Wyness stings bitter Dons

Jim Black at Tynecastle
Sunday January 30, 2005
The Observer

Hearts moved three points closer to Edinburgh rivals Hibernian in the capital's intriguing game of catch-as-catch-can. But they did so on the back of a highly contentious refereeing decision when Michael McCurry disallowed an apparent Aberdeen equaliser in the 84th minute. Michael Hart exposed the Hearts defence when he lobbed goalkeeper Craig Gordon and the ball struck the crossbar. Substitute Steven Craig was on hand to convert the rebound but his celebrations proved premature. McCurry signalled that an infringement had taken place and it appeared that Craig was deemed to have been offside.

Aberdeen reacted with fury, more so because they felt hard done to at the award of a second-half penalty against them that had decided the outcome of an encounter that will not live long in the memory. There was much huffing and puffing, but, regrettably, little in the way of cultured football in a first half full of passion and commitment. Hearts had marginally the better of the exchanges and were a shade more inventive. But Aberdeen were not outdone to any significant extent. Consequently, there was a noticeable lack of goalmouth drama in the main, partly, one suspected, because of the solid nature of the respective defences. Steven Pressley, the Hearts captain, was especially effective and his early tackle on Noel Whelan was timed to perfection. Otherwise the striker would have been in the clear. Even earlier, Aberdeen had caused home hearts to flutter when Kevin McNaughton unleashed a powerful shot that whistled just over the crossbar. For Hearts, Dennis Wyness whipped over a cross for Lee Miller that enabled the strike to flash in a header that went close enough to the target to unnerve Aberdeen. But the Dons were still creating chances of their own and when Jamie Winter won a tussle in the middle of the park he was able to put Darren Mackie in the clear, only for his low shot to be gathered by Craig Gordon. Saulius Mikoliunas then endeavoured to put some spark into the game for the home side a short time later, but his long-range speculative shot was comfortably held by Ryan Esson. The closing moments of the half were the most exciting and either team might have taken the lead. First, McNaughton's cross to Whelan at the back post presented Aberdeen with a goalscoring opportunity, but it was squandered when the striker shot across the face of goal. Hearts went even closer to breaking the deadlock almost on the stroke of half-time when Stephen Simmons's spectacular overhead kick rattled the crossbar following a mêlée in the goalmouth. Whelan appeared to be an accident waiting to happen when play resumed at the same frenetic pace, so it was hardly surprising that he was instrumental in Hearts' breakthrough. Pressley was foraging into the box when Whelan misjudged his challenge and up-ended the Scotland defender at the cost of a penalty kick. Wyness was nominated to try his luck from the spot and duly obliged went he sent Esson the wrong way. Aberdeen were not done for and they determined to keep their shape and continue to probe for an opening. In the event, they engineered one in the 73rd minute. Winter spotted Craig, on for Whelan, and played a delightful through ball to the substitute, whose sweeping shot was blocked by Gordon. Craig later had the ball in the back of the net, of course, but without the result he would have hoped for.


Taken from the Guardian/Observer