Aberdeen 0-0 Heart of Midlothian

From Hearts Media at Pittodrie.

A battling performance saw Hearts come away with a hard earned point following their 0-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday afternoon.

Scott Vernon twice hit the woodwork for Craig Brown's men in a game where Hearts offered little in attack, yet so very nearly clinched all three points when Andrew Driver's 93rd minute volley crashed off Jamie Langfield's post.

Despite putting in a tremendous, energy-zapping performance against Liverpool on Thursday night, the Jambos made just one enforced change to the line-up ahead of the trip to Pittodrie. David Templeton served the last of his two game suspension and was replaced by Driver who dropped into the hole between midfield and attack.

Aberdeen had the upper hand throughout the first half, with wide men Johnny Hayes and Ryan Fraser looking lively in attack. Neither team looked particularly potent going forward, however, with a diving John Sutton header following a cross from Driver the nearest Hearts came during a disjointed first half performance.

McGlynn's men could count themselves fortunate not be reduced to ten men after Mehdi Taouil was given a yellow card for a foul on Gavin Rae, the latter having raced clear on goal after Marius Zaliukas carelessly conceded possession deep inside his own half.

The Captain then received a booking of his own a minute later as the Dons began to find holes in the Maroon backline.

First Jamie MacDonald reacted superbly to block a Ryan Jack effort after the defender found himself unmarked on the back post. The keeper was then outplayed when Scott Vernon flicked a header over his outstretched right arm, but the striker was denied by the crossbar.

The Gorgie side made one change ahead of the second half as Denis Prychynenko replaced Zaliukas, the latter having been a doubt prior to kick off thanks to a knock sustained earlier in the week. Darren Barr subsequently stepped back into central defence, but it had little impact on proceedings as the home side continued to control the game.

Scott Vernon picked up where he left off as he once again rattled MacDonald's crossbar shortly after the restart, but the linesman's flag had been raised prior to the striker's finish.

Chances were few and far between, despite the home side's dominance. Hearts struggled to make an impact in attack, with John Sutton left chasing long balls as fatigue set in following Thursday's Europa League game.

The Dons turned up the pressure in the last fifteen minutes as an unmarked Andrew Considine leapt to steer a header inches over the bar. Rory Fallon then put MacDonald to the test with a similar effort minutes later, but Hearts held on.

The Jambos introduced academy graduates Jason Holt and Dale Carrick late on, and McGlynn's men almost sealed a smash and grab victory with the final kick of the ball.

A careless give away by Aberdeen down the right flank enabled McGowan to swing a cross into the box which was met by Driver's right foot, but his effort came crashing off the post and referee Alan Muir's whistle sounded immediately after.

In a game that Aberdeen controlled for large periods, the Jam Tarts will consider themselves pleased with a one point haul from Pittodrie and can now focus their attention on Thursday's Europa League play off second leg trip to Anfield.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Jack, Anderson, Rae, Considine, Vernon (Fallon 74), Hayes, Osbourne, Naysmith (Clark 58), Fraser (Magennis 74), Reynolds. Subs not used: Rogers, Low, Megginson, Paton.

Hearts: MacDonald; R.McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas (Prychynenko 45), Grainger; Paterson (Carrick 68), Barr, Taouil, Novikovas (Holt 63), Driver; Sutton. Subs not used: Enckelman, McHattie, Robinson, Smith.

Referee: Alan Muir

Top man: Jamie MacDonald

Hearts World