Furious Whelan brands Pressley a ‘cheat’

What is not clear is where Aberdeen will end up this season and just how much action will be taken against Noel Whelan, their striker, for an incendiary outburst at the end of a match that was won by a penalty he conceded after a foul on Steven Pressley.

“We were beaten by a cheat,” said Whelan. “For a professional that is disgusting. He went down for the penalty, looking for it. He did it the whole game, both in defence and then for the penalty. He conned the referee and he always gets the decisions. The referee was terrible as well. It’s hard enough playing against 11, never mind 12 when the ref is on their side. He played to the crowd. It’s easy to give those decisions.” Whelan apologised to the Aberdeen supporters for the result and an edgeless performance, but there could be others looking for a “sorry” now.

Jimmy Calderwood, Whelan’s manager, was more aggrieved that a Steven Craig effort was disallowed for offside late on. “The only man in the stadium who saw it like that had his flag up,” said Calderwood. “I wonder if he would have done it if it had happened at the other end. We want linesmen to get involved, but you have to do it for both teams.” Calderwood seemed to be embroiled in a running battle with the assistant referee in question, Martin Cryans. “It’s been going on for about five years,” he said. “It’s just some bad decisions over the years and a very bad one today.”

Craig Gordon, the Hearts goalkeeper, still has his moments and got away with one on 24 minutes. He scuffed a clearance when out of his goalmouth, it skidded along the ground to Whelan and the first-time shot was on. Instead, the striker tried to increase his chances by taking a touch, but in the seconds it took to control the ball, Pressley had covered 10 yards and hurtled himself at Whelan in a monumental challenge that took everything before him.

Lee Miller has already given a return on his loan move from Bristol City to Hearts and he could have made it three goals from four games had his header from Dennis Wyness’s swinging left-wing cross landed the other side of the far post. The first half ended with a big chance at either end. First Kevin McNaughton, Aberdeen’s left-back, left both Saulius Mikoliunas and Neil MacFarlane running the wrong way as he pirouetted through one of those double drag-backs he comes out with now and then. He hit the byline and arced a deep cross to Whelan at the back post, who took it on his chest and fired a low half-volley that flew wide of the far post.

Then, at the whistle, a Jamie McAllister free kick from the left was headed across goal by Miller at the back post. Andy Webster charged in but his header was blocked and the ball sat up behind Wyness, who turned and executed an overhead kick that struck the crossbar.

It took a penalty to break the deadlock, a result of the latest clash in the running battle between Pressley and Whelan. Joe Hamill held up the ball on Hearts’ right wing and Pressley turned inside forward, galloping up the channel, tracked by Whelan. The Hearts captain, in possession, tried to check his run in the box and was bumped over by his pursuer. Whelan had to be restrained by a six-strong mob made up of both colours.

He had already been booked and was substituted immediately. Wyness stepped up to side-foot the penalty low and to the right as Ryan Esson, the Aberdeen goalkeeper, went the other way.

Hearts defended in depth and took what Aberdeen had to give until the 85th minute, when Michael Hart, the right-back, drove forward, cut inside McAllister and lofted a chip over Gordon but off the inside of his right-hand post. As it bounced on the goalline, Craig stabbed it over. The assistant referee’s flag stopped the celebrations.

The explanation? John Stewart, the Aberdeen substitute who charged in with Craig, was offside when the shot came in and gained advantage from his position at the rebound.

Much controversy, much to discuss, but the last word goes to John Robertson, the victorious manager. “The big talking point? Three points to Hearts. 1-0.”

STAR MAN: Steven Pressley (Hearts)

Player ratings: Hearts: Gordon 6, Neilson 6, Pressley 7, Webster 7, McAllister 6, Hamill 6, Simmons 6 (Berra 87min, 5), MacFarlane 6, Mikoliunas 7 (Stewart 81min, 5), Wyness 6 (Burchill 81min, 5), Miller 7

Aberdeen: Esson 6, Hart 6, Anderson 7, Diamond 7, McNaughton 7, Clark 6, Heikkinen 6, Winter 6 (Foster 74min, 5), Kristjansson 5 (Stewart 60min, 5), Mackie 6, Whelan 5 (Craig 63min, 6)

Taken from timesonline.co.uk