Nade secures vital victory for Hearts

By BARRY ANDERSON
AT PITTODRIE
Aberdeen 0

Hearts 1
Nade (54)
STEPHEN FRAIL saw his decision to employ two forwards vindicated today as Hearts recorded a priceless three points at Pittodrie, their second successive SPL victory.

Christian Nade was the goalscoring hero in his most productive outing since arriving at Tynecastle last August, justifying Frail's choice to partner him with Andrius Velicka in attack.

The Frenchman capitalised on an error by Stuart Duff in midfield to steer the ball past Jamie Langfield, handing Aberdeen their first defeat in 15 home matches since Celtic's victory in the north east last August. Hearts now move above city rivals Hibs in the league table after the Easter Road side's match with Gretna was called off due to adverse weather conditions.

It's a result which will afford Frail's side much confidence for Wednesday's CIS Insurance Cup semi-final with Rangers. The visitors were disciplined throughout and can also now look to move up the SPL in forthcoming matches.

Hearts constructed the game's first flowing move on three minutes when Velicka supplied Nade in the inside-left channel. The Frenchman's pace took him clear of Zander Diamond but the finish left much to be desired, the ball trundling wide of Jamie Langfield's far post. Aberdeen replied through a combination of Ricky Foster and Jamie Smith, the latter collecting his full-back's past to dispatch a powerful drive which Steve Banks did well to hold. Moments later, former Tynecastle midfielder Scott Severin sent a free header over the crossbar from Jeffrey de Visscher's corner.

Jackie McNamara's goal-line intervention prevented an opening goal in the 20th minute following impressive build-up play from Nade. Collecting Robbie Neilson's pass on the right, the forward turned to wriggle clear of Diamond and cut the ball back for the onrunning Velicka. His side-footed effort eluded Langfield but lacked power and McNamara was able to clear.

Jimmy Calderwood, the Aberdeen manager, opted to change his side prior to the half hour by replacing Derek Young with Chris Maguire. Approaching the bench, Young unleashed several choice words in Calderwood's direction to convey his dissatisfaction with the choice. The hosts then conducted the injury-enforced substitution of their captain, Severin, who appeared to pull a muscle. Stuart Duff was his replacement.

The battle for supremacy continued with Aberdeen frequently utilising their right flank, where Saulius Mikoliunas continually failed to track De Visscher's attacking runs. Hearts occasionally looked nervous in possession but an ambitious overhead attempt by Velicka, from Christos Karipidis' knockdown, almost granted them an advantage in first-half stoppage time.

Hearts restarted purposefully and, on 50 minutes, Mikoliunas clipped an intelligent ball over the Aberdeen defence for Velicka. The club's top goalscorer steadied himself for a near-post drive which Langfield fisted to safety. If that was an indication of the visitors' intent, it was reaffirmed moments later. Duff could only divert Karipidis' clearing header into Nade's path and admirable composure allowed him to arc the ball over the diving body of Langfield for the opening goal.

There was relief for Frail, Hearts' caretaker manager, when Lee Miller's assured finish was disallowed for offside but at the opposite end Nade was growing in stature. Aberdeen struggled to cope with the running power of a player who has flattered to deceive in Scotland but who was enjoying his best performance to date. That made his 66th-minute substitution all the more difficult to comprehend, with Frail reverting to a 4-4-1-1 formation for the closing stages by introducing Audrius Ksanavicius.

Another substitute, the much-improved Ricardas Beniusis, made his way through three challenges to supply Ksanavicius with the ball on 78 minutes. It took the outstretched right leg of Langfield to repel the subsequent attempt at goal.

As expected, Aberdeen heaped relentless pressure on Hearts' defence during the final minutes. Banks engaged in a last-ditch save to deny Foster and the visitors then endured five excruciating - and
barely justifiable - minutes of injury-time, during which there were goal-line clearances at both ends.

But the Edinburgh side prevailed to record their second successive league win, proving that theories on the recent upturn in fortunes at Tynecastle are not without foundation.

Aberdeen (4-4-2): Langfield; McNamara, Diamond, Considine, Foster; De Visscher, Nicholson, Severin, Young; Miller, Jamie Smith. Subs: Soutar, Lovell 68 (for Smith), Mackie, Duff 33 (for Severin), Maguire 28 (for Young), Bus, Jonathan Smith.

Hearts (4-4-2): Banks; Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves; Jonsson, Stewart, Palazuelos, Mikoliunas; Nade, Velicka. Subs: Basso, Beniusis 75 (for Velicka), Wallace, Ivaskevicius, Ksanavicius 66 (for Nade), McCann 85 (for Mikoliunas), Thomson.

Attendance: 14,000.

Referee: William Collum.

Taken from the Scotsman