Aberdeen v Hearts in the League Cup

For two of the major clubs in Scotland to have only ever played each other on 18 occasions in one of the major competitions, League Cup clashes between Aberdeen and Hearts have actually been quite rare down the years.

The last occasion was 17 years ago in what was the last of three successive quarter final clashes between the sides.

On the previous Saturday the teams had drawn 0-0 at Tynecastle in the league before meeting again on the Tuesday night at Pittodrie in the League Cup. A Kevin McKenna strike was enough to see Hearts into the semi-final in a disappointing night in the North-east. The game didn’t spark into life until after Hearts scored and despite a few close shaves the Dons failed to level. Scott Michie went closest, but Roddie McKenzie managed to stick his leg out to keep Hearts in the cup.

While Hearts edged the last meeting at Pittodrie, it was Aberdeen who prevailed in 1985 and again in 1990.

Previously in the old style group stages – which were brought back again a couple of years ago for the teams who did not qualify for Europe – the Dons last came up against Hearts in 1981. Despite a shock defeat in Edinburgh, the Dons 3-0 win in the Pittodrie return resulted in Aberdeen going on to win the group.

 

Record

Neutral

Opponent                           Played  Won      Drawn   Lost        For         Against

Heart of Midlothian         1              1              0              0              6              2

 

Home

Opponent                           Played  Won      Drawn   Lost        For         Against

Heart of Midlothian         10           4              1              5              17           16

 

Away

Opponent                           Played  Won      Drawn   Lost        For         Against

Heart of Midlothian         7              1              2              4              8              11

 

All

Opponent                           Played  Won      Drawn   Lost        For         Against

Heart of Midlothian         18           6              3              9              31           29

(source: www.afcheritage.org)

Games

Season 2002-03

12-Nov-02 Aberdeen 0 – 1 Hearts League Cup QF     7,576

Season 1990-91

05-Sep-90 Aberdeen 3 – 0 Hearts League Cup QF     15,500

 

Season 1985-86

04-Sep-85 Aberdeen 1 – 0 Hearts League Cup QF     13,100

 

Season 1981-82

19-Aug-81 Aberdeen 3 – 0 Hearts League Cup G3     8,600

12-Aug-81 Hearts 1 – 0 Aberdeen League Cup G3     10,500

 

Season 1975-76

23-Aug-75 Hearts 1 – 0 Aberdeen League Cup G3     11,000

16-Aug-75 Aberdeen 1 – 2 Hearts League Cup G3     8,400 (Main header photo)

 

Season 1974-75

28-Aug-74 Hearts 2 – 1 Aberdeen League Cup G3     14,000

10-Aug-74 Aberdeen 0 – 1 Hearts League Cup G3     11,000

 

Season 1965-66

01-Sep-65 Hearts 2 – 0 Aberdeen League Cup G2     11,000

18-Aug-65 Aberdeen 1 – 1 Hearts League Cup G2     18,000

 

Season 1959-60

26-Aug-59 Aberdeen 1 – 4 Hearts League Cup G3     31,000

12-Aug-59 Hearts 2 – 2 Aberdeen League Cup G3     25,000

 

Season 1955-56

17-Sep-55 Hearts 2 – 4 Aberdeen League Cup QF 2L     35,000

14-Sep-55 Aberdeen 5 – 3 Hearts League Cup QF 1L     30,000

 

Season 1952-53

27-Aug-52 Hearts 1 – 1 Aberdeen League Cup GC     22,000

13-Aug-52 Aberdeen 2 – 4 Hearts League Cup GC     33,000

 

Season 1946-47

22-Mar-47 Aberdeen 6 –  2 Hearts League Cup SF     36,201

 

Memory Match

Aberdeen 6-2 Hearts

League Cup Semi-Final at Easter Road

22^nd March 1947

With Aberdeen going on to win the Scottish Cup Final four weeks after this remarkable win, the Dons League Cup win over Hearts went down as the ‘forgotten triumph.’

For the game at Easter Road, the Dons as the ‘away’ team were sporting an unusual change strip of blue shirts with white sleeves.

In what was an even first half, Archie Baird opened the scoring for the Dons before Hearts hit back to take the lead after Kelly and Urquhart scored. Crucially the Dons levelled in 37 minutes when Wood put through his own goal.

That set up Aberdeen for a sensational second half as they blitzed Hearts with talisman George Hamilton hitting a hat trick. Hamilton put Aberdeen ahead after converting from a Taylor cross. Aberdeen continued to dominate the Hearts defence and the game was effectively over when Hamilton scored from the penalty spot after McSpadyen punched a Williams effort off the line.

Three minutes later Billy MCall scored after the ball broke from a Harris effort. Hamilton completed the rout when he deceived both Miller and Baxter to race in and score.

Between the 8^th February and 19^th April the Dons remarkably played 10 consecutive cup ties to become the first side to reach the final of both national cup competitions.

 

Aberdeen; Johnstone, Cooper, McKenna, McLaughlin, Dunlop, Waddell, Harris, Hamilton, Williams, Baird, McCall.

Hearts; Brown, McSpadyen, McKenzie, Wood, Baxter, Miller, McFarlane, Currie, Kelly, Urquhart, Dewar.

Attendance; 36,201