ABERDEEN 0 HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN 0
SPFL Premiership
Sunday 12th January 2025
Pittodrie
Ref: Steven McLean
Attendance: 17,000
An outstanding penalty save from Ross Doohan in the fourth minute of added time at Pittodrie ended the Dons’ losing streak, but an impressive start to the game from Aberdeen had promised so much more.
After the 2-0 defeat at Motherwell last Sunday, there were four changes for Aberdeen with Slobodan Rubezic suspended, Duk and Angus MacDonald on the bench and Jack MacKenzie out injured. In came Leighton Clarkson and James McGarry and, making their Dons debuts, new signings Jeppe Okkels and Kristers Tobers.
Hearts won 1-0 at Tannadice last weekend but made three changes to their side, Beni Baningime, Daniel Oyegoke and Jamie McCart starting the game in place of Adam Forrester, Kye Rowles and Liam Boyce.
Aberdeen won a first minute corner in front of the RDS and after a rehearsal with the first, the second corner from Ante Palaversa saw Gordon make a brilliant save at his near post to claw the ball away as Tobers tried to force the ball over the line from close range.
On six minutes, Kevin Nisbet combined well with Nicky Devlin to set Topi Keskinen away down the right, his cross blocked behind via a deflection off McCart’s leg then hand, but VAR rightly ruled there was no penalty.
McGarry was set free by a pass from Sivert Heltne Nilsen on eight, firing in a swinging shot from the corner of the box that flashed wide as the Dons produced a high octane start to the game. Keskinen was on the charge again on 18 minutes, driving forward before he looked to be bundled over on the edge of the area, no foul given. A long ball forward soon had Keskinen chasing again, but as he chased into the box, he shanked his shot wide of goal in the 24th minute.
It was Keskinen yet again on 33, a lovely reverse ball from Nisbet putting him beyond the Hearts defence, but his shot across Gordon was dragged just wide of the target, a great opportunity gone begging. The referee’s notebook came out for the first time on 35 minutes, Clarkson harshly yellow carded for a foul on Penrice.
HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 HEARTS 0
Spittal had Hearts’ first real crack at goal in the 53rd minute, a well worked corner bringing the ball back to him 25 yards out, but his clipped shot arced over the bar. Duk was Aberdeen’s first change on 56, replacing Nisbet. Penrice was booked for a foul on him eight minutes later. Drammeh made way for Kabangu on 66, the Dons making two changes at the same time, Jamie McGrath and Dante Polvara coming on for Clarkson and Tobers.
Ross Doohan was in action for the first time on 71 minutes and a fine save it was, up high to his right to push away a Kabangu header that looked bound for the top corner. From the following corner, McCart headed against the far post when it looked easier to score, then McGrath made a great block from Kabangu.
Duk was booked on 74 for a late challenge on Penrice. Shayden Morris then replaced Okkels five minutes later. He wasn’t too far away with a fierce drive on 81 minutes, firing into the side netting at the near post after creating a yard of space away from Penrice. Dhanda and Vargas came on for Baningime and Spittal after 84 minutes.
Graeme Shinnie had to produce a terrific block on 89 minutes as Vargas was away on the counter-attack, the skipper cutting out a cross-shot that looked threatening. Hearts brought on Forrest and Forrester for Wilson and Oyegoke as we headed into the final minute.
In the third minute of added time, Heltne Nilsen tangled with Vargas just inside the area and the referee pointed immediately to the spot. Grant stepped up, but at full stretch to his right, Doohan made an outstanding save to tip the ball onto the post and away.
ABERDEEN: Doohan, Devlin, Tobers (Polvara 66), Heltne Nilsen, McGarry, Shinnie, Palaversa, Keskinen, Clarkson (McGrath 66), Okkels (Morris 79), Nisbet (Duk 56).
Subs Not Used: Ritchie, MacDonald, Ambrose, Enem, Boyd.
BOOKED: Clarkson, Duk
HEARTS: Gordon, Halkett, Oyegoke (Forrester 90), Baningime (Vargas 84), Penrice, Devlin, Grant, Drammeh (Kabangu 66), McCart, Spittal (Dhanda 84), Wilson (Forrest 90).
Subs not used: Fulton, Rowles, Boateng, Neilson.
BOOKED: Penrice
