Paul Forsyth
at Tynecastle
ONLY a glitch in the SPL computer would dare match these teams up on Valentine's Day. When they met at Tynecastle in October, Csaba Laszlo got so worked up he ran on to the pitch. At Pittodrie two months later, there was a scuffle in the tunnel. No love was lost in Edinburgh yesterday as Hearts took all three points from what is fast becoming one of Scotland's leading grudge matches.
Goals by Christian Nade and Andy Driver overturned Darren Mackie's early strike, but not before a simmering spat threatened to boil over. First there was Ricky Foster's challenge on Nade, right in front of the dugouts. The Aberdeen defender was lucky to escape a red card, and by the look of it, a right hook from Hearts' burly striker, who thought better of it in the nick of time.

Then there was Jimmy Calderwood, at it hammer and tongs with Laszlo's assistant, Werner Burger. "We all like to challenge decisions, but 100 out of 100 starts to get on your nerves," said the Aberdeen manager. "I might challenge about 50 out of 100, but not every single one. I was starting to get a sore left ear."

And Laszlo himself found time later for a dig at Calderwood, who had dared to suggest beforehand that Hearts would suffer from the sale of Christophe Berra. "I don't try to search for weaknesses in our opponents," said the Hungarian manager. "I believe only in my team's strengths."

Driver was booked for celebrating the goal that clinched it. David Obua, who had also set up Hearts' equaliser, hit a low cross with such speed that it caught the Aberdeen defence by surprise. The ball shot past the stagnant Charlie Mulgrew, but not past Hearts' sought-after winger, who was hurtling in at the back post. Somehow, he made contact, and it pranged in off the goalkeeper. "If I had had time to think about it," he said, "I would have ducked or something. It was the first header of my career, including boys clubs, everything. I phoned my dad and asked him if he'd seen me rise like a salmon."

It was breathless stuff, full of fouls, commitment, and the odd dash of flair. The goals by Mackie and Nade were special, as was Bruno Aguiar's midfield contribution, slow though it was to emerge. For all that the home side deserved their win, they had struggled in the opening half hour, and according to Calderwood, might have continued to do so had it not been for their equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

Aberdeen's early breakthrough, which persuaded Hearts to ditch their customary caution, was inspired. Mulgrew's high ball into the box was delivered from the halfway line with such perfection that it only just cleared Hearts' central defenders. Mackie then peeled off Eggert Jonsson and planted the dropping ball past Janos Balogh with his right foot.

It was not how Jonsson had planned to appease those fearing for Hearts' beleaguered defence. Without Berra, or indeed any kind replacement, the Icelander, who had played up front only seven days earlier, partnered Christos Karipidis at the back. Aberdeen could have doubled their lead after half an hour when a deep cross fell to Zander Diamond. The defender set up Lee Miller, whose snappy shot stung the goalkeeper's hands.

Hearts, though, came up with a stirring response to their predicament. Obua twice cut inside from the right to release menacing shots, the first blocked by Diamond, the second a better effort that required Jamie Langfield to look lively. And Gary Glen appeared to be in the mood, picking up scraps in and around the penalty area, most notably when he took in his stride a chipped pass by Aguiar and struck it against the goalkeeper.

Aguiar was at the root of Hearts' best work. It was after his cross that Michael Stewart's shot dipped over the crossbar. And it was a flash of inspiration by the Portuguese midfielder that created Hearts' equaliser in first-half injury time. With the outside of his right boot, he picked out Obua at the far post. When the ball was returned to the edge of the six-yard area, Nade headed it past Langfield.

The goal lifted Hearts, who emerged for the second half like a team possessed, advancing on their opponents' goal in waves of possession, and giving them not a second's respite. All that they lacked was the chance to take advantage, but when it came midway through the second half, Driver took it. That, in turn, triggered a response from Aberdeen, who had been swept aside for much of the second half, but refused to aceept defeat. As Laszlo withdrew Glen in favour of Ruben Palazuelos, whose job was to protect the back four, Calderwood went for broke, shoving four up front. Substitute Tommy Wright almost scored with his first touch, latching on to a half chance in the box, but hooking over with his left foot. Then, deep into injury time, substitute Chris Maguire slammed a low shot off the post.

Hearts hung on with the same determination that had already turned the match on its head. Driver spoke later of a spirit that hadn't been apparent under Laszlo's predecessors. "In the past, if we had gone 1-0 down, we would just have caved in," he said. "But the players really want to play well for the manager. And the fans are important. Last year, if we had gone 1-0 down, we would have given up, and so would they. But they got behind us today."

Taken from the Scotsman