Aberdeen 3 - 2 Heart of Midlothian

From 2-1 down to a 3-2 win on Neil Simpson day, as Pittodrie went berserk. Jimmy Thelin writes a very decent script doesn’t he?

The manager announced an unchanged Aberdeen side following the win at Dens Park last weekend. James McGarry returned to the bench in place of Peter Ambrose.

Hearts won 2-1 away to Dinamo Minsk in Azerbaijan in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday night. They made six changes to their side with Stephen Kingsley, Daniel Oyegoke, Jorge Grant, Malachi Boateng, Yan Dhanda and Kenneth Vargas replacing Adam Forrester, James Penrice, Cameron Devlin, Beni Baningime, Allan Forrest and Barrie McKay, who were all on the bench.

The Dons started sharply and were in front on two minutes. Pressing high up the pitch, Nicky Devlin and Leighton Clarkson combined to win possession and feed Topi Keskinen. He exchanged passes with Jamie McGrath and the Finn’s shot from just inside the area took a heavy deflection beyond Gordon in the Hearts goal to give Aberdeen an early lead.

The visitors should have been level on five minutes, Gain Molloy having his pass out charged down by Grant in the area. The ball ricocheted to Shankland, but from ten yards out, his low drive was saved by Dimitar Mitov.

Shankland spurned another great opportunity after ten minutes as Hearts responded well to the early set-back. Spittal curled an inviting cross through the penalty area to the back post where Shankland came rushing in, but from a couple of yards out, he poked the ball over the bar.

A deep Clarkson corner on the 14th minute reached Slobodan Rubezic beyond the back post, but his header back across goal was a shade too high and landed on the roof of the net.

It was Hearts’ turn to attack next, Vargas away down the right before feeding Oyegoke inside. His first time cross was into the path of Grant but he couldn’t get enough on his shot to discomfort Mitov in the 17th minute. Shankland was fortunate a few moments later, escaping a booking after a late tackle on Molloy. Kingsley was then replaced by Penrice in the 20th minute, seemingly because of injury as the Hearts man went quickly down the tunnel with a physio.

The Dons launched an attack in the 23rd minute that culminated with Kevin Nisbet having a shot deflected wide, but it was most memorable for a magnificent backheel volley from Jack MacKenzie as he played a long clearance from Mitov perfectly into the path of McGrath. That will be on his highlights reel for the rest of his career.

Shankland was yellow carded on the half hour for a trip on McGrath. Four minutes later, a Dhanda free-kick from out on the left touchline curled through the box and just wide without anyone getting a touch.

Hearts were level from a corner on 36 minutes, and in fairness, it was probably deservedly. Mitov spilled the initial cross in as he collided with Nicky Devlin. Shankland hooked the loose ball back across goal for Kent to force his header over the line from close range.

Shankland committed another foul on 38, shoving MacKenzie to the floor in the centre circle.

Hearts had another good chance after 44 minutes, Dhanda floating in another cross from the left, Rowles given a free header which he drifted back across goal and wide.

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 1 HEARTS 1

It was a sluggish start to the second half but on 53 minutes, Hearts missed a golden chance to take the lead. A misunderstanding between Molloy and MacKenzie left Vargas running through on goal unimpeded, supported by Shankland, but he chose to go it alone and dinked the ball over Mitov and way over the bar. Another real warning sign for Aberdeen.

Dhanda was in the book for a foul on Keskinen on 56 minutes. Aberdeen made two changes on 61, Nisbet and Clarkson replaced by Ester Sokler and Duk. Molloy produced an important block on a Shankland header a minute later, but from the corner, Hearts were ahead. The ball was punched clear to the edge of the box by Mitov, where Spittal collected it and was given the time and space to direct his swerving shot from 22 yards into the bottom corner.

No worries. A minute later, Scotland’s Nicky Devlin celebrated a decent few days on a personal level by getting the Dons back on terms with a lovely finish. Keskinen’s low cross was half cleared but as it bounced up awkwardly, Devlin was onto it on the edge of the box, adjusting his feet and steering a first time shot across goal and into the far corner.

Forrester replaced Oyegoke on 69 minutes, Aberdeen responding with Ante Palaversa and Shayden Morris taking to the field as McGrath and Keskinen made way. Grant was booked on 75 for hauling Duk down, his second yellow of the afternoon, leaving Hearts down to ten men.

Forrester was booked seconds later for another foul on Duk. Hearts made their final changes on 79 minutes, Vargas and Dhanda replaced by Baningime and Forrest. Penrice went into the book on 83 for time wasting at a free-kick.

Aberdeen had Hearts penned in in front of the RDS, quick feet from Duk almost creating an opportunity as Hearts put everybody behind the ball, Gordon getting booked after 86 minutes for more time wasting. A strong run from Morris a minute later ended with him standing up a cross for Sokler, but his header was blocked away by Kent.

Duk was the instigator again on 88 minutes, his pace and control getting him away from the hapless Forrester. His pull-back was missed by Sokler but Palaversa was following in behind him and he rammed the ball into the roof of the net to put the Dons 3-2 in front, cooking up a baker’s dozen of 13 straight wins.

1 minute added at end 1st half.
6 minutes added at end 2nd half.