Hearts boss Derek McInnes spent eight years in the Granite City but his return with Hearts was a major disappointment as the determined Dons edged a physical battle 1-0 thanks to a goal near the end of the first half from Topi Keskinen.
Earlier, Frankie Kent was expected to replace suspended Craig Halkett for this key William Hill Premiership clash but what was not expected was the loss of Lawrence Shankland who injured a calf on Friday when the club used an artificial surface for training.
McInnes (pictured) continued with German goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow despite veteran Craig Gordon helping Scotland to the World Cup Finals and the newcomer was in action in the opening three minutes, getting down low to save a Dylan Lobban shot from the edge of the box.
The rain teemed down on the Pittodrie pitch as Aberdeen continued to come forward, not allowing Hearts an outlet, but the visitors did break forward and won a free kick. Defender Stuart Findlay side-footed the ball wide, and that was to prove costly at the end of the day.
However, that was a rare incursion into the Aberdeen area and stand-in skipper, Cammy Devlin, and Harry Milne had to intervene with key challenges as The Dons pressed forward, and, when Hearts did get the ball they gave it away with slack passing allowing the home side to maintain their domination.
Claudio Braga did win a free-kick half-way inside the Aberdeen half. It was not dealt with by the home defence and the ball eventually landed at the foot of Harry Milne who hit the crossbar with a strong right-foot shot from a good position on the right hand edge of the six yard box. The frustration was evident on the Aberdeen-born defender. Another chance gone.
Scotland midfielder Stuart Armstrong was pulling the strings for Aberdeen and the Dons won a corner on the right side but the ball broke and Pierre Landry Kabore surged forward on the overlap. Mats Knoester excelled when Alexandros Kyzaridis clipped a ball to the far post with Braga lurking menacingly.
Minutes later, Milne took a corner on the right and it was sent goalwards by Findlay at the back stick but Kent sent his weak header into the waiting hands of the Aberdeen goalkeeper.
Kabore lost out in a race for the ball with Aberdeen goalkeeper Dmitar Mitov and then, at the other end, Armstrong had a real chance but blasted over. He hung his head knowing he should have made a better attempt.
The half-hour mark saw the sides deadlocked and then Braga was booked by referee David Dickinson for simulation after being challenged by two Aberdeen players inside the Dons box.
Armstrong was not out of focus for long and the former Southampton player initiated another raid which was cleared. Midfielder Adil Aouchiche then won a corner on the right after challenging Milne but it came to nothing.
However, Aberdeen struck after 38 minutes through Keskinen, the darting forward getting a slice of luck when a shot bounced back from Kent’s leg, but he regained possession, stayed calm and then sent a right foot shot low into the left hand side of the Hearts net. Schwolow made a despairing dive but the shot from the Finnish international was inch-perfect.
It was undoubtedly a set-back for the William Hill Premiership pace-setters who were finding it difficult to get into gear. Up-front Kabore and Braga were not gelling and Kyziridis, so often a crucial player, was not having any joy against the robust Aberdeen rearguard.
Knoester was booked before an extra minute was added at the end of the half and McInnes had a job to do at the break as the Tynecastle team, minus Shankland, Beni Beningimi and Halket, were not firing on all cylinders going forward against a highly-competitive home side. In truth, Mitov was rarely threatened.
McInnes found his men pushed back again by the eager Dons after the break and Aberdeen continued to cramp Braga and Kyziridis. Hearts’ frustration showed when Michael Steinwender was shown the yellow card for a crude challenge on half-way and the Jambos were forced into making desperate challenges to keep the men from the Granite City at bay.
Hearts had not failed to score in any game so far this term in the league, but they showed little signs of breaking through. The Jambos needed to be so much better in the final third. A reshuffle perhaps?
Kyziridis did, however, burst into the box, forcing a corner but it went wildly past the far post, not the usual quality, and not the quality required here.
The Greek then drove forward as Hearts began to ask questions. He found Braga who acrobatically sent the ball back across goal and Tomas Magnusson sent a tame header straight at Mitov, a glorious chance spurned.
It was the Dons who were pinned back now but they broke and a cutback from Aouchiche brought a corner. It was cleared, but Aberdeen were enjoying more of the game, a concern for McInnes and the travelling fans.
It was also a concern when Devlin was booked for a challenge, a controversial decision as he appeared to win the ball from Nicky Devlin. From the free-kick midfielder Dante Polvara fired over from the edge of the box, it was Aberdeen’s first attempt on goal since they went ahead.
Another free-kick followed and the ball was bundled away for a corner which was cleared by Magnusson. Once again, Hearts struggled to mount meaningful attacks as Aberdeen’s tight shape caused the Jambos problems.
McInnes had seen enough. Blair Spittal was made ready along with Jamie McCart plus Christian Borchgrevink. Findlay, Oisin McEntee and Steinwender were removed with just over 15 minutes remaining and the Men in Maroon switched to a flat back four in a bid to salvage something from the match.
Seconds later Jack Milne bravely defended on the six yard line, stabbing away a Braga shot after he was fed by Kabore. That was a massive block, potentially game-winning.
Neat play from the Jambos again failed to break the Dons defence with Nicky Devlin heavily involved. He was booked before Lobban left the scene to be replaced by Gavin Malloy and Leighton Clarkson came on for the tiring Armstrong.
Seconds later Kent fed Kabore in the box and he slashed at the ball, sending it high and wide, a superb chance.
Kyziridis then fired for goal as Hearts asked real questions of the home side. Dons boss Jimmy Thelin then made more changes to secure the win, Nicolas Milanovic, ex-Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet and Graeme Shinnie coming on.
James Wilson and Alan Forrest were introduced by McInnes with five minutes left, Braga and Magnusson coming off, but it was Hearts who had to desperately clear after a deep cross to the far post.
As the clock ticked down it was the visitors who were staring defeat in the face and Gavin Molloy was the next player into the referees book as the Dons dug deep.
Seven minutes of injury time were signalled as Kabore was handed a chance by a poor ball from a defender to Mitov, but the goalkeeper got down to save, and that looked like being the last opportunity for the Jambos as the determined Dons stayed solid and the rain teemed down on the heavy Pittodrie pitch.
As Hearts frustration grew, Kyziridis was yellow carded for a heavy challenge and the Men in Maroon were unable to put any real pressure on the home defence until Wilson was fed by a Borchgrevink cross ball but the Scotland international headed wide and that was it.
