Berra: I can’t understand hostility from Aberdeen

CHRISTOPHE Berra admits there is “a bitterness” between Hearts and Aberdeen.

The Tynecastle defender has certainly experienced enough of this fixture in his two spells with the club to make such a judgment, though he can’t put his finger on why that should be.

Berra was outpaced by Sam Cosgrove for the Dons’ early opener in a thrilling five-goal game at Pittodrie on Sunday. He then looked on as the hosts hit their third and winning strike after Hearts had taken a 2-1 lead at one stage.

But the ill-tempered affair brought with it nine yellow cards and a red, for Aaron Hickey, as the robustness of the game took hold.

“It always is a physical game with Aberdeen,” the 34-year-old Scotland international said. “I don’t know what it is and if there is a history between Aberdeen and Hearts. There seems to be a bitterness because they always seem to be competitive games.

“We lost at Pittodrie but I still think there were signs we have good players and we can be a good team. It was down to small margins.”

Berra praised the contribution of new-boy Conor Washington, who came off the substitutes’ bench with Steven Naismith and contributed to the former Norwich City centre-forward’s equaliser.

But the Hearts captain thought the physical influence of Uche Ikpeazu up front was a major factor in their comeback to lead 2-1 before Cosgrove’s penalty and Ryan Hedges’s late winner for the Reds.

Now he hopes a deal can be completed this week for Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan, the 35-year-old former Aston Villa midfielder who has been offered a one-year contract after training with the Jambos last week.

“He has proven himself in his career and throughout the years and his standing at club and international level is very high,” said Berra. “He still wants to play because he could quite easily retire now and that shows he still has a hunger to play and do well.”