27th January. 2024. Hearts 2 Aberdeen 0

At last back to Tynecastle. After a spell of illness back to watch a home game for the first time since late November. I would have been back for the Dundee game on Tuesday but I fell out of bed overnight on Monday and was a mess of bruises so stayed at home. Today however I was feeling a lot better and left home to walk to Tynecastle. I arrived around 14.20 and scanned my season ticket for entry. Went to my seat in the Main Stand and it felt great to be back again. 2024 is 150 years since Hearts were founded and a special 150 year flag was raised on the pitch before the kickoff. The flag will be flown above the stand for the remainder of the year. The ceremony made me feel old as I remember being at the 100th anniversary match against Spurs in 1974.

Steven Naismith starting lineup included both Dexter Lembikiska and Yutaro Oda who both came on as substitutes against Dundee and scored. Craig Halkett and Kenneth Vargas dropped to the bench to replace them Aberdeen under mamager Barry Robson are struggling in the SPFL this season although they did reach the League Cup final. Their main goal threat comes from Bojan Mlovski while Jamie McGrath who was targeted by Hearts provides goals from midfield.

Hearts started well and Lawrence Shankland set Jorge Grant free. The midfielder sent the ball to Oda on the right but his shot was deflected behind for a corner. Hearts had the bulk of the early possession but to be they seemed to be moving the ball too slowly to trouble the Aberdeen defence. Aberdeen came more into the game and Dante Palarea came close with a header before Zander Clark did well to stop a header from McGrath. Minutes later Aberdeen thought they had scored when Mlovski cut into the penalty box on the right and curled a shot past Clark into the far corner of the net. I thought it was a good goal but a VAR reviewed ruled the goal out for a full on Beni Beningime as the forward cut into the penalty area. While I was glad the goal was ruled out I still thought the review took too long. If a review takes longer than say three minutes surely there cannot be a clear and obvious error and  original decision should stand. The game continued evenly to halftime but Hearts seemed to lack an attacking threat as the were unable to create clear chances.

I don’t know what Naismith said to his side at halftime but what ever it was worked well. Hearts looked a different side in the second half with Baningime and Celem Neuiwenhof dominating in midfield. The first goal came ten minutes into the half after Allan Forrest broke down the left wing. His cross into the box was blocked by Nicky Devlin and after another lengthy VAR review a penalty was awarded. With Shankland having missed his last three kicks Grant took the kick. He fired the ball high into the top right hand corner of the net giving keeper Kelle Roos no chance of making a save. Hearts continued to press forward and Roos made excellent saves from both Forrest and Shankland before the second goal arrived. After seventy-seven minutes Alex Cochrane broke down the left and sent a low ball across to the edge of the penalty area. The Hearts website said Grant sent it on to Shankland but I think the striker pushed him out of the way before sending a shot into the top corner if the net with the outside of his right foot. SubstitutevKenneth Vargas could have added another but he shot into the side night with Shankland unmarked in front of goal and looking for a pass.

I thought the victory was well deserved and I cannot see Hearts falling away as they did last season. They have a stronger squad with a number of young players coming through. In addition Rowles and Atkinson will shortly be  coming back from the Asian Cup. With Boyce, Devlin  and McKay recovering from injury and the two Craig’s, Gordon and Halkett, looking for more game time after long injury absences I think third place in the SPL is assured. 

Hearts: Clark, Kent, Kingsley, Baningime, Grant, Nieuwenhof, Shankland, Oda, Forrest, Cochrane, Lembikisa

Subs:, Halkett, Sibbick, Tait, Vargas

 

Aberdeen: Roos, Devlin, Mackenzie, Shinnie, Jensen, Gartenmann,  McGrath, Barron , Miovski, Clarkson, Polvara.

Subs: Duk, Sokler, Morris, MacDonald,