Hearts lived up to their new-found status as Tennent's Scottish Cup favourites by sending Bank of Scotland Premier League rivals Aberdeen crashing out of the competition at the fourth round stage.

But referee Kenny Clark was at the centre of a Tynecastle storm after two contentious first-half decisions.

He denied Aberdeen a spot-kick - following Michal Pospisil's opener - after Stevie Crawford had been fouled by Robbie Neilson.

Calum Elliot doubled Hearts' advantage before Clark rubbed salt into the wounds on the stroke of half-time.

The official showed Zander Diamond a straight red card for a trip on Pospisil and Steven Pressley converted the penalty.

Hearts joined arch rivals Hibernian in the eight after their shock win over Rangers earlier.

But the home side took some time to get into their stride with manager Graham Rix making five changes - including starting debuts for Mirsad Beslija and Jose Goncalves and the return of Pressley.

Hearts seemed to miss suspended Paul Hartley early on but they snatched the lead in spectacular fashion in the 21st minute.

The home side moved up a gear as Elliot crossed from the right flank and Pospisil got ahead of Diamond to swivel and send an unstoppable right-foot volley hurtling past James Langfield

But moments later a furious Crawford was chasing referee Kenny Clark back to the half-way line after claiming to have had his shirt pulled by Robbie Neilson in the area.

The Aberdeen bench were also quick to leap to their feet and gesture angrily for a penalty.

But the Jambos rubbed salt into the wounds in the 34th minute following another moment of quality.

Cesnauskis pulled the ball back from the byline and Elliot got a yard on Clark to flick his right-foot shot past Langfield.

But Aberdeen came so close to hauling themselves back in the game moments later.

Jamie Smith ran at the Hearts defence and teed up Crawford but his right-foot shot flew just past the upright with Gordon well beaten.

Hearts were a different side now and Cesnauskis cut in from the left flank with menace before blasting a low right-foot shot wide.

But the tie was certainly put to bed in the last minute of the half when the whistler adjudged Diamond, in for Richie Byrne, to have brought down Pospisil in the area.

Clark instantly sent off the young defender and Pressley blasted home from the spot.

Calderwood sent out John Stewart for Foster at the break and his side responded courageously.

Crawford picked out Smith in the area but the former Celtic man headed over to wake up the home side.

Rix then made his first substitution as he handed Juho Makela his debut, with Elliott being the player to make way.

The Hearts boss made another change on the hour with Jamie McAllister replacing Brellier while Calderwood put on Kyle McAuley for Danny Griffin.

But Beslija's debut was cut short in the 81st minute when he was stretchered off after a challenge from Stewart.

A worried Rix sent on Lee Wallace in his place as the new boy made his way down the tunnel.

Aberdeen were still refusing to give up and Gordon had to make a great save to deny Barry Nicholson from close-blank range.

The jury was still out on Goncalves after a mixed debut but he did well in the 87th minute with a sliding tackle on Stewart to stop him from testing Gordon.

The referee had his hand shuck by the Aberdeen manager at the final whistle but he would have been livid with his performance.

Hearts, though, will feel of confident of repeating their 1998 Scottish Cup feat with Rangers and Celtic out of the competition.

Teams

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Beslija,Cesnauskis, Brellier (McAllister 60), Johnson, Goncalves,Elliot (Makela 52), Pospisil.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Berra, Wallace.

Goals: Pospisil 21, Elliot 34, Pressley 45 pen.

Aberdeen Langfield, McNaughton, Anderson, Diamond,Griffin (Macauley 62), Nicholson, Severin, Clark,Foster (Stewart 46), Smith (Snoyl 90), Crawford.

Subs Not Used: Esson, Mackie.

Sent Off: Diamond (45).

Att: 17,353

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).