Aberdeen 1 - 1 Hearts

By Jim Spence BBC Sport

Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald put on an impressive display as a lively Aberdeen were forced to settle for a draw at Pittodrie.

MacDonald pulled off a great save to tip over from Niall McGinn as Aberdeen dominated the first-half.

But the visitors went ahead after the break as Ryan Stevenson headed the ball past Jamie Langfield into the net.

However, Jamie Hamill turned a Johnny Hayes cross into his own net to level the scores.

In a blistering opening twenty minutes Aberdeen almost went ahead when Josh Magennis was robbed two yards from goal by a saving tackle from Dylan McGowan.

Kevin McHattie's drive then whizzed over for Hearts before Aberdeen's Cammy Smith looped a header just over the visitors' bar.
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Jason Holt raced down the left to slam a cross-cum-shot into the danger area, but Langfield sprung to his left to beat the ball away.

Aberdeen were on top and MacDonald made a fine block from Smith before the striker was thwarted again moments later when his drive was tipped over.

Six minutes before half-time MacDonald made a point-blank save as Clark Robertson's low cross flew goalwards, deflecting off Magennis and Webster who both went for the ball.

Hearts should have scored straight after the restart, but Ngoo - just four yards out - failed to connect with Hamill's cross.

MacDonald then showed his first-half form would continue as he made another top quality save from Smith as Aberdeen pressed.
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But Ryan Stevenson punished the Dons shortly afterwards bulleting the visitors ahead with a powerful header from a corner kick past Langfield from eight yards out.

Hayes almost levelled for Aberdeen with a wicked cross from the left which looped dangerously, but again MacDonald was equal to the task and tipped the ball over.

Dons substitute Declan McManus sent a glancing header over the Hearts bar, but an Aberdeen equaliser was only delayed by seconds.

Hayes crossed from the right and Hamill put through his own net from almost on the goalline as he tried to clear.

Langfield then made a flying stop to his right from a Hamill drive as the game became stratched.

And, in stoppage time, Hayes lashed a shot wide across goal as both sides were forced to settle for a point.
Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)
Aberdeen

01 Langfield
03 Robertson
13 Low
22 Reynolds
23 Shaughnessy Booked
05 Rae (Masson - 85' )
10 McGinn
11 Hayes
16 Osbourne
21 Magennis (Vernon - 72' )
38 Smith (McManus - 63' )

Substitutes

20 Twardzik
18 Hughes
25 Masson
35 Murray
39 Storie
09 Vernon
34 McManus

Heart of Midlothian

01 MacDonald
06 Webster
29 McHattie Booked
02 Hamill Booked
07 Stevenson (Zaliukas - 83' )
10 Taouil
15 Holt
19 McGowan
17 Smith
21 Ngoo (Sutton - 87' )
37 Carrick (Walker - 75' )

Substitutes

13 Ridgers
26 Zaliukas
28 McKay
44 McGhee
14 Walker
09 Sutton
32 B King

Ref: Crawford
Att: 10,465

Taken from the BBC