DONS FALL TO KILLER PEN

The Jambos secured second place in the SPL table courtesy of a Paul Hartley penalty in the 54th minute after Dons defender Alexander Diamond had stopped a certain goal with his hand.

It was a deserved win for the Edinburgh side who have never been out of the top two places all season and it was captured on a dramatic night in Gorgie.

Aberdeen started confidently enough but their challenge fizzled out and, with 11 minutes left, midfielder Scott Severin was sent off for a overly-robust challenge on Bruno Aguiar.

Hearts midfielder Deividas Cesnauskis went close after a minute when he quickly turned a Roman Bednar cut-back past Dons' keeper Jamie Langfield's left-hand post from 16 yards out.

However, Richard Foster's impressive run and cross from the left, which was gathered by Hearts keeper Craig Gordon, suggested the tenacious Pittodrie side would carry enough threat to scupper the home side's quest for second place.

Hearts were having the better of the play in a scrappy match but, with no opener on the horizon, the home supporters were showing early signs of agitation.

The frustration of the home fans increased as the first half wore on with interim head coach Valdas Ivanauskas, serving the first of a two-game ban sitting in the director's box, seemingly unable to rally his troops.

In the 32nd minute, Aberdeen striker Steve Lovell went off injured to be replaced by Darren Mackie but the home side continued to dominate possession.

The Jambos nearly grabbed the lead when a looping cross to the back post from the right by Bednar was met by Rudi Skacel.

But the Czech Republic midfielder could only stretch and guide his left-footed volley back across the goal and past the post.

Moments later, Skacel picked up a loose ball 30 yards from goal and fired a low left-footed drive past the same post.

Just before the interval, Bednar sent in a powerful drive from the edge of the box but Langfield dived to his right and gathered comfortably.

The Hearts supporters did their best to inspire their heroes after the interval and almost immediately the Dons were pinned back in their own half.

However, a similar pattern emerged, high balls being pumped into the Aberdeen penalty area with the visiting defence throwing everything at their disposal to prevent a strike going in on goal.

And Dons playmaker Barry Nicholson's header from 14 yards in the 50th minute, although saved comfortably by Gordon, showed a threat from Aberdeen remained.

Three minutes later, however, a Jankauskas header from 12 yards caused mayhem in the box and, although the ball was eventually cleared for a corner, the opening goal arrived immediately as a result of the set-piece.

Skacel's corner from the right appeared to be flicked on past the flailing Langfield by Bednar, leaving Diamond little option but to punch the ball clear.

Curiously, the Aberdeen player only received a yellow card from referee Stuart Dougal but was punished further when Hartley stepped up to slot the spot-kick away.

The mood of the crowd and the game changed immediately, the tension replaced by celebrations and now Aberdeen looked less compact and confident as the home side went for the second goal.

In the 73rd minute, Hearts substitute Saulius Mikoliunas, on earlier for Skacel, had a point-blank header brilliantly saved by Langfield.

In the 79th minute, the visitors' chance of a comeback diminished when former Jambo Severin was shown a straight red card for a lunge at Aguiar on the touchline.

That unsavoury incident, however, failed to take the shine off the Edinburgh side's historic feat and Tynecastle reverberated at the final whistle.