THIS long-awaited win over Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen team had people the length of Scotland taking notice of Hearts' title challenge
THERE was nothing unlucky about the number 13 for Hearts in this cliffhanger of a match which ended in a 1-0 win over Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen.
The Hearts managerial duo of Alex Macdonald and Sandy Jardine had waited a long time to put one over
on the Dons but they made it with a handsome display after nine losses and three draws on the way.
Hearts were hungrier for glory, refused to be second to the ball and their non-stop style of play brought Aberdeen back to reality after their League Cup success the previous Sunday.
The Tynecastle defence was watertight and the Dons rarely looked like cancelling out Craig Levein's early headed opener until injury time when Henry Smith made a magnificent save from Neil Simpson.
However, it would be an injustice to Hearts to dwell on that single contribution for the whole team played with a purpose, zest and ability that Aberdeen couldn't match.
Dons skipper Willie Miller must have had his poorest game for some time and that was down to the restless, hard-hitting performance of Sandy Clark, who didn't give Miller or Alex McLeish a minute's rest.
John Colquhoun played well on the right wing against a variety of opponents and Levein was outstanding at the back as Aberdeen missed the skills of Eric Black, who was injured.
The changed Pittodrie side didn't click with Weir and Angus as ineffective as the stodgy McDougall. Hearts totally dominated the first half and, though their grip was slackened subsequently, won well enough for Alex Ferguson to pay tribute to their efforts.
It was a pity but not surprising that a first-class game was refereed poorly, however.
Louis Thow booked five and shirked responsibility when Neale Cooper and Kenny Black ought to have been shown the red card in separate incidents.
Cooper was saved by Colquhoun rising instantly from a shocking tackle after Cooper had been booked previously and substitute Black escaped with a caution after an ill-tempered incident.
With their unchanged team grasping seven points from four games, Hearts had cause to regret fluffed results at Motherwell and Clydebank.
But they were moving in an upward direction, playing better with every passing game and it was a healthy sign that Roddy McDonald could not command his old place. Certainly their unbeaten record was going to take some breaking.
The result kept the championship wide open but Scotland goalkeeper Jim Leighton couldn't have reflected too happily on the winning goal. He went for a Colquhoun corner only to be beaten in the jump by Levein, who nodded the ball into the net.
Aberdeen chased anxiously for the remaining 76 minutes. Bett and Wright were introduced but Hearts were unshakeable and derived much satisfaction from those 90 minutes.
Hearts: Smith, Kidd, Whittaker, S Jardine, Berry, Levein, Colquhoun, I Jardine (Black), Clark, Robertson, Mackay.
The full article contains 508 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
