Only Kello makes a point

All the ingredients, then, for a humdinger. It just didn't turn out that way. Hearts remain third, Aberdeen couldn't make it three in a row and the players who did enhance their reputations, such as Hearts keeper Marian Kello, are not eligible for Levein's team.

Hearts were out-fought by an Aberdeen side which pressed and gave them no time to indulge in the two or three touches they seemed to want on a very poor pitch. Only two excellent saves from Kello, in the second minute of the first half and then at the end of the game, allowed them to salvage a point.

But, while the Hearts fans will be unhappy with their side's input, the fact their counterparts were just as disappointed illustrates the turnaround in the fortunes of the Pittodrie club since the last time they met. That was at Tynecastle and Craig Brown could only sit and squirm as his new side were mauled 5-0.

That day Hearts were breathtaking. Aberdeen were woeful. Yesterday there was never any danger of a repeat of either of those performances or, indeed, that scoreline.

Aberdeen brought Paul Hartley back into the heart of midfield, ousting Derek Young, while Andrew Considine plugged the gap left by Zander Diamond. Hearts were forced to make five alterations to the side that beat Dundee United last weekend. Ian Black and Ruben Palazuelos were suspended while Lee Wallace, David Obua and Suso Santana were carrying knocks so they were replaced by Andrew Driver, David Templeton, Ryan Stevenson, Craig Thomson and Adrian Mrowiec.

But,for all the incentives on offer, it was a stuffy start, with the visitors in particular finding it difficult to find a way past a well-organised and hard-working Aberdeen, who gave them little breathing space. Even with the creativity of Driver, Templeton and Rudi Skacel and the attacking prowess of Stevenson, they were unable to carve a route through the red shirts and offer much assistance to poor Stephen Elliott, isolated up front.

Aberdeen looked comfortable at the back and solid across the middle of the park. While Sone Aluko on the right wing was the threat early on, as the match played out it was Steven Smith, Robert Milsom and Chris Maguire who upped the ante down the left.

With Driver well shy of his best and an almost impotent force going forward, it left Eggert Jonsson to endure some awkward moments.

Hartley and Aluko set the tone for the first half when, with two minutes gone, Hartley went in hard for a 50-50 challenge with Craig Thomson, the ball spun into the path of Aluko and the winger flighted in a shot which threatened to dip just under the crossbar until a crucial intervention from Kello pushed it over.

Brown's men were the ones passing and probing but with nothing tangible to show for their greater positivity in those opening exchanges. They also had to weather a period where they were down to ten men as defender Rory McArdle received treatment for a head knock which left him modelling a nifty red bandage for most of the match.

But Hearts were not the fluent team they have been in recent months and the next real attempt on goal came when McArdle returned to the pitch and headed an Aluko corner, which forced another Kello save.

Hearts were worthy of the half-time lambasting they were subjected to by Jim Jefferies and they pieced together a couple of decent efforts after the restart. Elliott and Driver linked up and played in Skacel but Jamie Langfield palmed it away for a corner. From that set piece, last week's match-winner, Marius Zaliukas glanced his header over the bar.

But, as time ran out, there was no laying siege to either goalmouth, although David Templeton did appeal for a penalty kick when he tumbled at the feet of McArdle.

Hearts stay unbeaten away from home by anyone other than the Old Firm and got their 12th clean sheet of the season but they have Kello to thank for that. With the game going into injury time, Aberdeen's Nick Blackman lashed a Maguire lay-off at goal. With both dug-outs convinced it was netbound, the Slovakian keeper pulled off a cracking save and ensured that, while they did not overtake Rangers, Hearts were at least able to leave with a point.

Taken from the Scotsman