Hearts don't miss a beat as Aberdeen's Diamond is dismissed

Toby Moses
Sunday February 5, 2006
The Observer

Tynecastle welcomed 11 new signings against Aberdeen, but only Mirsad Beslija and Jose Goncalveswere handed a start. Hearts did not start brightly, but were soon in control in the Scottish Cup fourth round tie. Calum Elliott crossed from the right flank and Michal Pospisil swivelled and sent an unstoppable right foot volley into the net, to give Hearts a 21st-minute lead. Eleven minutes later Deividas Cesnauskis crossed for Calum Elliot to double their lead. And Aberdeen's first-half misery was complete when Zander Diamond was sent off for bringing down Pospisil in the 45th minute, Steven Pressley blasting home the resultant penalty. Hearts eased off in the second half, and it ended 3-0.

Falkirk fielded the same team that was victorious at Livingston last week for the visit of First Division Ross County. Still yet to win at home in the league this season, the Falkirk support was in need of a morale boost, and the home side started brightly. Pedro Moutinho was sent through in the third minute, only for County keeper Stuart Garden to block his effort. However, the visitors were not overawed, and they opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Don Cowie latched on to a Sean Higgins pass to calmly sidefoot past Allan Ferguson. And so it remained, until County hearts were broken by Daniel McBreen's 79thminute equaliser to make it 1-1.

Inverness were pegged back by a gutsy Partick Thistle, as the Second Division team earned a deserved replay. Mark Roberts opened the scoring for the visitors in the 45th minute, sending the Partick fans into raptures. However, Roy McBain levelled in the 59th minute, and Craig Dargo looked to have handed Inverness the win with his 77th-minute header. But three minutes into injury time, Darren Dod's brought down Mark Roberts in the box, and Roberts got back up to make it 2-2, to Partick's delight. All replays will take place on Tuesday 14 February.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer