Aberdeen 0 - 1 Heart of Midlothian

Hearts kicked off towards the King Street end of the ground, but it was Aberdeen who forced the first corner of the match after two minutes. The chance came to nothing but the Dons were looking positive at this early stage. There were loud appeals from Aberdeen for a spot kick in the 6th minute but the award would have been harsh. Up to this stage Hearts had only managed a weak De Vries header, which Preece held comfortably.

Preece had to work harder five minutes later when he pulled off a fine block from the same player. The visitors grabbed the lead in the 13th minute with a messy goal. A Hartley corner was swung in and McKenna headed goalwards where Tosh helped the ball in to the net. Zdrilic had a chance to hit back a minute later but drilled his effort over the bar. Referee Craig Thomson wasn't endearing himself to the home support as the fifty/fifty decisions invariably favoured the visitors.

Aberdeen had their best chance of the half in the 34th minute as Booth broke and delivered a deep cross that Zdrilic headed on to the cross bar. Tosh followed up but failed to control the ball and missed the target. Two minutes later Diamond denied Wyness with an important block. With five minutes remaining Deloumeaux tested Gordon from distance, but the keeper held the ball comfortably. The half ended with Aberdeen laying siege to the visitors' goal.

Aberdeen had an early opportunity when Booth broke in the opening minute and found Tosh in the centre. Unfortunately the midfield man couldn't steer the ball on target. At the other end Preece was alert to a snap shot. In the 54th minute Hearts committed their umpteenth foul, which once again went unpunished apart from Scott Booth who was booked for commenting on the fact. Tosh followed him into the book two minutes later for a similar offence.

Aberdeen were shaken into life after this and Anderson went close in the 74th minute when his header was deflected wide of the target. Steve Tosh was then given a second yellow card in the 78th minute and followed Zdrilic down the tunnel as the game threatened to boil over. In the 81st minutes the nine man Dons were denied a stonewall penalty when De Vries practically pulled the shirt from Anderson inside the area. Mr Thomson saw nothing but spotted a similar infringement by Mackie two minutes later.

Aberdeen ended the match on a high as Hearts desperately defended their narrow lead with Anderson going closest as he played the captain's role. In the dying minutes Anderson took a bad knock as he put his head in where it hurts. The game was stopped when the ball went out for a throw-in yet referee Thomson restarted with a bounce up. Despite all their efforts Aberdeen were unable to make the breakthrough and another three points headed south.