Let's be blunt about this. Just as Monday's poor result doesn't mean the end of the world, today's good one doesn't necessarily signal full steam ahead. Today, Hearts were plucky and controlled the game for long periods, having to settle for a point. Barry Nicolson poked the Dons ahead early before a beautiful strike from Michael Stewart pulled the sides level.

Maybe on the balance of play Hearts will feel they deserved more from the game. The link-up play got better as the match went on, although a cutting edge is still required. Pleasingly, Eggert Jonsson, in his first league start, was outstanding for the Tynecastle men.

Hearts made five changes from the side that began the season with a derby defeat. Out went Beniusis, Tall, Ksanavicius, Karipidis and Mikoliunas - they were replaced by new captain Christophe Berra, debutant Ruben Palazuelos, Eggert Jonsson, Kestutis Ivaskevicius and Andrius Velicka. Aberdeen made three changes from the team that lost 1-0 at Dundee United eight days ago.

A far from full Pittodrie was the venue for two teams that had kicked off their season with less than inspired results. This was reflected in the nervous opening to the game that saw a number of crossfield balls and short passes. Barry Nicolson had a tame shot gathered by Banks and Berra went close with a header over the bar in the first five minutes.

Iain Brines, not a favourite with the Hearts support, did little to endear himself by awarding soft fouls against Stewart and Ivaskevicius. Especially pleasing however, was the fact that Hearts were retaining possession and not letting Aberdeen dictate play. In the 1-1 draw at Tynecastle last May, despite not scoring until injury time, the Dons had ansolutely dominated proceedings. So far, with quarter of an hour gone, this wasn't the case.

Velicka was unceremoniously bundled over by Hart, in a foul that went unnoticed by Brines. In the next move Aberdeen scored their first goal of the season when Jonsson, after initially doing so well to dispossess Jamie Smith, lost the ball in the box, teeing up Nicolson. His first effort was blocked but he reacted quicker than anyone else and stabbed home the rebound.

It was tough on young Jonsson, who is a truly promising prospect, but mistakes will be made and good players will only learn from them. Mr Brines was soon back in the middle of the action, awarding a suspiciously soft free-kick against Berra. Thankfully not much came of it.

Aberdeen had three corners in succession, each one causing problems in the six yard box for Stevie Banks. They may have lost Russell Anderson but at this stage of the game, the home defence was ably marshalling whatever Hearts could throw at them. In this, they were led by captain Scott Severin, who was featuring at centre-half.

33 minutes had passed...and it was largely uninspiring stuff, from both teams, who were well disciplined but not creative. There was a wee spark of action when Zaliukas and Clark had an off-the-ball niggle at each other, which was missed by Brines.

Driver's dinked cross caused problems for Soutar and the keeper had to rely on his defence blocking Michael Stewart before he unleashed what would have been Hearts' first attempt on goal.

There was a scare right at the end of the half when Mackie and Lovell combined to almost unlock the Hearts defence. Berra stood firm and cleared the danger. Moments later, Hearts were level, almost out the blue.

Some tussling on the right hand flank resulted in Robbie Neilson and Ivaskevicius combining smartly to outflank Mair. Ivaskevicius took the ball and picked out Michael Stewart right on the edge of the box. Stewart's first-time sweeping side-foot strike was always destined for the top of the net, regardless of where Soutar flung himself...and the celebration was only marginally less pulsating, as a boyhood Jambo scored his first ever goal for the team he has always supported.

The interval saw Driver replaced by Ksanavicius, who received a warm welcome from the travelling faithful as he emerged onto the pitch. The first ten minutes of the second half saw a composed Hearts, and some exuberating play from the entree, notably when he twisted and turned on the by-line to curl in a cross that Velicka put narrowly over from a tight angle.

Anything can happen in an instant and we had to bear this in mind, although what we had seen after the first 15 minutes was greatly encouraging. Ksanavicius isn't the paciest player around but he certainly has some tricks up his sleeve, which Hearts responded to very well. Aberdeen were by no means out of it, as Chris Clark reminded us with a sliced effort as the ball teed up beautifully for him on the edge of the box.

Lee Wallace was pulled up for handball, Aberdeen taking the free-kick quickly and trying to catch Hearts unawares. Jamie Smith almost finished off a great move by curling a fine effort into the corner of the goal, but Banksie was equal to it and palmed the ball away for a corner. Ivaskevicius then withdrew, to a decent ovation from the Hearts faithful, as the energetic Mikoliunas entered the game.

A moment of debate presented itself on 78 minutes...Wallace was pulled up for a foul on Mackie and booked, only for the linesman's intervention to produce an offside decision. As Berra was treated to a head injury we wondered if the yellow card would now be rescinded, as technically the foul had never taken place. [Answer - yes]. There was now just under ten minutes to go, Craig Brewster was on and both teams felt they could sneak it.

Jonsson had had a marvellous first start and he was involved heavily in the attacking momentum that had taken ahold of the game. Palazuelos fired a stinging effort that frightened Hearts World commentator Mark Donaldson into a high-pitched squeak (Soutar held it well) and Brewster tried to chip Banks, to no avail.

Entering injury time, it seemed as if each side was relatively happy with a point. Makela came on for Velicka, but was unable to contribute. Not especially pretty, but a point in Aberdeen shouldn't be sniffed at. It's not been the easiest two opening games to contend with, and a final product is still needed. However, today's report card reads: better, much much better.

Aberdeen: Soutar; Hart, Severin, Diamond, Mair, McNamara, Clark (Brewster, 82), Smith, Mackie, Lovell (Maguire, 61). Booked: Mackie. Subs not used: Langfield, Foster, Miller, Smith, Brewster, Smith.

Hearts: Banks; Neilson, Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace; Jonsson, Palazuelos, Stewart; Ivaskevicius (Mikoliunas, 73), Velicka (Makela, 90), Driver (Ksanavicius, 46). Booked: Neilson, Ivaskevicius, Zaliukas, Palazuelos, Wallace. Subs not used: Kurskis, Cesnauskis, Karipidis, Goncalves.

Referee: Iain Brines

Top Man: Eggert Jonsson