Hearts 3-0 Aberdeen

Hearts geared up for their midweek Europa League clash with Tottenham Hotspur by cruising to a 3-0 victory over Aberdeen at Tynecastle.

Novikovas opened the scoring on 23 minutes with a powerful drive before a double from John Sutton made sure of the win in Paulo Sergio's first league game in front of the Hearts fans.
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The home side looked comfortable from back to front throughout the game and thoroughly deserved their victory which moves the Jambos up to seventh place in the SPL.

David Templeton again showed his talents with a classy performance full of probing runs and fans will be hoping Sutton's goals - his first for the club - will prove to be the start of a fruitful career in the maroon and white jersey.

The gaffer made just two changes to the side which was defeated in Motherwell last week, introducing Novikovas and giving Scott Robinson his first start of the season in place of the suspended Ian Black.

Hearts showed their attacking intent early doors with Templeton threading a clever through ball to Novikovas on five minutes. But despite his surging run the Lithuanian was well beaten to the ball by Osbourne.

Aberdeen then came close to taking the lead when Robert Milsom's corner found Kari Arnason who headed the ball towards the right hand corner of the goal frame. With the Dons fans on their feet, Marian Kello showed fantastic reflexes to dive high and parry the ball away from danger.

Finnish international Arnason again threatened on twenty minutes when his powerful shot from 20 yards bobbled just wide of goals

To the worry of the home support, Aberdeen were slowly growing in confidence and Hearts responded in the best possible manner on 23 minutes. A quick free-kick down the left touchline found Grainger who sprinted into space before curling a fantastic cross into the penalty box towards John Sutton. The striker's run fell just short of cross, leaving the ball to land at the feet of Novikovas who unleashed an unstoppable shot past Dons keeper Gonzalez.

Hearts doubled their lead ten minutes later thanks largely to a trademark run from Templeton and some predatory instincts from Sutton. The twinkle-toed winger rounded one Aberdeen defender before shrugging another off and playing a threatening ball across goals where Sutton was waiting to tap the ball in and score his first league goal for the club

Templeton had Tynecastle on its feet again near the end of half-time when he hit Aberdeen on the counter attack. With the advancing Mrowiec screaming for the ball to his right, the youngster decided to go it alone with his bursting run but was dispossessed by Mowene.

Manager Paulo Sergio made one change to the side at half-time bringing on fans favourite Rudi Skacel - who has recently signed a new 6 month deal at the club - for Novikovas.

In contrast to the game's slow start, Hearts came out for the 2nd half all guns blazing and sealed the game with a decisive third goal four minutes after the re-start. Another mazy run from Templeton disrupted the Aberdeen defence who were static when a Robinson challenge bobbled its way to the unmarked Sutton. With just the keeper to beat the big striker made no mistake, slotting it low and hard into the net for his second of the game.

Fraser Fyvie almost gave the visiting fans a moment of cheer on the hour mark when he found himself in ample space in the Hearts box. But his weak shot was comfortably picked up by Kello.

Last season's top scorer Skacel made his first mark on the game when he won a free-kick just outside the box after 75 minutes. However, Grainger's powerful free kick couldn't find its way past the Aberdeen wall.

Hearts made their final changes of the match in the last ten minutes, bringing on 18-year old Kevin McHattie for his first team debut in the place of Ryan Stevenson and introducing Ryan McGowan for goal hero Sutton.

Hearts: Kello; Hamill, Zaliukas, Jonsson, Grainger; Templeton, Mrowiec, Robinson, Novikovas (Skacel 45); Sutton, Stevenson (McHattie 83). Subs not used: MacDonald, McGowan, Driver, Elliott, Smith.

Aberdeen: Gonzalez; McArdle (Jack 65), Foster, Mawene, Considine; Milsom, Arnason, Osbourne, Fyvie; Mackie (Pawlett 45), Vernon. Subs not used: Brown, Clark, Paton, Magennis, Megginson.

Referee: Steve Conroy

Top Man: David Templeton

Hearts World