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Nade powers Hearts to Pittodrie triumph |
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Hearts needed this. It was hairy at times but the boys in maroon showed grit and character to leave Pittodrie with all three points - the first team to do so since Celtic last August. Christian Nade took the glory but tireless shifts all round mean the entire side deserve a pat on the back.
The Dons had plenty of possession but couldn't find a legitimate way past Steve Banks. Hearts now head into the CIS Cup Semi Final against Rangers the best possible spirits, as we entertain the prospect of cup business across in Scotland's second city next week.
Hearts kicked off, looking smart in the white and maroon away kit - and it was smart play that almost gave them the lead on two minutes. Berra's clearance found Velicka who turned and ran at the home defence. His toe-poked through-ball went around the outside of Diamond and gave Nade a clear run at goal. Christian waited until he was too close to Langfield - at too acute an angle - before sliding the ball across goal and out of play.
There were signs of defensive misunderstanding when Karapidis stepped up to play Jamie Smith offside, only to find his colleagues hadn't reacted as quickly. The cross was botched but it was a sign that trouble was never too far away. Michael Stewart was drawn out of position, allowing Nicholson and Young to play a neat one-two on the edge of the box. Thankfully Young's effort was on a par with Smith's previous cross.
Smith redeemed himself slightly with a powerful drive straight at Banks and Scott Severin's free header was maybe a foot or so over the bar. In between these two half-chances, Nade was directed to the bench by referee Mr Collum, to dispose of what looked some jewellry.
The powerful forward set up our second chance of the game however, when he turned Diamond on the right flank and raced into the box. His pass across the box was struck weakly by Velicka, allowing a desperate mixture of Langfield and one of his defenders to clear. Langfield has a reputation amongst some fans as being occasionally accident prone, a tag he lived up to when his poor kick-out almost fell to Velicka and Nade. Again, it was slightly desperate defending that saved the day.
Aberdeen made a change after 27 minutes when Young came off for Maguire. It seemed that there was no injury involved and that there might have been an altercation amongst the home side somewhere. Berra combined with two of his teammates in the space of two minutes, once disastrously and once productively. A catastrophic mix up with Karipidis almost let in Maguire - but didn't thankfully - and then his header across goal from Stewart's delivery was headed down by Velicka, straight at Langfield.
Over half an hour gone now and there was another substitution from the Dons, this time definitely enforced. Severin hobbled off to be replaced by Stuart Duff, signed in midweek from Dundee United. An early contribution from him was a volley that went approximately 30 yards above the crossbar.
Considine received the first yellow card of the game for a cynical tackle on Miko - perhaps a sign that our winger is still considered by many to be fair game following his theatrics against Scotland. The last action of the half came from the resulting free-kick...Stewart chipped in the ball and the header on by Karipidis was met by Velicka's brilliant overhead kick. Langfield was quick though, getting down smartly and palming the ball away.
Hearts had the first real opportunity of the second half, when astoundingly good footwork and chip over the top from Mikoliunas let in Velicka, whose angled effort was parried wide by Langfield. Miko was having a good game, patrolling midfield and spraying some excellent passes about.
We had hit 55 minutes, when Hearts took the lead. Karipids's clearance was disastrously diverted into the path of Nade by debutant Stuart Duff. Our number 14 was coolness personified as he ran straight at Langfield and clipped the ball away into the corner of the net. Aberdeen's furious internal investigation into the error was compounded by a dignified (yet passionate) celebration from the visiting players.
After Hearts had spurned - by means of a good block - the opportunity to double their lead, Aberdeen had put the ball past Steve Banks. Maguire's beautiful cross was turned home first time by Lee Miller. The roars of the Pittodrie faithful were silenced when we all spotted the assistant referee's flag, raised for offside.
Substitute Ksanavicius curved a delightful ball straight into Velicka's path, and Andrius twisted and turned only to fire his effort from 20 yards out fiercely over the bar. A real opportunity to put distance between us and the home side had been missed, as we entered the final quarter of a game that had so far entertained, without ever really setting the heather on fire.
Aberdeen were getting increasing irritated, and their pushing up the park was allowing them to get caught on the break. Beniusis nearly made them pay with a dogged determined run that Ksanavicius couldn't quite convert past Langfield. Miko looked to be appallingly treated when he was tripped in the box, only to receive a yellow card. We know we're biaised but on this occasion it looked like a case of reputation preceding the man and the decision given being the wrong one.
Neil McCann, out of action since that horror show at Celtic Park in August, returned to action with six minutes go. He came on for Miko, who had put in a real shift, a fact reflected on by the away support, who showed their appreciation.
Appreciation was also due for Steve Banks, who pulled off an incredible save in the 86th minute when he somehow got his hands to Foster's low effort to push it around the post. Incredible, frantic stuff, made even worse when the fourth official told us we had five minutes of injury time to endure.
We don't want to relive that five minutes. We can barely even write about it. Steve Banks made a couple of punches, someone cleared off the line (we think, difficult to see) and at the other end Ksanavicius could have wrapped things up at the death but Langfield saved well. However, we held on for a big, big win that makes it two league successes in a row.
One final word - we know that he isn't Gabriel Batistuta but Beniusis did brilliantly when he came on. There was no weak link today but as with his Pittodrie performance at the start of the season, Eggert Jonsson was different class. Bottom line is that whilst there is most definitely still work to do, Hearts are still beating and there are signs a recovery could be just around the corner.
Aberdeen: Langfield; McNamara, Diamond, Considine, Foster; De Visscher, Severin (Duff, 31), Nicholson, Young (Maguire, 27); Jamie Smith (Lovell, 68); Miller. Booked: Considine. Subs not used: Soutar, Mackie, Bus, Jonathan Smith.
Hearts: Banks; Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves; Jonsson, Stewart, Palazuelos, Mikoliunas (McCann, 84); Nade (Ksanavicius, 66), Velicka (Beniusis, 75). Booked: Berra. Subs not used: Basso, Wallace, Thomson, Ivaskevicius.
Referee: Willie Collum
Top man: Eggert Jonsson
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