Hearts 3 Aberdeen 0

Aug 14 2011 Gary Ralston, Sunday Mail

PAULO SERGIO warned Spurs they don't scare him as Hearts proved they are ready for the challenge of facing the Premiership big boys.

Spurs coach Clive Allen looked on at Tynecastle as Sergio marked his home SPL debut by guiding his men to an impressive win ahead of Thursday's Battle of Britain.

Hearts go into the first leg of their Europa League qualifier at Tynecastle brimming with confidence after their first league win of the campaign.

John Sutton opened his account for Hearts after his summer switch from Motherwell with a goal each side of the interval after Arvydas Novikovas had opened the scoring midway through a first half that Aberdeen had started well.

However, it was another day of despair for the Dons and a defence that now looks as vulnerable as their shot-shy strikers who have failed to score in four league games.

Aberdeen's fragile confidence was exposed as Hearts ran out easy winners to give themselves a boost ahead of facing Harry Redknapp's North London millionaires.

Sergio was bullish afterwards as he anticipated a tie most Jambos fans had written off.

He said: "I'm afraid of nothing in life. I respect all our opponents and we know the reality we face. This is a big challenge for us.

"There is a huge difference between our clubs but we have cards to play so who knows what might happen?

"I saw improvements in our performance against Aberdeen even though they started better and were a little more agile.

"The most important thing was the victory because we were without one in the SPL until now.

"It was vital for our confidence and to get players believing in what we are doing together."

Aberdeen almost took the lead after 10 minutes when Kari Arnason rose unchallenged at the back post and powered a header against the bar from a Robert Milsom corner.

The Dons had looked most likely to open the scoring yet, in 23 minutes, it was Hearts who conjured a goal from nothing.

A deep cross from the left by Scott Robinson broke to Novikovas at the back post. He still had work to do, but Dons skipper Richard Foster gave him time and space to place a low, curling shot inside the righthand post of David Gonzalez.

Scott Vernon and Darren Mackie went close with headers but the Jambos doubled their lead in 34 minutes after more dithering in the Dons rearguard.

Ryan Stevenson sent David Templeton scampering into the box. His low cross looked as if it might sneak in at the back post anyway but Sutton showed his poacher's instincts to bundle it over the line.

Sutton scored his second seven minutes after the break with the Dons again caught flat-footed.

Robinson played in Sutton who poked the ball under the advancing Gonzalez.

Aberdeen's day was summed up five minutes later when a tantalising ball broke to Fraser Fyvie after a cross from Vernon - but he screwed his shot wide from 14 yards when it looked easier to hit the target.

Then Templeton took a fresh air swipe at the ball six yards from goal as further embarrassment for the Dons was only just averted.

Around 1,600 Dons fans had made the trip, an impressive support, but they fell silent as the second half progressed.

Actually, that was no bad thing as some of the taunts aimed at their rivals on the subject of paedophilia were a disgrace.

Hearts held on easily and goal hero Sutton admits he can't wait to take on Spurs, the club that gave him his start in senior football.

He said: "I remember playing with Les Ferdinand but I don't know if he'll remember me. We're definitely outsiders for the tie but everyone is looking forward to the challenge.

"It will be the first competitive game Spurs play this season and I hope it gives us an advantage.

"I only hope we get a good result for our fans.

"We couldn't have been drawn against a bigger club - I only pray they think we're hopeless.

"Certainly, the win over Aberdeen will only help give us confidence ahead of the Spurs game."

Taken from the Daily Record