Lewis denies Levein a returning victory
HIGH quality handling normally leads to high scoring at Murrayfield.
This time around, with Hearts and Aberdeen fighting it out at the home of Scottish rugby, it led to stalemate.
Dons keeper Joe Lewis turned in a man of the match display to deny the Jam Tarts victory in Craig Levein’s bow as head coach.
The Aberdeen stopper produced a string of stunning fingertip stops as rampant Hearts threatened to run up a scoreline fit for their temporary home.
It was Hearts’ best display in an age, yet they still didn’t win.
Thankfully for Don Cowie – Dons keeper Lewis’ former Cardiff City team- mate – the prospect of rapid revenge provided a degree of comfort.
“Joe is staying at mine tonight so I think he might be in the shed after that,” joked Cowie.
“We were at Cardiff together so we know each other well.
“It’s no surprise to me that he has put in performances like that a few times since he’s come up over a year ago.
“Unfortunately, he’s produced another one against us.”
Levein’s Hearts looked a tough, wellorganised, and dangerous proposition against an unbeaten Aberdeen side.
And the changes instigated by the Jam Tarts’ new head coach are not lost on Cowie.
“The differences that Craig made are small details – but very important ones. We all knew our role within the team,” he said.
“It’s going to take time – because of the international week we’ve only had a couple days that we’ve all been able to work together.
“But moving forward it’s a great base for us to build on and I’m looking forward to what we can achieve because that was a very talented team we faced today and I thought we acquitted ourselves very well.”
There were changes of personnel to go with the change of venue for Hearts.
Levein’s opening gambit as gaffer was a characteristically bold one – dropping keeper Jack Hamilton for summer recruit Jon McLaughlin.
His second, ditching Kyle Lafferty, was eye-catching too.
But Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes was also minded towards change, and he handed 22- year- old Dominic Ball his debut at centre- half in place of benched stalwart Mark Reynolds.
Up front, Stevie May and Adam Rooney were started for the first time as a pair – and they were quickly into their stride as the Dons surged forward.
In their all- blue away kit, Aberdeen had the best of the first half in terms of territory and possession.
However, despite their lack of a foothold in the game, Hearts enjoyed the best of the chances, with only Lewis keeping them at bay.
The Dons stopper produced stunning fingertip stops from Isma Goncalves and Jamie Walker as Hearts broke twice.
By contrast, Aberdeen were just too tentative in the danger zone, though Ryan Christie fired just wide after being sent clear by Shinnie and Shay Logan tested Hearts’ debutant goalie with half-time imminent.
The interval arrived with Hearts beginning to work themselves into the game.
The second half began with Craig Levein’s side in the ascendency.
With 54 minutes on the clock they carved out a golden opportunity when Golcalves chested down Christophe Berra’s long ball for new boy Ross Callachan.
Callachan only had Lewis to beat, but the Dons stopper was again unbeatable, pulling out yet another terrific reflex stop.
Goncalves came close again 10 minutes later, striking the bar after a surging run to the edge of the box.
By the time Lafferty, on for the luckless Goncalves, saw a golden chance nicked off his toe by Shay Logan after a moment’s hesitation, Hearts had the Aberdeen goal under siege.
Yet the majority of the 24,248 in attendance were left disappointed after Lewis clutched the final effort of the game, from Cowie, at the death.