Hearts 2 Aberdeen 0

Hearts convincingly overcame Aberdeen to maintain their perfect start in the Bank of Scotland Premier League with goals either side of the interval from Rudi Skacel and Michal Pospisil.

The hosts dominated for long periods but it wasn't until Pospisil added a second five minutes from time that the points were secure.

Skacel fired Hearts into the lead in the 20th minute after picking up a loose ball in the box to set the table-topping Edinburgh side on their way.

George Burley's side had the benefit of knowing the result of the Old Firm clash prior to kick off and were fully aware that victory over Aberdeen would see them move three points clear of Rangers at the top of the SPL.

And it was Hearts that started the game the better as the Tynecastle side pegged Aberdeen back during the early exchanges with some nice possession football.

Lithuanian international striker Edgaras Jankauskas threatened after the ball broke to him 20 yards from goal but his snap shot drifted just wide of Ryan Esson's left-hand post in the 11th minute.

Dons playmaker Gary Dempsey was then afforded time and space to take on the Hearts rearguard in the 16th minute but his left-footed strike deflected off Robbie Neilson and landed comfortably in Craig Gordon's arms.

Just as Aberdeen began to enjoy the majority of possession, Hearts went ahead with clinical finishing from Czech international Skacel after he rode two challenges inside the box.

The midfielder notched his fourth goal in as many games after picking up a loose ball inside the box to fire a low shot under Esson.

Aberdeen looked to respond straight from the restart but Kevin McNaughton blasted an effort high and wide of Gordon's left post.

Hearts captain Steven Pressley should have doubled the home side's lead in the 32nd minute after Skacel's corner somehow fell to the unmarked Scotland defender at the back post, but he lacked composure as he blasted the ball over the bar.

Dons manager Jimmy Calderwood was forced to replace Russell Anderson with Scott Muirhead after the break with blood pouring from the defender's face as he disappeared up the tunnel.

With Severin being forced to play in a more defensive role following the substitution of Anderson, Hearts began to dominate in the midfield area.

Skacel saw a lot of the ball on the left wing as he gave Chris Clark a difficult time.

In the 72nd minute, the on-loan Marseille player edged past the wing-back but his cross along the six-yard box was just too strong for Jankauskas and the ball drifted to safety.

Burley introduced Pospisil for Roman Bednar as the hosts looked to add a second and he got involved immediately, delivering a deep cross which was just too strong for Jankauskas.

The Czech hitman was again at the centre of the action as his cross was volleyed onto the post by McAllister following a superb move that also involved Takis Fyssas and Skacel.

Pospisil made sure of the points in the 85th minute after he ran onto Jankauskas' knock down to volley high into the net from 18 yards.

Teams:

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Mikoliunas (McAllister 45), Brellier, Hartley, Skacel (Simmons 88), Jankauskas, Bednar (Pospisil 78).

Subs Not Used: Banks, Cesnauskis, Berra, Wallace.

Booked: McAllister.

Goals: Skacel 20, Pospisil 85.

Aberdeen Esson, McNaughton, Anderson (Muirhead 57), Diamond, Clark, Dempsey (Stewart 76), Nicholson, Severin, Considine (Foster 82), Smith, Lovell.

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Winter, Donald.

Booked: Lovell, Smith.

Att: 16,139

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com