BLOOMSDAY

ABERDEEN 1

HEARTS 3

THE Scottish press have allegedly sprayed dung on Vladimir Romanov's crops - and now there are green shoots of recovery at Tynecastle.

Hearts stretched their lead in second spot in the SPL to four points at rain-swept Pittodrie yesterday afternoon with a super second-half show against Aberdeen.

The Jambos are now within three points of joining Celtic at the summit of the table as they dished out only the Dons' second defeat in the SPL this year.

It is still too soon to say everything in the garden is coming up rosy for Hearts, despite Romanov's prematch ramblings to the contrary.

But this result was the perfect boost ahead of the Jambos' UEFA Cup second-leg tie at Sparta Prague on Thursday.

Romanov loves to lecture Scots on the history of his homeland, so perhaps it was fitting his side dished out defeat to the Dons at a stadium whose name in gaelic translates as "hill of manure".

There has certainly been enough of that talked in the last few days but the statistics don't lie and Hearts again had the beating of the Dons.

Aberdeen have now won only two of their last 19 games against Hearts but Jimmy Calderwood's side were the masters of their own downfall as they passed up the chance to grab second spot in the table.

They failed to capitalise on chances created in a first half they dominated as Scotland No.1 Craig Gordon enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a string of brilliant stops that demoralised the Dons.

Aberdeen paid the price after the interval as they were swamped by goals from Christophe Berra, Mauricio Pinilla and Saulius Mikoliunas.

Substitute striker Dyron Daal volleyed a late consolation but it was too little too late as the large travelling support lapped up their fifth win from eight league games this season.

The only disappointment for Hearts was the late dismissal of Chilean hitman Pinilla, the sixth red card for the club this season.

He was sent off for two yellows as he stupidly kicked the ball away in a time-wasting bid after being cautioned earlier by Stuart Dougal for his over-zealous goal celebration.

Aberdeen have finished in the top six only twice in the last decade but if the evidence of the opening weeks of their SPL campaign is to be believed, they'll be riding high again in the months ahead, despite this setback.

The Dons were criticised for their ultra-cautious approach against Celtic here a fortnight ago but there were no signs of negativity against fellow high-fliers Hearts.

Their determination to climb to second in the table above Rangers, Kilmarnock and Hearts was equally as forceful as they dazzled with an energy matched only by the wattage of the Pittodrie floodlights, which were turned on to counter the gloom within minutes of Dougal blowing for kick-off.

Aberdeen set the tone for what was to follow within 60 seconds as former Jambo Lee Miller released Barry Nicholson into the box on the right but Gordon rushed from his line to block before the ball was eventually cleared for a corner.

However, there was no respite as Nicholson's set-piece was nodded out to Gary Dempsey by Marius

Zaliukas and the midfielder let rip with a first-time volley that whizzed inches wide.

Dempsey was beginning to pull the strings in midfield and picked out Nicholson with a raking cross from left to right but Gordon was again well placed at his front post to block the former Scotland star's effort from 12 yards.

Dempsey then fed Darren Mackie wide right and his cross caught in the wind and bounced off the top of Gordon's bar.

Miller came close to opening the scoring with a low effort that skidded off the soaking surface and wide of Gordon's right-hand post, with the keeper scrambling to get across his line in time.

But Gordon was well placed moments later to block a Mackie header at the back post after the striker had been picked out by Dempsey.

Hearts were unable to get wide men Mikoliunas and McCann into the game much but on the rare occasions Paul Hartley found himself on the ball he was a danger.

He sent Pinilla racing clear on the left with a quick bit of thinking at a free-kick but Jamie Langfield was equally alert to force the striker wide and his effort from an acute angle came to nothing.

Finally, Hearts looked as if they were beginning to settle and Wallace strode forward and let rip with a left-foot effort Langfield touched round the post at full stretch.

McCann and Mikoliunas both tested Langfield with long-range efforts as half-time approached but the first period ended as it began with Aberdeen on the attack and Gordon was again at his brilliant best to beat away Ricky Foster's drive.

Aberdeen fans have never been slow to sing the praises of inspirational skipper Russell Anderson and they were on their feet early in the second half as he made a last-gasp tackle on Pinilla as the Hearts hitman prepared to shoot with only Langfield to beat.

But the home fans were groaning moments later when Miller passed up the best chance of the game, nodding over unmarked from eight yards after being picked out by Chris Clark's cross from the left.

The gnawing fear of the Aberdeen fans must have been their failure to take advantage from their chances created, especially as Hearts started the second half much more aggressively.

Indeed, Hartley should have had a penalty when he was bundled from behind by Foster as he prepared to slip a shot under Langfield but referee Dougal surprisingly waved play on.

Langfield and Scott Severin then came to the rescue to deny Roman Bednar and Pinilla in quick succession before Valdas Ivanauskas' side took a lead everyone inside the ground saw coming.

Hartley flighted over a free-kick from the left in 63 minutes and, for once, there was hesitation in the home defence as Berra rose above everyone at the back to nod past the helpless Langfield.

Worse was to follow for the Dons 12 minutes later when a brilliant, sweeping four-man move down the right involving Deividas Cesnauskis, Mikoliunas and Bednar picked out Pinilla, who slotted his drive past Langfield from 14 yards.

Aberdeen were stunned and worse was to follow nine minutes from time when Pinilla sprung Mikoliunas free of the offside trap five yards inside the Dons half and he ran on to expertly pick his spot beyond Langfield.

Aberdeen responded 60 seconds later when Nicholson and Dempsey swapped passes and played in Daal who took one touch and lashed a volley not even Gordon could keep out this time.

But there was to be no comeback for Aberdeen, even though Hearts were reduced to 10 men with six minutes still to play.

Pinilla, who had an outstanding afternoon otherwise, kicked the ball away as Hearts sought relief from the Dons pressure but Dougal was alerted by linesman Steve Pullar.

Dougal had no alternative but to flash a second yellow to add to the earlier caution the former Sporting Lisbon player had received for celebrating his second goal too long in front of the home support.

MAN OF THE MATCH Craig Gordon (Hearts)

MAN BY MAN

ABERDEEN

Jamie Langfield: Helpless at first goal and was beaten twice more but did well to touch Lee Wallace effort round post in first half. 6

Michael Hart: His pace kept McCann subdued but let himself down with poor use of the ball. Short passback almost caused a goal. 6

Russell Anderson: Inspirational display proved once again that he's best defender in the country. 8

Scott Severin: Read game intelligently and started attacks from deep. Showed Hearts made a mistake in letting him go. 6

Andrew Considine: Youngster stuck doggedly to task in new role and kept Mikoliunas quiet. 6

Barry Nicholson: Never put foot or pass wrong but too often left isolated in wide area. 7

Gary Dempsey: Skilful in possession and provided decent service for attackers but lack of pace limited his impact. 6

Ricky Foster:Worked tirelessly for cause but didn't create enough for his frontmen.6

Chris Clark: Lots of energy and no lack of effort but unable to come up with killer ball. 6

Darren Mackie: Searing pace a constant threat but yet to form a potent partnership with Miller. 6

Lee Miller: Targetman's physical presence has given new dimension to Dons attack but still lacks match fitness. 7

Subs: Dyron Daal - Dutch striker got consolation goal after coming on for Considine, 4. Richie Byrne - Irishman added urgency, 3.

HEARTS

Craig Gordon: Series of super first-half stops from on-form keeper kept his side in game. 9

Ibrahim Tall: Strong and solid display on right to deny Clark creative space in behind. 6

Steven Pressley: Held firm after uncomfortable opening spell to command from back. 7

Christophe Berra: Showed great character to recover from first half on back foot to nod in opener. 7

Lee Wallace: Settled down well after uneasy start to dominate on left of defence. 6

Saulius Mikoliunas: Upped workrate and tempo in second half and rewarded with fine third goal. 6

Neil McCann: Worked hard to inspire team from left before being replaced after break. 6

Marius Zaliukas: Caught on hop as Aberdeen made whirlwind start. Hooked near end. 6

Paul Hartley: Driving force for Jambos from middle to front and architect of their victory. 8

Mauricio Pinilla: Undid so much of his tireless and unselfish good work with silly red card towards end. 7

Roman Bednar: Failed to get better of Anderson but still valuable out in attack for his team. 6

Subs: Deividas Cesnauskis - Made quick impact with assist at killer second goal, 4. Julien Brellier - Steadied ship as Zaliukas' replacement, 3. Juho Makela - On with a couple of minutes left to give Bednar deserved breather, 1.

MOMENT THAT CHANGED THE GAME: Lee Miller's headed miss early in the second half might have given Aberdeen the breakthrough but instead inspired the Jambos.

Taken from the Daily Record