Aberdeen 1-1 Hearts

The impressive Jamie Smith fired Aberdeen into a deserved early lead with a well placed angled strike.

Michal Pospisil and Steven Pressley went close with headers for Hearts and Smith wasted a chance for a second goal, shooting right at Craig Gordon.

Hearts drew level midway through the second half when Rudi Skacel's deflected shot looped into the net.

A brisk opening saw play rage from end to end at a rapid rate of knots and that established the pattern for an entertaining game.

Aberdeen striker Stevie Crawford was first to get a glimpse of goal but his shot from the edge of the penalty area was gathered by the diving Gordon.

Hearts centre forward Edgaras Jankauskas then flash an angled shot from close range into the side-netting.

The home side were looking sharp in all departments and they were rewarded with a goal after 13 minutes.

Richie Byrne strode forward on the left to feed Scott Muirhead and the midfielder's cutback ended at the feet of Smith, who placed a powerful low drive past Gordon from 14 yards.

The Dons were given a scare when captain Russell Anderson was caught in possession in his own penalty box by Jankauskas, who fed Skacel but the midfielder's powerful angled shot was pushed away by Ryan Esson.

From the resulting corner, Pospisil rose highest and headed narrowly wide of the near post.

Aberdeen midfielder Barry Nicholson was next to try his luck and his long range drive skidded wide with Gordon at full stretch to cover.

Aberdeen celebrate Jamie Smith's opening goal
Aberdeen deserved to be in front at half time

Hearts skipper Pressley came close to finding an equaliser when his flicked header from a Saulius Mikoliunas spun a foot or so wide of the target.

Right on the half-time whistle, Smith had a great chance to double his tally after bustling his way through a couple of challenges on the edge of the penalty box.

The former Celtic midfielder was given a clear sight of goal but his tame side-foot shot was smothered by Gordon.

Hearts began the second half in determined fashion and tempers began to flare as the challenges grew more robust.

The visitors drew level after 64 minutes and the goal owed a great deal to good fortune.

The ball broke to Skacel 20 yards out and his shot clipped the outstretched boot of Gary Dempsey and lofted high over Esson and into the net.

Skacel was denied a second goal a few minutes later when his shot flew through defender Zander Diamond's legs but straight at Esson.

The Dons 'keeper was kept busy in the closing 15 minutes, twice racing from his area to clear danger, while a Skacel free-kick whistled inches wide of his post.

Aberdeen: Esson, Hart (Dempsey 45), Anderson, Diamond (Considine 90), Byrne, Smith, Nicholson, Clark, Muirhead, Crawford, Mackie (Foster 85). Subs Not Used: Langfield, Winter, Stewart, Baas.

Booked: Hart, Clark, Crawford, Mackie, Diamond. Goal: Smith 13.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Mikoliunas, Hartley, Brellier, Skacel, Pospisil (Elliot 45), Jankauskas (Cesnauskis 79). Subs Not Used: Camazzola, Banks, McAllister, Wallace, Tall.

Booked: Brellier. Goal: Skacel 64.

Att: 14,901

Ref: C Thomson

Taken from the BBC