Aberdeen 0 Hearts 0

By KENNY MacDONALD at PITTODRIE

Published: 29 Dec 2011

CRAIG BROWN ordered his Dons flops to make up for their Inverness shocker — but they failed to deliver for their fans.

At least Aberdeen didn't lose, but Brown had demanded three points and a good performance to repay the Red Army.

In the end they had to settle for a point despite having the bulk of the possession and creating more chances.

But the killer touch continues to elude them despite a better overall display.

Paulo Sergio's rotation policy continued to bewilder.

The Hearts boss made five changes from last Saturday's win over Motherwell with both weekend scorers Stephen Elliott and Ian Black demoted to the bench, which seems a strange way to build morale.

Darren Barr was back for his first start of the season and wantaway winger Andy Driver for his first start since last August.

Elliott didn't even make it to his seat on the bench — he was injured in the warm-up and replaced by youngster Billy King.

That seemed a blessing for Elliott as the icy wind made life difficult — but despite the conditions, both sides tried to make it a decent game.

Hearts, with the wind at their backs in the opening spell, got forward with pace and skipper Marius Zaliukas' 50-yard run was halted by Youl Mawene, which brought the game's first booking.

But the Jambos were left moaning seconds later when ref Brian Winter waved away their claims for a penalty after Rudi Skacel went down following Darren Mackie's tackle.

The Dons replied and Rory Fallon just failed to get on the end of Scott Vernon's free-kick.

But Hearts keeper Marian Kello made the first half's best stop with a diving save to hold Ryan Jack's drive.

It was end-to-end stuff in the gale, but Aberdeen dominated more as the half-time whistle approached and Zaliukas had to be alert when Vernon's low cross almost reached Fallon.

With the wind behind them after the break, the Dons continued to dominate and when Barr brought down Rob Milsom, the free-kick from Richard Foster was fired just wide by Kari Arnason.

Hearts, though, were given a glimpse of goal when Driver burst past Andy Considine, but his touch was too strong and Jason Brown raced from goal to snuff out the chance.

Aberdeen's dominance seemed to have Hearts rattled with both Ian Black — a half-time sub for Skacel — and Zaliukas pursuing ref Winter to complain about a tackle by Arnason which was aggressive but fair.

Hearts were almost gifted an opening when Fallon's pass was intercepted by Adrian Mrowiec, but the home defence cleared the danger.

Mehdi Taouil, on for David Obua, showed plenty of appetite and willingness with a series of tackles and solid graft, but Aberdeen showed similar resolve to cancel out his threat.

Both sets of players continued to find the elements the real barrier to goal.

When Foster found himself room to send in a tempting cross, the wind carried the ball harmlessly beyond Kello's upright.

In an identical move at the other end, Black's forward pass looked ideal for David Templeton to race on to, but the ball held up in the wind and Mawene cleared easily.

There were two last-gasp chances for Aberdeen as they finished strongly — but again the conditions contributed.

Jack's drive was harmless but spun off Vernon and looped towards goal with Kello stranded, but luckily for Hearts it spun just wide.

Then in the final minute the home side came even closer when Jack's cross hung in the air and Milsom did well to direct it goalwards — but his effort sailed on to the top of the net.

Aberdeen pressed into injury-time and the Jambos were delighted when a final clearance saw them finish with their goal intact.
How they rated

ABERDEEN: Brown 6, Osbourne 7, Mawene 7, Considine 6, Foster 6, Jack 7, Arnason 6, Milsom 6, Vernon 5, Mackie 4 (Clark 63, 5), Fallon 5 (Magennis 87, 3). Top man: Mawene.

HEARTS: Kello 6, Barr 6, Webster 5, Zaliukas 6, McGowan 6, Mrowiec 6, Obua 6 (Taouil 65, 5), Templeton 5, Skacel 4 (Black 46, 5), Driver 5, Sutton 5. Top man: Zaliukas.

REF: Brian Winter 7.