Hearts 1 Aberdeen 0

Hearts leapfrogged Aberdeen into fourth place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League table courtesy of a 63rd-minute penalty from Dennis Wyness.

There had been little to choose between the two sides throughout the game at Tynecastle.

But, when Pittodrie striker Noel Whelan was adjudged by referee Mike McCurry to have fouled Steven Pressley inside the Aberdeen box in the 62nd minute, Wyness calmly stepped up to slot his spot-kick home.

The Dons thought they had grabbed an equaliser six minutes from time after substitute Steven Craig bundled the ball into the net from close range, but the goal was controversially chalked off for offside.

But it was the Dons who had registered the first effort of the game after five minutes when defender Kevin McNaughton tried his luck with an optimistic 30-yard volley, which flew high over the crossbar.

Hearts responded quickly and Stephen Simmons' slip inside the visitors' penalty area, after a neat flick by Wyness set him up, prevented the midfielder getting a shot on target.

In the 28th minute, a fine cross from Wyness on the left was attacked by Miller 12 yards from goal but the on-loan striker's unconvincing header slipped past Ryan Esson's post.

On the half-time whistle, Whelan had the best chance of the half when he gathered a McNaughton cross at the back post, but the former Coventry striker fired his angled shot wide.

The home side nearly stole the lead when, following a Joe Hamill free-kick from the left, Wyness struck the bar with an overhead kick from 10 yards out.

After the break, Jamie Winter was booked for a foul on Robbie Neilson after 56 minutes.

Just before the hour mark, Dons' defender Russell Anderson found himself with the ball at his feet following a short spell of Aberdeen pressure, but his turn and strike from 16 yards went wide of the far post.

However, the game exploded into life when the home side were awarded a penalty after Whelan upended Pressley in the Aberdeen penalty area.

The visiting players were raging at referee McCurry's decision but, after the furore died down, Wyness calmly stroked the ball into the corner sending Esson the wrong way.

Immediately, Pittodrie boss Jimmy Calderwood substituted Whelan for Craig to prevent the forward talking himself into a red card.

The tempo increased and, in the 68th minute, there was another appeal for a Hearts penalty when Winter clashed with Simmons inside the box, but this time McCurry waved play on.

In the 73rd minute, as the visitors tried to battle back, Winter set up Craig, but the former Motherwell striker's side-footed shot was well saved by Craig Gordon who parried clear.

Six minutes before the end, Craig had the ball in the net after Gordon had tipped a Michael Hart chip onto the post.

But the goal was ruled offside to leave the Pittodrie players fuming.

Teams

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, McAllister, Hamill, MacFarlane, Simmons (Berra 87), Mikoliunas (Stewart 80), Miller, Wyness (Burchill 81).

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, McKenna, Pereira, Thorarinsson.

Goals: Wyness 63 pen.

Aberdeen Esson, Hart, Anderson, Diamond, McNaughton, Mackie, Heikkinen, Winter (Foster 74), Clark, Whelan (Craig 64), Kristjansson (Stewart 59).

Subs Not Used: Ilic, Adams, Morrison, Considine.

Booked: Whelan, Winter, Mackie.

Att: 12,269

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com