Aberdeen produced a swashbuckling performance to defeat Hearts but could not overturn Hibernian's six-goal advantage and claim the Bank of Scotland Premier League's final UEFA Cup spot.

Goals from Richie Byrne and Derek Adams gave Jimmy Calderwood's side the three points but Rangers' inability to beat Hibs by more than a single goal left them trailing on goal difference and the coveted third place went to Tony Mowbray's men.

Calderwood set his team up to attack and attack they did. Wave after wave of red shirts swept forward and overran the Jambos defence at times but the ball often bobbled inches out of reach for the despairing Aberdeen strikers.

Conspiracy theorists have feasted on this fixture, but any doubts people had that Hearts would play to an anti-Hibs agenda were unfounded and they need only look at goalkeeper Craig Gordon's outstanding performance as proof of the Edinburgh side's commitment.

Knowing a six-goal swing was needed from the start of play, many of Pittodrie's 16,155 fans had their ears tuned into the action at Easter Road and found themselves in the wholly unfamiliar position of wanting arch-rivals Rangers to chalk up a high-scoring victory.

The Dons started with three at the back and committed men into attack. They began the game at a very high tempo but in their hurry abandoned their normal crisp passing game and were guilty of playing too many passes wide of their intended target. They managed to get in behind Hearts once, in the 12th minute, but Kevin McNaughton could not keep his cross under control.

While their cavalier approach to the game was welcome from the fans' perspective, Calderwood sought to remind them of their defensive duties and how much conceding a goal would hamper their chances. Alexander Diamond clearly did not heed his manager's warning and let Dennis Wyness have a clear sight of goal but he pulled a shot wide of the near post.

Aberdeen were more clinical at the other end but the left-hand post thwarted Phil McGuire. McNaughton burst down the right with one of his trademark runs before picking out Byrne with a swirling cross.

The Irishman stooped to nod the ball back for McGuire who, in his final appearance for the Dons, must have thought he had scored with an acrobatic volley but watched it smash off the woodwork and run to safety.

Their poor luck continued in the 37th minute. Scott Muirhead used his electric pace to beat his marker and found Darren Mackie with a terrific low cross but the striker - despite beating Gordon to it - could only clip the ball wide.

Pittodrie sensed the opening goal was coming and it eventually arrived on the stroke of half-time.

Scott Severin played a free-kick into the six-yard box for Byrne, who outjumped everyone to nod it beyond Gordon's despairing hand into the far corner.

Calderwood made the bold move of replacing defender McGuire with Czech striker Lubomir Blaha at the interval and his decision paid dividends within three minutes.

The 6ft 6in striker rose to head Severin's corner from the left towards goal but just as he turned to celebrate, little Derek Adams nicked in and stole his glory at the back post.

The Red Army's celebrations increased by several decibels a few minutes later when news of Nacho Novo's opening goal for Rangers filtered through to Pittodrie.

Hearts made a double change in the 65th minute as on came youngsters Calum Elliot and David McGeown for Saulius Mikoliunas and Lee Miller.

Calderwood waited six minutes then called time on Markus Heikkinen's Aberdeen career. The Finn, who has decided to leave the club in the summer, has been a huge player for the club over the last two seasons and the fans gave him a standing ovation as he left the field. Gary Dempsey came on in his place.

Aberdeen were cursing Gordon in the 77th minute when the Scotland international beat away Mackie's point-blank header.

Calderwood played his last trump card by bringing on pacy youngster John Stewart for Adams, but despite producing their best attacking performance of the season the clock wound down and Europe slipped away out of sight.

Teams:

Aberdeen Esson, McGuire (Blaha 45), Diamond, Heikkinen (Dempsey 71), Byrne, McNaughton, Severin, Clark, Muirhead, Mackie, Adams (Stewart 77).

Subs Not Used: Preece, Winter, Considine, Macauley.

Booked: Mackie.

Goals: Byrne 45, Adams 49.

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Sives (Tierney 78), Wallace, Mikoliunas (McGeown 65), Hartley, MacFarlane, Hamill, Wyness, Miller (Elliot 65).

Subs Not Used: McDonald, Pelosi, Thomson, Driver.

Booked: Sives, Hartley.

Att: 16,155

Ref: I Fyfe (Scotland).