Hearts 5-0 Aberdeen
By Andy Campbell

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown watched his new side slump to the bottom of the Scottish Premier League with a heavy defeat to rampant Hearts at Tynecastle.

David Templeton scrambled home the opener and then set up Rudi Skacel for Hearts' second in the ninth minute.

Stephen Elliott ended a fine move with a headed goal on 51 minutes and Skacel claimed a second with a tap-in.

Arvydas Novikovas completed Hearts' rout with an excellent strike 12 minutes from the end.

Aberdeen's seventh successive defeat leaves them level on points with Hamilton but with an inferior goal difference.

Hearts, who have now won five on the trot, move three points clear of fourth-place Inverness.

With Brown due to take over the reins from the sacked Mark McGhee next week, the Dons were led by Neil Cooper and Neil Simpson.

And it was the visitors who were first to threaten as captain Paul Hartley's whipped corner was glanced wide by the head of Zander Diamond.

Hearts quickly grabbed a grip of the game and Skacel's incisive pass sent Templeton in on goal in the fifth minute.

The winger seemed to be barged to the ground in the six-yard box by Chris Maguire but still managed to get his shot away and, though Andrew Considine made a clearance, referee Mike Tumilty ruled that the ball had already crossed the line.

Templeton was Hearts' inspiration again minutes later when he latched on to Marius Zaliukas's pass and squared for Skacel, who sent a composed left-foot shot into the far corner of the net from the right-hand side of the box.

Hearts' slick passing continued to carve open the Aberdeen defence and Templeton got in behind again only to have his shot touched wide by Langfield.

Aberdeen ventured forward and Maguire's powerful drive was beaten away by Hearts goalkeeper Marian Kello.

The hosts continued to stretch the Dons after the interval and Ruben Palazuelos's cross from the left was bulleted into the net by the head of Elliott.

Elliott's backheel moments later set up Eggert Jonsson for a shot but Langfield spread himself well to make the save.

At the other end, Maguire's dipping shot across the face of goal offered little encouragement for the travelling fans.

And Aberdeen's need for the defensive organisation Brown instituted over the past 12 months at Motherwell was demonstrated again when Hearts scored their fourth.

Adrian Mrowiec's low cross was played back by Templeton for Skacel to add the finishing touch to the move.

Skacel almost completed his hat-trick when he ran on to Kevin Kyle's flick-on and tried to place the ball into the net but Langfield blocked well with his foot.

Novikovas replaced Templeton and added his name to the score-sheet 12 minutes from the end after cutting in from the left and finding the top corner with a delightful shot.

Taken from the BBC