Heart of Midlothian 1 - 0 Aberdeen

Two ex Dons targets then combined well in the 28th minute when Wyness found Lee Miller rising above Anderson to head wide from six yards. Whelan then collected the first yellow card of the match for a trip in the 34th minute, but Aberdeen had stemmed the tide and were getting back into the match and in the 39th minute Winter did well to set up Mackie who forced a decent save from Gordon with a low shot. Mikoliunas then had a dig at goal from 30 yards but Esson got his body behind the effort and saved well. Aberdeen should have taken the lead in the 45th minute when brilliant play from McNaughton set up Whelan but the striker controlled the ball well and fired across the face of the goal. Seconds later Hearts hit the cross bar following a free kick and the Dons were forced to scramble the ball clear.

Esson was into action early on as he dived low to cut out a Mikoliunas cross and then watched as Hamill headed over in the opening couple of minutes. There was a goalmouth scramble in the 4th minute that put the Dons defence under pressure as Hearts made a strong start to the second half. Winter then collected the second yellow of the match for a challenge on Neilson in the 56th minute. Neilson himself made a decent delivery in the 58th minute but Clark tracked back well to deny Mikoliunas. Seconds later Hamill reacted quickly to deny Kristjansson and concede a corner. Stewart then replaced the Icelandic player and from the resultant corner Anderson fired a volley wide of the target.

In the 74th minute Foster replaced Winter, who had another fine game, as Calderwood looked to turn the match around. Aberdeen were struggling to break down the Hearts defence and the home side made a double change in the 80th minute in an attempt to consolidate their position. There was more controversy in the 85th minute when Aberdeen looked to have equalised after good play from Hart who looped the ball goalward. Gordon touched the ball on to the woodwork and Craig followed up to fire home. It was hard to understand how Craig could have been offside after the Hearts keeper had made the last touch but Mr. McCurry accepted the decision of his assistant.

Three minutes later Stewart threatened but the ball was scrambled clear and the game was then halted for a handball decision. In the final minute Stewart threatened again and found Clark who was felled on the edge of the box. The set play produced a poor finish from Heikkinen then seconds later Mackie was tumbled on the edge of the box and earned a yellow card for his troubles. Aberdeen pushed forward right to the final whistle but they were not to get the rub of the green as Hearts defeated them with a spot kick for the third time in the last four matches.