Hearts' troubled season goes from bad to farce as Aberdeen became the latest
visitors to enjoy a comfortable away triumph at Tynecastle.
The Edinburgh outfit are fast making losing a habit and were unable to respond
once Paul Barnard marked his first game for more than a year with a 52nd minute
opener.
Aberdeen, themselves in need of points to preserve their Premier League
status, sealed victory when Dennis Wyness capped a fluid three-man move with a
composed finish. Hearts were determined to the last but Jim Jefferies' men were
short of the quality required to break down a stubborn Dons backline and paid
the price.
This time last year they were challenging the Old Firm for the title, now
Hearts are slumped one place off the bottom on a slide they seem unable to halt.
Their last win was December 6 against Celtic and remarkably they have now
managed just a single point in their past nine SPL fixtures - a dismal run which
signals the first division.
Former Scotland keeper Jim Leighton found himself dropped for Derek Stillie in
an Aberdeen line-up which saw midfielder Barnard return after a 13-month
lay-off. Hearts too welcomed back an important figure after injury with Colin
Cameron, a late substitute in last week's 2-0 home defeat to St Johnstone, fit
again after a pelvic problem.
In his first start since the Scottish Cup final success over Rangers in May,
Cameron had Hearts' first shot at goal, a fierce strike well-blocked by Gary
Smith. Jim Hamilton, linked with a move to Aberdeen, flicked a glancing header
wide after five minutes from Thomas Flogel's low cross as Hearts started the
brighter.
The recalled Andy Dow set up Eoin Jess after 18 minutes but the Aberdeen
forward, being watched today by Scotland manager Craig Brown, diverted his
effort over the bar.
Cameron's name on the teamsheet gave the Hearts team a more familiar look, but
their display was still some way short of the fluency which typified last
season.
Aberdeen were gaining in confidence towards the half-hour mark, a curling
20-yard effort wide by Wyness an ambitious attempt to break the deadlock. Jess
then had a snap shot charged down by Paul Ritchie as Aberdeen continued to
press, but neither side were able to seize control for a sustained period of the
opening-half.
After 35 minutes, a Steve Fulton free-kick for Hearts from the left was met by
a looping Dave McPherson header which dropped onto the roof of the net without
unduly troubling Stillie. Hearts were now becoming more of a force in the
attacking third and Hamilton might have done better with a headed chance moments
before the interval when he was badly off-target.
Aberdeen made a surprise change at the break with Mike Newell taken off and
highly-rated youngster Michael Hart joining the fray in a deeper role.
The Dons moved ahead after 53 minutes when Jess took a short corner to Wyness,
regained the ball and crossed for Barnard to glance his header inside the far
post. Ritchie sent a header harmlessly over the top from another Fulton
free-kick as Hearts went in search of an equaliser vital to their survival
hopes.
After 67 minutes, Gary Naysmith was substituted by Gary McSwegan whose first
touch reached Stephane Adam for a scrambled close-range effort cleared off the
line by Andreas Mayer.
Just four minutes later though Aberdeen were two ahead, Barnard exchanging
passes with Jess before finding Wyness who made no mistake with an assured low
finish.
Steven Pressley fired over from distance and McSwegan's angled drive prompted
a fine save by Stillie as Hearts launched a late recovery act.
Hamilton had a header hacked away by Mark Perry, while substitute Vincent
Guerin's free-kick called Stillie into further action, but it was all to no
avail.
Teams
Hearts: McKenzie, McPherson, Naysmith (McSwegan 66), Salvatori,
Ritchie, Fulton, Adam (Kirk 81), Cameron (Guerin 76), Hamilton,Flogel, Pressley.
Subs Not Used: Callaghan, Strang.
Aberdeen: Stillie, Perry, Whyte, Smith, Jess, Newell (Hart 45),
Mayer, Dow, Bernard, Young, Wyness.
Subs Not Used: Leighton, Pepper, Buchan, Notman.
Booked: Young.
Goals: Bernard 53, Wyness 71.
Att: 13,957.
Ref: E Martindale (Glasgow).
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