Aberdeen 1 Hearts 1

Graham Rix's tenure as Hearts head coach got off to a steady start with a draw against Aberdeen in their Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Pittodrie.

Jamie Smith's seventh goal of the season after 12 minutes gave the Dons a deserved half-time lead, the former Celtic player taking advantage of some sloppy defending by the Jambos to slam home a shot from 14 yards.

However, Hearts rallied after the interval with Rudi Skacel's deflected goal in the 63rd minute, his 11th of this campaign, levelling the scores.

Although Rix will be encouraged by his side's spirit, the Edinburgh side now find themselves two points behind leaders Celtic at the top of the SPL table.

Rix's appointment as successor to George Burley was shrouded in controversy following his 1999 conviction for a sexual offence and the new man was flanked by two minders as he made his way along the trackside to the dug-out, but nothing untoward happened and the focus quickly turned to the pitch.

It was a tame start to the game but in the 12th minute the home side took the lead after some scrappy defending by Hearts.

The build-up to the goal began when Jambos defender Andy Webster conceded a needless throw-in level with the 18-yard box.

The visitors failed to clear their lines properly and after taking a pass from defender Richie Byrne on the left, midfielder Scott Muirhead's cutback ended up at the feet of Smith who sidefooted a powerful low drive past Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon from around 14 yards out.

The Tynecastle defence looked nervous in the moments thereafter but slack play by Aberdeen defender Russell Anderson allowed Hearts striker Edgaras Jankauskas to play in Skacel and the Czech midfielder's angled drive from 16 yards was tipped past the post by Ryan Esson with the visitors failing to take advantage of the corner.

Aberdeen, buoyed by their opener, were looking dangerous in attack and on the half-hour mark Dons midfielder Barry Nicholson sent a 30-yard drive inches past Gordon's left-hand post.

As the first half wore on, Esson was seeing little action although a last-gasp intervention by Dons stopper Alexander Diamond in the 39th minute prevented Jankauskas getting a shot in from 10 yards out.

The Jambos pushed hard for the equaliser as the first half came to a close but the home defence, marshalled superbly by Anderson, never really looked like conceding.

But in the second minute of added-on time, Hearts skipper Steven Pressley came close with a header after a fine cross by Saulius Mikoliunas before Smith sent a shot from 16 yards straight into the arms of Gordon at the other end.

Rix replaced the ineffective Michal Pospisil with Calum Elliot at the interval with Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood swapping Michael Hart with Gary Dempsey.

The visitors took the initiative from the restart with Paul Hartley and Takis Fyssas threading passes through the heart of the Aberdeen defence within minutes of each other.

The Pittodrie men escaped unharmed but the signs were there that Hearts were going to make a better fist of the second half.

In the 51st minute Mikoliunas skilfully and all too easily skinned Byrne wide on the right but his inviting ball across the Aberdeen six-yard box found no takers.

On the hour mark, after Jambos midfielder Julien Brellier had fouled Smith 25 yards from goal, Nicholson sent his curling free-kick a yard over the bar.

But in the 63rd minute the visitors were back level thanks to a rather fortuitous goal from Skacel.

Jankauskas won a duel with Anderson and when the ball broke to Skacel 25 yards from goal the Czech midfielder's shot looped over the helpless Esson with the help of a deflection off Dempsey.

Aberdeen were stung by the leveller and fought back immediately but in the 70th minute only a fine block from Esson prevented Skacel grabbing his second with a drive from 14 yards.

Play moved swiftly from end to end and in the 77th minute a miskick by Anderson almost allowed Mikoliunas to go clean through on goal, Esson coming to the rescue by rushing from his penalty area to clear.

Moments later at the other end Dempsey sent a 25-yard drive just past Gordon's right-hand post but it was the home side who were more delighted to hear the final whistle.

Teams

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.

Goals: 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.

Goals: Skacel 64.

Att: 14,901

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com