2nd March 2020. Hearts 2 Aberdeen 0

Hearts v Aberdeen at Tynecastle tonight in the SPL. I had been childminding and dog-sitting today but Claire’s final appointment cancelled. I was therefore able to head home at 16.00 rather than 17.00. With no time constraints I had a leisurely meal before head to the ground at 19.00. With. Covid passports no longer required there were no queues at the turnstiles and I was in my seat by 19.00 to watch the sides warming up. When the teams came back on for kick-off there was a minutes applause for former Hearts centre half Alan Anderson who died earlier this week aged 82. Anderson was one of my favourite players when I first started watching Hearts and scored a number of goals at a time when defenders were there to prevent, rather than score goals. I do wonder however how he would have favour in todays football where physical contact is frowned upon. I suspect that unless he changed his style he would spend half the season under suspension. 

Hearts had won 2-0 against St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday. Ellis Simms who scored as a substitute on Saturday moved into the starting lineup alongside Liam Boyce. Barrie McKay and Gary Mackay-Steven (GMS) supported in the wing berths. Aberdeen had recently sacked manager Stephen Glass. They appointed Jim Goodwin from St. Mirren as his replacement but in his third match in charge he is still looking for his first victory. Former Hibs and Celtic player Scott Brown returned in midfield for Aberdeen and received his usual "warm" welcome from the Tynecastle crowd. Up front American Christian Ramirez would be the main goal scoring threat with ten goals for the club so far this season. 

Hearts started well and could have taken the lead in five minutes. John Souttar broke into the Aberdeen area and found GMS just beyond the far post. The forward looked to have time to take a touch but his first time shot flew wide of the goal. Stephen Kingsley then found Boyce with an excellent through pass into the penalty area. His goal attempt was blocked by a combination of a David Bates challenge alongside a Joe Lewis save for Aberdeen. Kingsley then did well to get back and stop a Ramirez  break with a  superb tackle. Declan Gallagher had a headed goal from a free-kick ruled off for a foul on Simms who was marking the player in the Hearts penalty box. Hearts took the lead in thirty-eight minutes when a cross from Barrie McKay was cleared to Cammy Devlin on the right. His cross towards Craig Halkett was cleared by Brown but only as far as Souttar. The defenders volley from around sixteen yards flew past Lewis to give Hearts a deserved lead. 

The second half started much as the first which Hearts the better side. Boyce had an early chance when he was set free inside the box on the right by a through pass from McKay. The striker tried a shot across Lewis from about fifteen yards but the ball drifted past the far post, on the hour mark McKay broke forward but Lewis blocked his shot at the expense of a corner. McKay took the kick from the right and his cross found Kingsley leaping high just outside the six yard box. His header gave Lewis no chance and gave Hearts 2-0 lead. Aberdeen had a chance to get back into the game after seventy minutes when referee Steven McLean awarded them a penalty. Lewis Ferguson gather the ball on the left and tried to break into the Hearts penalty area. Nate Atkinson challenged him and while there was contact the Aberdeen player stayed on his feet. Ferguson appeared to fall over well after the challenge, which was confirmed on Sportscene later on TV, but referee McLean awarded a penalty. Ferguson took the kick but Craig Gordon dived to his right to save the ball. Given Ferguson had scored eleven kicks in a row the save helped confirm Gordons status as Scotland’s best goalkeeper despite what Rangers fans say. 

After the final whistle I walked home happy. With Halkett back the Hearts defence was more secure and also allowed the more creative defenders in Souttar and Kingsley the opportunity to break forward. In midfield Beni Baningime and Devlin were getting stronger although I am a bit concerned about the number of times Devlin is getting yellowed carded. Upfront Simms’ inclusion was giving Boyce time and space to make and, hopefully soon, take chances so all in a good team performance. 

Teams

Hearts: Gordon, Kingsley, Souttar, Baningime, Boyce,Mackay-Steven, Atkinson, Devlin, McKay, Halkett, Simms.

Subs: Ginnelly, Haring, Halliday

Aberdeen: Lewis, Gallagher, Brown, Ramirez, Besuijen, Ojo, Hayes, Ferguson, Bates, Barron , Kennedy. 

Subs: McLennan, Jenks, McGeough, McKenzie.