked on by Kevin McKenna, again deployed as a striker, into the path of Hartley but with the midfielder set to pull the trigger from 16 yards, Phil McGuire managed to nick the ball from his toe.

Just a minute later and the Dons were again breathing a huge sigh of relief when Alan Maybury’s teasing cross from the left was met by Stamp who saw his net-bound six-yard flick somehow deflected wide by Zander Diamond.

While excellent last gasp defending saved the home side on those occasions, with a quarter of an hour played it was the woodwork that came to their rescue.

Former Hearts star Scott Severin fouled Patrick Kisnorbo 25-yards from goal and Hartley almost punished him when he curled an effort round the wall only to see it smack back off David Preece’s left-hand post.

Those lucky escapes seemed to spur Jimmy Calderwood’s men into action and for a while they gained the ascendency with Robbie Neilson doing well to block a netbound Chris Clark effort.

However, after the interval the Jambos again gained the upper hand and with 58 minutes gone Maybury forced Preece into an outstanding stop with a thundering drive from the edge of the box after a Jamie McAllister corner.

Hartley’s penalty two minuted later sealed the win for Hearts and, although they were forced to endure some close calls, most notably when a Phil McGuire shot struck the post, they managed to hold on for a deserved three points.

And boss Roberston was thrilled with his first victory in charge of the club.

"I’m delighted," he admitted. "We all know how tough a place Pittodrie is to come to and everyone has been going on about what a sensational start Aberdeen have had so you don’t get something for nothing when you go there.

"You have to bite, scratch and fight for everything and that’s exactly what we did.

"It got a wee bit hectic after we scored but we retained our composure. Aberdeen were a bit unlucky with a shot that hit the post but we’ll take the three points and move on from here."

Taken from the Scotsman