Hearts storm back to defeat Aberdeen
Heart of Midlothian 2 Aberdeen 1
Ladbrokes Premiership, Saturday 30th March 2019 – Tynecastle
Hearts sealed a top six
finish in the Ladbrokes Premiership by coming from behind to record a victory
over an occasionally brutal Aberdeen team at Tynecastle.
Second half goals from Sean
Clare and Uche Ikpeazu overcame McLennan’s first half opener for the visitors
to move Hearts within two points of the Dons and ensure they would finish in
the top half of the table come the ‘split’ next weekend.
Hearts boss Craig Levein made
three changes from the team that lost meekly to Hamilton Academical a fortnight
ago. Ben Garuccio – out with injury for ten months – Callumn Morrison and David
Vanecek made way for Conor Shaughnessy, Uche Ikpeazu and Craig Wighton.
Hearts-Aberdeen games at Tynecastle
usually attract a big crowd and this one was no exception. The Dons looked the
likelier side in the first half although it was Hearts who had the first shot
on target in the 10th minute when Ikpeazu’s effort was saved by
keeper Lewis.
Aberdeen looked menacing
going forward and it was no real surprise when they took the lead in the 16th
minute. McGinn’s corner was headed against the crossbar by Cosgrove with McLennan
nodding the rebound home. Tynecastle was stunned, the visiting support in one
half of the Roseburn Stand excepted.
Two minutes later, Cosgrove fired a forearm smash into the face of Hearts captain Christophe Berra and could consider himself fortunate only to receive a yellow card from referee John Beaton who, it must be recorded, had an afternoon to forget.
Shinnie almost doubled Aberdeen’s
lead with a long-range effort and the frustration among the home support was
audible. However, the home team responded, and Arnaud Djoum had an effort on
goal which went wide.
Hearts keeper Bobby Zlamal
then pushed Cosgrove’s header over the bar before denying another long-range effort
from Shinnie.
Hearts were booed off the field
at half-time and the home support tried to console themselves with the prospect
that things simply had to improve in the second half. Thankfully, from a Hearts
perspective, they did.
The Maroons wasted a golden
opportunity to draw level five minutes into the second half when Ikpeazu had
the freedom of Gorgie Road to fire home, but he drew his shot wide of the post
as the home support groaned in frustration.
But Hearts were much-improved
after Levein’s half-time team talk and did draw parity on the hour mark. The much-maligned
Jake Mulraney who, again, didn’t have the happiest of afternoons, ran at the
Aberdeen defence who struggled to cope with his pace. As Mulraney ran into the Dons
penalty box, he was brought down by Considine. Penalty said referee Beaton –
one of the few decisions he got right all afternoon – and Sean Clare did his
usual expert job from the spot. 1-1 and now it was game on.
Minutes later Hearts should
have been awarded a second penalty kick when McGinn’s pass back to his goalie was
intercepted by Ikpeazu who was brought down by keeper Lewis. Mr Beaton raced
into the penalty box – the quickest he had moved all day – but didn’t award a penalty.
Instead he flashed a yellow card to Ikpeazu for simulation (diving to you and
me) It looked more of a penalty than the one that was given, and the decision not
only infuriated the home support it seemed to inspire the Hearts man to prove a
point.
Minutes later, Ikpeazu held
off two challenges before firing a rasping effort on goal which was well saved
by Lewis. Hearts were all over the Dons now and Lewis saved well from Craig
Wighton.
With 13 minutes to go Hearts
turned the game on its head. Considine and McKenna contrived to allow Ikpeazu
to run into the penalty box and earn justice by firing a sublime finish past
Lewis to put Hearts in front.
Soon after, Ikpeazu fell
awkwardly after a challenge and appeared to be concussed. The big striker was taken
off but looked groggy enough in the dugout to necessitate a stretcher to carry
him around the perimeter of the field and up the tunnel to a standing ovation
from the home support.
Hearts held out during the
five minutes of added on time to claim a deserved victory which it has to be
said, looked unlikely at half-time. The visitors seemed more intent in adopting
an overly-physical approach to the game and paid the price.
Craig Levein told BBC Sport
Scotland after the game:
“I didn’t think there was much
in first half, but Aberdeen took their chance. We’ve come off a poor result at
Hamilton and I felt we were negative as a result of that.
“But in the second half we
played higher, were braver and got more opportunities. We’ve got a big week
ahead of us, so a lot of things to look forward to.”
Hearts: Zlamal, Shaughnessy,
Souttar, Haring, Berra, Clare, Djoum, Wighton, Ikpeazu (Bozanic, 80′),
Mulraney, Brandon.
Aberdeen: Lewis, Shinnie, McKenna, Considine,
Stewart (Wilson, 80′), McGinn, Cosgrove, Ferguson, Ball, McLennan (Devlin,
87′), Lowe.
Referee: John Beaton
Attendance: 17,880
Top man: Jamie Brandon played well
but the vote goes to the irrepressible Uche Ikpeazu