Aberdeen 1-3 Heart of Midlothian

(McGinn 23' - Walker 66', Paterson 73', Stevenson 90')
From Hearts Media at Pittodrie.

Hearts notched a stunning win at Pittodrie on Saturday, beating Aberdeen 3-1.

Despite going a goal down after Niall McGinn's first half effort, the Jambos put in a glorious second half performance to take all three points courtesy of Jamie Walker, Callum Paterson and Ryan Stevenson strikes. Honourable mentions also go to Jamie MacDonald for his penalty save against McGinn.

The Jam Tarts made no changes from last week's outing against St Johnstone, with Gary Locke giving his team only one remit; compete.

A tight affair saw neither side trouble the other's goal until the 14th minute, when Niall McGinn ran at the Hearts goal and pinged a shot from 25 yards which had Jamie MacDonald scrambling as it flew wide.

A minute later Hearts could've been in front. Kevin McHattie tore down the left and put an inviting ball across the face of goal, and while Ryan Stevenson met it with a ferocious half volley, Jamie Langfield pulled off a great save with his right foot to deny the Jambos frontman.

Tackles began to fly in as the game developed a bit of needle, and Jamie Hamill and Willo Flood both saw yellow following robust challenges.

Out of nothing, Jamie Walker unleashed a rasper of a drive from 30 yards out that stung the hands of Langfield, but the 'keeper got enough behind the effort to prevent the ball hitting the net.

The home side found themselves in front in the 26th minute when a Barry Robson corner was lashed into the net by McGinn from eight yards out, after the ball bounced across the face of goal.

An exquisite passing move down the left hand side saw Robson feed Pawlett in the box on 34 minutes, but the wide-man's angled shot flew across the face of MacDonald's goal and behind.

Aberdeen fans felt a sense of injustice in the 37th minute when Pawlett's shot was blocked in front of the goal line by Dylan McGowan, with the home fans wanting handball. That decision went in their favour moments later when a cross ball appeared to strike the arm of Jordan McGhee, however the imperious MacDonald pulled off a save from the resultant McGinn penalty.

The second half saw an early red card for Aberdeen's Robson, he received a second yellow for bringing down Jason Holt from behind as he charged through the home side's half.

Hearts tried desperately to make the numerical advantage count. Substitutes Callum Tapping and David Smith got in the thick of the action, and it was Tapping who played in Walker on 63 minutes, but the no. 14's long range effort was inches wide of Langfield's left hand post.

The Dons then went straight down the park and almost scored. Scott Vernon's first time shot from inside the box was brilliantly palmed over the bar by MacDonald.

The Jambos finally caught a break in the 66th minute when Walker nipped in between the Aberdeen defence and goalkeeper to steer the ball away before stabbing home the equaliser from six yards.

Vernon came close to putting Aberdeen back in front on 72 minutes, he flashed a header just over the bar after connecting with Jonny Hayes' cross from the left.

The maroons then sent the travelling fans into rapture when Callum Paterson scored to put them in front. The dangerous Walker got round the back of the Aberdeen defence and cut the ball inside for Paterson to rocket the ball home from inside the box.

Hearts passed up a golden opportunity to put the game to bed with only four minutes remaining when Walker sprung the offside trap to middle the ball for Paterson, but his outstretched first time volley flew over the bar.

Not that it mattered as Stevenson put the game beyond any doubt in injury time. Hearts broke from a corner and Stevenson ran thirty yards with the ball into the Aberdeen box before almost ripping the back of the net with a high shot beyond Langfield.

With that the full time whistle went and Hearts recorded a famous victory on the road to notch a league double over Aberdeen.

Aberdeen: Langfield; Hector (C. Smith, 82'), Anderson, Reynolds, Considine; Hayes, Flood (Robson, 23'), Jack, Pawlett; McGinn, Zola (Vernon, 57'). Subs not used: Weaver, Shaughnessy, Wylde, Low.

Hearts: MacDonald; McGhee, McGowan, Wilson, McHattie; Hamill, Holt (Tapping, 59'), Robinson (Smith, 59'); Paterson, Stevenson, Walker. Subs not used: Ridgers, McKay, B. King, Nicholson, Oliver.

Referee: Iain Brines

Top man: Jamie Walker

Hearts World