Hearts 2-1 Aberdeen

Darren Mackie gave the visitors a 20th-minute lead with an impressive volley from Charlie Mulgrew's cross.

But Hearts levelled just before half-time when Christian Nade ended a three-man move with a headed goal.

Andrew Driver bulleted home a header from David Obua's cross to give the home side the lead after 66 minutes and Aberdeen were unable to restore parity.

The result meant Hearts leapfrogged Dundee United into third spot in the Scottish Premier League while Aberdeen stayed fifth.

Hearts goalkeeper Janos Balogh had to race off his line in the opening minutes to clear the ball as Mackie threatened to latch on to a through pass.

At the other end, a mistake by Zander Diamond allowed Nade a snapshot at goal but the striker could not find the net.

The Dons broke the deadlock when Mulgrew delivered a teasing cross towards Mackie, who finished well past Balogh.

A deflected shot by Gary Glen was saved comfortably by Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield before Bruno Aguiar's shot flew over the bar.

Balogh blocked a shot by Lee Miller and then needed the Hearts defence to clear the ball to safety.

Obua came close to scoring a leveller when his shot was well saved by Jamie Langfield.
Hearts midfielder Andrew Driver
Driver celebrates after heading Hearts into the lead

Michael Stewart then had a dipping effort for the home side which narrowly missed the crossbar.

Hearts' pressure eventually told when Bruno Aguiar crossed for Obua, who headed into the path of Nade and the French striker nodded past Langfield.

Aberdeen came close to regaining the lead early in the second half when Balogh stooped to save Zander Diamond's header.

The hosts went in front when Obua crossed to the back post and Driver powered the ball into the bottom corner as the Aberdeen defence were caught cold.

Driver, who was booked for celebrating his goal by going into the crowd, then sent over a free-kick which was headed narrowly wide by Christos Karipidis.

Diamond headed on to substitute Tommy Wright, who was off-target with his volleyed attempt.

Aberdeen continued to press and Diamond could not keep his rebound effort on target after Lee Miller's shot had been blocked by Balogh.

Mackie then saw his shot deflected wide by Robbie Neilson as Aberdeen searched for a leveller.

Chris Maguire, who had earlier replaced Stuart Duff, came very close to a leveller in injury time when his shot cracked off the post and Wright could not convert the rebound having been flagged offside.

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo:
"I am happy. Today the spirit was very high.

"To win a game against Aberdeen is very important.

"To score before half-time was important.

"We came out and we pressed the opponent for so long and scored the second goal."

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood:
"We started the game so well. We got a wonderful goal, fit to win any game.

"After that we stopped playing for some reason. They went and scored 30 seconds before half-time and the whole stadium got a massive lift.

"They dominated from the start of the second half. They got their goal, it was poor defending from us, we turned off. Then we through everything at them.

"They're a good team but I felt we outplayed them for the first 20 minutes. They came out in the second half and did really well and turned the screw on us.

"We went 2-4-4 and there were a few scary moments in front of their goal but it wouldn't drop for us and we've lost three vital points."

Hearts: Balogh, Neilson, Karipidis, Jonsson, Lee Wallace, Obua, Stewart, Aguiar, Driver, Glen (Palazuelos 81), Nade (Mrowiec 90).
Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Cesnauskis, Thomson, Elliot, Templeton.

Booked: Nade, Stewart.

Goals: Nade 45, Driver 66.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Foster, Diamond, Severin, Mulgrew, Young (Considine 76), Kerr, Duff (Maguire 76), Vidal, Miller, Mackie (Wright 79).
Subs Not Used: Bossu, Stewart, Paton, Pawlett.

Booked: Foster.

Goals: Mackie 20.

Att: 15,049

Ref: C Richmond

Taken from the BBC