Hearts 2 Aberdeen 0: Watt move is still a hot topic

Scott Mullen

HE may have been reserved in his opinion, but Mark Reynolds knows only too well the quandary facing his younger comrade.

The decision by Ryan Fraser, Aberdeen's brightest young talent, to refuse to sign a new deal with the club will have struck a chord with the former Motherwell midfielder, who knows only too well that the grass isn't always greener on the southern side.

Reynolds, who surrendered a starting place at the heart of the Fir Park defence for a spot on the Sheffield Wednesday bench in January last year, has since migrated north to seek solace at Pittodrie on loan after his own dream of making it big failed to take flight.

"It's none of our business, to be honest. It's his own decision," said the 25-year-old, who was helpless in preventing Aberdeen falling to a 2-0 defeat away at Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. "In four years' time he's either going to have made it big or he'll have done nothing. Time will tell.

"The main thing is, as long as you think it's the right thing at the time then you can live with it. It's his decision, his career."

Fraser, who is currently sidelined with a hip injury, was conspicuous by his absence at Tynecastle as a blunt Aberdeen attack failed to penetrate a stubborn Hearts backline.

The trio of Scott Vernon, Niall McGinn and Johnny Hayes failed to capitalise on a strong start to the match, and also struggled to show the character or want as their hosts took the lead through a Ryan Stevenson penalty on the half hour, before extending their lead with a Callum Paterson strike on 53 minutes.

"They got a penalty which was silly to give away. It changes the game," said Reynolds, who will return to his former ground tomorrow when Aberdeen face Motherwell in a William Hill Scottish Cup replay.

"We have a lot of players out injured and those coming in are taking a bit of time to gel. We just need to get on and play the hand we've got."

The victory pushed Hearts up to seventh in the table, just three points behind fifth-placed Aberdeen, with Stevenson marking his second spell at the club with his first goal of the campaign. The 28-year-old, who has also returned to Scotland after failing to make the grade at Ipswich Town, seems to have settled at the club he grudgingly left little under a year ago.

"The full performance was positive," said the forward, who was forced off at the break with a head knock. "As players we need to step up and do our bit."

Taken from the Herald