Hearts 2-1 Aberdeen

Feb 15 2009 Gavin Berry Reports

HEARTS hero Andy Driver hailed boss Csaba Laszlo for giving the Jambos a never-say-die spirit after they came from behind to dump Aberdeen.

The English winger grabbed a second-half winner for Laszlo's side after Christian Nade had cancelled out Darren Mackie's opener.

And his goal delivered a blow in the race for a European place as it moved Hearts four points clear of the Dons and sent them above Dundee United into third.

Driver was thrilled with his side's win and claimed they would never have fought back like that last season.

And he praised gaffer Laszlo for giving the squad more belief this term.

He said: "This season we've shown a spirit that wasn't there in the past. We went a goal behind and last year we would have caved in.

"We now have players who want to do well and win for the manager. We also have the supporters with us - last season they would have given up as well.

"We deserved the win. Aberdeen's goal came out of nothing from a long ball."

These sides battled out a bad-tempered draw at Tynecastle in October and both of them looked up for the fight in the rematch.

Full-blooded tackles flew in and there was an edge to the Euro showdown.

Aberdeen were slack at the back early on and Nade almost capitalised on Zander Diamond's header back to Jamie Langfield.

However, the keeper was alert and came off his line to thwart the big striker.

The Dons moved from slack to slick after 20 minutes as they grabbed the opener.

Charlie Mulgrew was the creator with a cross from just inside his own half and Mackie timed his run perfectly to lose Eggert Jonsson before netting with a right-foot volley.

Jimmy Calderwood's men took a massive lift from that and went close to a second as Hearts struggled at the back.

Lee Miller combined with Diamond and the striker lashed in a shot that Janos Balogh parried before his defence scrambled the rebound clear.

The Jambos went close a couple of times as they pushed for a leveller.

David Obua did well to create space outside the box but Langfield leapt to pluck the ball out the air.

The goalie showed safe hands again when Gary Glen cracked in a firsttime volley from Bruno Aguiar's pass.

But Hearts weren't to be denied and levelled in first-half stoppage time with a well-worked goal.

Aguiar's deft pass found Obua and his cushioned header was perfect for Nade to nod home the equaliser.

This game didn't have the controversy of the last meeting in Gorgie but Ricky Foster's studs-up tackle on Nade sparked fury on the home bench after 60 minutes.

The Dons star could have seen red but ref Charlie Richmond let him off with just a booking.

The tension then fizzled between the dugouts when Calderwood and Hearts No.2 Werner Burger were at loggerheads.

But officials intervened and calmed the situation down.

Hearts had most of the pressure as they pinned the Dons back and it was no surprise when their second goal arrived after 66 minutes.

Obua was the provider again as his cross was met by Driver whose powerful downward header squeezed past Langfield.

And the goal hero paid tribute to man-of-the-match Obua who has battled back bravely after taking stick from fans earlier in the season.

The Englishman said: "You have to remember David has come from Africa and it has taken him a while to settle. The style of football and the weather is totally different.

"Today he showed how good he is and David is different class in the air.

It was a great cross for my goal but if I had time to think about it I might have missed. That's the first header I've scored - even in boys' football.

"I actually got good contact - I leapt like a salmon! I phoned my dad and said: 'Did you see me rise?'."

Hearts held on for their win after Driver's goal but Dons substitute Chris Maguire almost snatched a leveller right at the death when his shot cannoned off the post.

REF WATCH

CHARLIE RICHMOND did well to keep a lid on things given the bad feeling between the sides. But he could have handed Dons star Ricky Foster a red card. Rating: 6/10.

MATCH STATS

HEARTS

Shots on 6

Shot off 6

Offside 1

Fouls 16

Corners 6

Bookings 2

ABERDEEN

Shots on 5

Shot off 5

Offside 0

Fouls 18

Corners 3

Bookings 1

Taken from the Sunday Mail