Aberdeen are made to suffer as Hearts produce their best

JAMBOS show what they are made of with spirited comeback having lost an early goal

Published: 16/02/2009

Aberdeen and Hearts may not share any geographical-based rivalry but these encounters have become every bit as fast, frenetic and utterly engrossing as any derby match this country has to offer.

This season alone has witnessed three minor classics. That is if you like your football rawer than freshly cut steak.

On this occasion Hearts were the victors at Tynecastle, following a previous draw in the capital and a 1-0 win for the Dons at Pittodrie.

In the first encounter Jambos manager Csaba Laszlo lost the plot and almost enticed the wrath of Aberdeen coach Sandy Clark.

However, in the Granite City it was the players who had to be restrained after a dust-up in the tunnel.

This time the action was confined to the pitch but it was no less intense or passionate. Wincing tackles, breakneck pace and a thundering answer from the home side after the Dons had taken the lead.

The only thing missing was quality football, but let’s face it, you cannot have everything.

It is a well worn adage that on their day Hearts are more than a match for anyone in this parish, including the Old Firm.

Unfortunately for the Dons, this was one of those days.

Even without departed captain Christophe Berra Hearts produced one of their best displays of the season and Aberdeen just could not cope, despite a valiant effort.

The Dons could scarcely have asked for a better start however, as Darren Mackie, lifted by the recent signing of a new three-year contract, scored a sublime opening goal after 20 minutes.

The visitors had a goal to sit on but the Maroon tide was relentless and Hearts levelled just before half-time through Christian Nade before bludgeoning a winner in the second half when Andrew Driver pounced at the back post.

Aberdeen hurled the sink and just about every other kitchen fixture at the home side towards the end, but can have few complaints about the outcome.

So often hindered by their bluntness in the final third, the Jambos found their edge. It was the quartet of Nade, Driver, David Obua and Bruno Aguilar which proved the difference.

Aguilar was the conduit. He bossed the midfield and it was in this area the match was won and lost, where injured duo Gary McDonald and Sone Aluko were sorely missed.

There could be an argument Richard Foster should have been seconded from his right back role into the midfield to replicate his man-marking job on Aguilar which was so effective at this venue earlier in the campaign.

Youngster Javan Vidal could certainly have done with a break but that move would just have been a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Foster had his hands equally tied with the impressive Obua and likewise Charlie Mulgrew at the other side with Driver.

Aberdeen should have addressed the problem at the source, though, and instead paid the price for allowing Aguilar the freedom of Georgie.

Aguilar and Obua were the architects of Hearts' equaliser in first-half stoppage time. The former swung a delicious cross to the back post when the latter headed back across goal and Nade found the net.

The goal had been coming after a concentrated bombardment of the Aberdeen goal. This after the visitors had grabbed a deserved and audacious opener.

Mulgrew hoisted a beautiful long pass over the top of the Jambos defence where Mackie spectacularly clattered the ball into the net, flush on the volley.

Hearts roared back and, boosted by the timing of their equaliser, dominated the second period and battered Aberdeen into submission.

The second goal was anticipated but poorly defended. The Dons defence hesitated, waiting for referee Charlie Richmond to award a free kick against Foster, but instead he played advantage and Obua whipped over a cross to the back post where Mulgrew dithered and Driver punished.

Jimmy Calderwood introduced Chris Maguire and Tommy Wright, with the former hugely unfortunate not to level when his low drive thumped off the base of the post amid a spirited final hurrah.

Hearts might have stolen a march but the race for third is only just heating up.

Taken from The Press and Journal