Dons put an end to Jambos' unbeaten run

Colleen Paterson
at Pittodrie
HEARTS suffered their first defeat in eight games thanks to a first-half strike from former Tynecastle striker Lee Miller.
The Jambos fell behind in 36 minutes when Miller lashed home from Scott Severin's free-kick and Csaba Laszlo's day got worse when Hearts were reduced to ten men after the break, Marius Zaliukas picking up his second booking of the game with 16 minutes remaining.

The Dons carved out the best chance of the opening stages when Jeffrey de Visscher showed good vision to head on for Darren Mackie. It looked like the home side would take the lead, only for keeper Janos Balogh to spread himself well to block Mackie's right-foot drive.

The Aberdeen striker had another go in 15 minutes, this time from further out and there was more power behind it, but again Balogh was equal to the effort.

Hearts came close in 25 minutes when Neilson released Stewart down the right and he stabbed the ball back to Kingston, who had run to the edge of the box. The Ghana international stumbled slightly but managed to steady himself enough to turn it back into the path of Karipidis but the big Greek's shot was just wide of Jamie Langfield's goal.

At the other end de Visscher let fly with a rocket of a shot, but like Karipidis, saw his attempt fizz past the keeper's left-hand post.

But the home side did get a goal with ten minutes to go until the break and it came from a free-kick, which was conceded by Berra. The dead ball was swung in by Severin to Miller at the far side of the box and he spun to send it curling out of Balogh's reach and into the net.

Berra was walking something of a tightrope after earlier picking up a booking but re-emerged after the break. There was something of a change in Laszlo's line-up though, as he pushed Stewart further up the park to give assistance to Nade and winger Driver.

The Dons should have doubled their lead with almost an hour gone when Aluko again caused mayhem and send a dangerous ball, low into the box for Lee Miller but the hitman just couldn't get a touch on it to turn it into the net against his old team.

Miller had another sight of goal in 71 minutes when Scott Severin gave the ball through to Miller and he cut away from Berra to get the shot in, it was a cracking effort but Balogh again impressed as he soared high to his left and pushed the chance away with his right hand.

Hearts won two corners in quick succession just minutes but the second one didn't turn out quite the way Hearts had hoped, Zaliukas lashing out as he tried to fight his way through to Stewart's corner and picking up his second booking of the game. Nade, who had needlessly rushed into the melee, also got himself in trouble after lifting his hands and received a yellow card for his trouble.

At the other end the Dons' claims for a penalty were waved away when Mackie took as fresh-air swipe at the ball just as Lee Wallace came charging in to challenge him.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Mulgrew (Considine 3), Foster, McDonald (Mair 90), Diamond, Severin booked 82 for foul on Driver), Kerr, Miller, Mackie (booked 42 for tangle with Zaliukas), De Visscher, Aluko. Unused subs: Bateman, Young, Hodgkiss Paton.

Hearts: Balogh; (rb to lb) Neilson, Zaliukas (booked 42 for tangle with Mackie. sent off 75 minutes for second bookable offence), Berra (booked 23 for foul on Lee Miller), Wallace; Karipidis (just in front of defence); (rm to lm) Kingston (Jonsson 78), Palazuelos, Stewart, Driver; Nade (Glen 78). Unused subs: Kello, Thomson, McGowan, Templeton, Rapnik.

Referee: Iain Brines

Attendance: 18,021

Taken from the Scotsman