Better Leight than never
Robson hails his never say die Dons battlers
Barry Robson hailed Aberdeen’s character after they fought back to claim a stoppage-time win against Hearts.
The Dons, who moved up to ninth, had gone behind to a Lawrence Shankland goal but levelled through Bojan Miovski and then claimed the points in stoppage time through Leighton Clarkson.
The pressure had been on Robson after the Dons had failed to register a win in their last six games and the midweek defeat to Kilmarnock had seen some of their fans turn on him.
But Robson said: “We got three points, which is the most important thing.
“I said to my players they’ve been hard done by at times this season.
“They’ve not got what they deserved from a lot of games. We got that today.
“Over the last three games that’s 57 shots we’ve had. And even the goal hit the post. It seems it is taking that for them to go in.
“But they deserved it, they’ve performed really well in some games and not got those rewards. You see the chances we create as a team. They will go in.
“I’m pleased for them because they deserved to get that win.
“I get that we’re in Europe and a cup final but we need to get our points tally better in the league.”
This win gives Robson and his team some respite ahead of a Europa Conference League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt and then next weekend’s Viaplay Cup final with Rangers.
Robson said: “There you go, we’re about to play two massive matches against Frankfurt in the group stage and Rangers in a cup final.
“That is what the players have achieved. “Obviously our league form has not been what it should be but three points can hopefully kick us on. We will want to build momentum but we will have to wait for that.
“The fans were brilliant again. They were frustrated the other night and I get that.
“When I played here and we hadn’t done enough they booed me then and rightly
so. They can give me a bit, I don’t mind that. But if they keep backing the players like they do, that’s what we want.
“We have to get more points in the league as they are giving us everything.”
Hearts, who had won their previous four games before their midweek defeat to Rangers, hadn’t won in the Granite City since 2016 – a run extended to 11 games after this one.
The visitors were keen to test Aberdeen’s dented confidence. Stephen Kingsley had a header saved and Alex Lowry’s shot was gathered by Kelle Roos.
The Dons did find their feet. Jonny Hayes’ cross was half cleared, Jack Milne won it and found Jamie McGrath but his shot was blocked by a diving defender.
Hearts took the lead in the 20th minute, Alex Cochrane’s in- swinging corner saw Shankland get away from his marker and net with a diving header at the back post.
It was another sore one for Robson’s side, who in the first stage of the season had prided themselves on their defending of set pieces.
Aberdeen had plenty of the ball but they struggled to really click in the final third, although they finished the first half on the front foot.
Calem Nieuwenhof got caught on the ball and gave away a cheap foul.
Hayes curled it in from the right to the edge of the box where Clarkson scuffed his free-kick just wide, as Miovski was unable to divert it on target at the back post. Aberdeen kept pushing forward and got the crowd up and behind them, although there were big spaces when Hearts managed to turn over play.
Captain Graeme Shinnie tried to take things into his own hands with a longrange shot that flew just wide.
Aberdeen came back out after the break and put their foot to the floor again. An intricate move fashioned a near-post chance for Miovski but he couldn’t get enough on it.
A Jack Mi lne slip allowed Cochrane to win the ball back. He set up Shankland but he shot over.
Richard Jensen cracked in a 30-yard effort that Clark had to tip over.
Aberdeen f inally got their first league goal in three games.
McGrath made a determined burst into the box and went down. He never got the decision but managed to battle on, win the ball back and play it to Miovski who fired it low past Clark and in off the post in the 53rd minute for his 12th of the season.
Sokler then fired into the side-netting and McGrath had a free- kick saved, although there was concern when Miovski had to limp off. Robson later stated he should be fine for Hampden. Hearts made a couple of double substitutions. The positive for Hearts was the return of Craig Halkett. Aberdeen kept going and Hearts were dropping deeper and deeper.
Devlin sent a ball up the right. Duk got in behind, crossed and Clarkson stepped up to net.
There was an almighty roar at the end. It was in sharp contrast to the midweek chorus of boos and added extras, whi le Hearts dropped to fifth.