NO MARGIN FOR INJUSTICE, DONS

The hangover from a weekend laden with injustice must not be allowed to sidetrack Aberdeen's efforts to kick-start 2005 before the good work of last year is undone.

Dons manager Jimmy Calderwood has been forced to be creative during the January transfer window and must attempt to produce a last-minute masterstroke as tonight's deadline looms.

A point is the very least the Dons deserved against Hearts - despite understandable claims to the contrary from the Maroons camp. But the stark reality is that Aberdeen left Tynecastle empty-handed and one place worse off in the Premier League table.

Hearts were aided by some favourable, and crucial, decisions from referee Mike McCurry and his assistants Martin Cryans and Charlie Smith. That is not in doubt.

On many other days, Noel Whelan's challenge on Steven Pressley in the 61st minute would not have brought the penalty which Dennis Wyness converted to earn Hearts three points.

On any other day, Steven Craig's 85th-minute strike would have been allowed to stand as an equaliser rather than chalked off after a late offside flag.

Unfortunately for Calderwood and his team, it was not their day - even though the Dons matched their Gorgie opponents blow for blow. Strip away the many frustrations and the underlying concerns were still evident. The effort could not be faulted, the organisation and defensive resistance was in place, but a Dons cutting edge and spark of creativity was absent for the bulk of the game. Kevin McNaughton, Jamie Winter, Darren Mackie and Whelan shouldered the attacking burden in the opening 45 minutes.

McNaughton's most threatening contribution was a blistering 30-yard drive in the fourth minute which flew narrowly over, while Winter glided in from the left wing 10 minutes later to fire in a shot which was comfortably held by Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Mackie's shot from distance in the 38th minute forced a diving save, while Whelan was presented with perhaps the best opportunity one minute before the interval.

Some trademark McNaughton trickery on the left ended with a deep cross which was chested down at the back post by Whelan and blasted agonisingly wide of the target.

By that time Whelan had already found his now customary place in the referee's notebook, yellow-carded for a 33rd minute foul on Stephen Simmons. In truth, after a series of niggles, it was always a question of when, rather than if, he would add to his disciplinary points tally.

Hearts, despite some impressive touches from one-time Dons target Lee Miller in attack, themselves struggled to pose a genuine danger. A Wyness overhead kick in the 45th minute, kept out only by the crossbar, was the best they had to offer - despite sporadic efforts from Simmons and Neil MacFarlane.

The two sides were just as evenly matched after the break.

A Joe Hamill header that flashed wide just two minutes after the restart hinted at renewed vigour from Hearts, but that failed to materialise.

Dons captain Russell Anderson, no doubt aware of Scotland manager Walter Smith's presence in the Tynecastle directors box, attempted to lead by example in 60 minutes with a fierce shot on the turn from a corner.

But Gordon, another international hopeful, and his opposite number Ryan Esson had few notes to swap at full-time.

Esson's key involvement came when he found himself up against former Pittodrie youth team-mate Wyness in the 61st minute, diving to his right as the Hearts man tucked the penalty in the opposite corner for the only goal of the game.

A surging run from Pressley won the spot kick, the alleged foul by the back-tracking Whelan proving to be the forward's final contribution as he was withdrawn, with Calderwood fearing the player was heading for a red.

Jamie Winter, for a late tackle on Robbie Neilson, and Darren Mackie, for dissent, joined Whelan in the book - but the referee's most telling contribution did not come until the 85th minute and that "goal" from Craig.

As the dust settled, Michael Hart had just as much reason as Craig to rue a point lost. It was Hart's deft chip which led to the controversy, the defender's effort from the right flank tipped on to the far post by Gordon and the rebound buried in the net by Craig.

It wasn't good enough for the officials, who picked up on substitute John Stewart's efforts in following up the initial Hart effort and deemed him offside.

Today the arguments will still be raging, the explanations as to why the goal should have been awarded no doubt shouted down by Hearts supporters eager to justify an interpretation of the rules which enabled their side to leapfrog the Dons and reclaim fourth spot.

Hearts are now focused on catching Hibs. The Dons have taken just two points from their last seven league matches and must be looking nervously over their shoulders towards a chasing pack led by Motherwell.

Taken from The Press and Journal