Late drama but Dons back into second place
Heart of Midlothian 1 | Hamill 87′ (Pen) (Wilson sent off 73′)
Aberdeen 1 | Flood 74′
SPFL Scottish Premiership | Tynecastle | 7.45pm | Att: 13,913 | FT
Summary:
Aberdeen returned to second place in the SPFL Premiership but failed to beat Hearts for the third time this season as the Tynecastle club staved off relegation for another game thanks to a late penalty from Hamill which cancelled out Flood’s opener for the visitors.
The Dons dominated large spells of the first half and Jamie Macdonald was forced into an early save from McGinn. On 12 minutes, Shay Logan fired a ball across the box but it had a bit too much pace on it and McGinn couldn’t make up enough ground and three minutes later Pawlett crossed dangerously into the box but no one was there to capitalise. Ryan Jack tried an effort from distance on 22 minutes which took a deflection off Pawlett and unfortunately went wide. With 10 minutes left of the first period Robson played a good ball forward which Rooney headed down to Pawlett but Danny Wilson nipped in to put it out for a corner.
The second half was a largely frustrating affair until- on 73 minutes- Danny Wilson was sent off for the home side after picking up his second bookable offence. From the resultant free kick Willo Flood opened the scoring with a thunderous drive from 25 yards out. Hearts came to life after that and nearly capitalised on a mistake by Mark Reynolds when Stevenson picked the ball up but he shot well wide.
After that, The Dons broke quickly from another Hearts attack but Flood over ran the ball when he had options around him and McKay cleared. Seconds later the referee awarded a penalty to the home side for a challenge by Logan. Hamill stepped up and scored the kick which delays the inevitable for Hearts and denies The Dons the three points, who now face a vital match at Hibernian on Monday evening in the final game before the split.
Aberdeen made two changes to the side which drew 1-1 with Dundee United on Saturday. Andrew Considine was suspended for that one but replaced Joe Shaughnessy at Tynecastle while The Dons were also boosted by the return of Peter Pawlett to the starting XI- Cammy Smith dropped to the bench.
Aberdeen team: Langfield, Logan, Anderson, Reynolds, Considine, Jack, Flood, Robson (Smith 70′), Pawlett (Vernon 78′) , Rooney, McGinn
Substitutes not used: Weaver, Tate, Shaughnessy, Low, McManus
RedWeb match report | please click here
RedImages | please click here
Quotes from the Press Room | please click here
REDTV | The goals | please click here
Derek McInnes | please click here
Willo Flood | please click here
Adam Rooney | please click here
The 5 post split fixtures were announced earlier today | please click here to view
The 5 post split fixtures were announced earlier today | please click here to view
