Burley plays a canny game at the summit

Hearts (1) 2 Aberdeen (0) 0

'Hearts, Hearts, glorious Hearts,' sing the Tynecastle faithful and, for once, the epithet fits. Indeed, these are glorious times for Hearts supporters and on Saturday the buzz outside the ground from the thousands who swarmed the pubs and cafes a good two hours before kick-off reflected the sense of hope and expectation down Gorgie way.

In the words of the song, 'The boys in maroon are the talk of the toon', but they're also the talk of Scottish football, and long may it last. There are harbingers of doom lurking around every corner, of course. ''Enjoy it while it lasts'' opine some, while others are just waiting for it all to blow over. Even if it does, at least Hearts are currently demonstrating the interest and excitement which can be generated when Celtic and Rangers are reminded that they have no God-given right to dominance.

West-coast cynics will say that all it proves is that money talks. Granted. But isn't it so refreshing that a club like Hearts, with the backing of Lithuanian banker Vladimir Romanov, can flex a bit of financial muscle and show the Old Firm that they are not the only ones who can spend their way to the top? And more importantly, it means that Hearts can resist the urge to sell on their best players to Ibrox and Parkhead.

A case in point is Paul Hartley. Every Celtic supporter is aware of just how much their side would have benefited had Hartley gone west in the close-season, but Hartley extended his Tynecastle contract for another three years after Hearts came up with the cash.

On Saturday, Hartley again came up with the goods, despite not being fully on song. Hartley and Hearts both struggled to find their passing rhythm but, reassuringly, there was no lack of fight to put things right. Tenacity and alacrity characterised so many performances, and, as usual, scoring sensation Rudi Skacel - on loan from Marseilles - was on hand to help out. His goal after 20 minutes, slipping the ball wide of Ryan Esson, was his fifth this season. Predictable was the DJ's blast of "Message To You, Rudi," but then Skacel and his Czech striking partner, Roman Bednar, are entitled to be known as 'The Specials'.

Five minutes from time, Bednar's replacement, Michal Pospisil, wrapped up the points with a hooked shot into Esson's top right corner, leaving Hearts atop the table with maximum points and a healthy goal difference.

Not that Manager George Burley is dizzy looking down from such an elevated position. "There's still some fine-tuning and squad strengthening needed," said Burley, who plays a canny mind game.

Next up for Hearts is another home match when Motherwell visit this Saturday. Undoubtedly, the rickety roof of the old, main stand will be raised again. Tickets go on sale this morning, and staff anticipate a stampede.

As for Aberdeen, Saturday was full of disappointment following victory over Rangers. ''We must learn to concentrate for the entire 90 minutes,'' said manager Jimmy Calderwood. ''We were sloppy at the back and can't afford to give away any more cheap goals.''

Match details

Hearts (4-4-2): Gordon; Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas; Hartley, Mikoliunas (McAllister h-t), Brellier, Jankauskas; Bednar (Pospisil 78), Skacel (Simmons 89).
Subs: Banks (g), Berra, Cesnauskis, Wallace.
Goals: Skacel (20), Pospisil (85).
Aberdeen (4-4-2): Esson; Considine (Foster 81), Anderson (Muirhead 57), Diamond, McNaughton; Clark, Severin, Nicholson, Dempsey (Stewart 75); Lovell, Smith.
Subs: Langfield (g), Donald, Winter.
Booked: Dempsey, Lovell, Smith.
Referee: M McCurry.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk