Hearts hold out as Dons fail to make any inroads

GRANITE may no longer be the toughest thing in Aberdeen: that Heart of Midlothian backline now offers competition.

They were battered and probed but answered everything that the Dons threw at them. By keeping their sixth consecutive clean sheet, they set a new club record for the most consecutive matches without conceding a goal.

The worst thing about their performance was the stupidity of Kyle Lafferty to go diving in on Graeme Shinnie in the final few minutes, receiving a red card.

They don’t like the Northern Irishman in these parts. He dived when going head-to-head as a Rangers player against Charlie Mulgrew in 2009, and it has not been forgotten about.

He left the field at Pittodrie to condemnation, with several missiles being thrown in his direction.

Derek McInnes will wonder how his side did not win. It was a missed opportunity to extend their lead in second in the Scottish Premiership, with Rangers drawing earlier at Celtic, but they will begin 2018 three points clear of the Ibrox side.

Craig Levein made four changes to the team which held Hibernian to a midweek draw. Harry Cochrane started after missing that clash through suspension, and he was joined by Anthony McDonald, Aaron Hughes and Michael Smith in returning.

Out went Lafferty, Connor Randall, Prince Buaben and Jamie Walker.

McInnes made just the one switch from the side which beat Partick Thistle on Wednesday, but it meant a rotation of the players on the pitch. Kari Arnason came in for Greg Stewart.

The Iceland international went in at centre-back, Anthony O’Connor stepping into midfield and then Kenny McLean from a holding role into the No10 position.

Ryan Christie, who had played there against Partick Thistle, took Stewart’s place on the wing.

The afternoon started on a positive note for the hosts. Niall McGinn was paraded before kick-off, having penned a threeand-a-half-year deal on Thursday.

It was also a reminder for the visitors of what they could have had, as they were one of the clubs that the 30-year-old rejected to make the move to the north east.

McLean looked up for it, and he dinked a brilliant through ball over the visitors’ defence to release Gary Mackay-Steven.

He controlled it well and cut back on to his right foot, but his effort was blocked by the sliding John Souttar. The ball spun up to Adam Rooney, but his ambitious bicycle kick from a tight angle was held by Jon McLaughlin.

McLean was the one picking up the pieces when Christie overhit his delivery after working a short corner with Mackay-Steven.

His low cross was whipped in towards Rooney, but he ducked, and McLaughlin made the save.

Levein’s masterplan was hindered after 17 minutes when Smith was forced to depart.

He was replaced by Daniel Baur. Hearts have faced an injury crisis in the last several months, and McDonald was also forced off, with Lafferty introduced.

Levein will be thankful that his injured players now have the winter break to recuperate.

Aberdeen continued to dominate. Mackay-Steven showed great control to cushion Christie’s crossfield pass and scoot past Baur.

He crossed the ball to the back post, where McLean would have surely converted if not for a timely interception by Souttar.

Hearts were camped in their own half, but were gifted a chance as Aberdeen over-committed. Arnason dove into a tackle on Esmael Goncalves on the halfway line, and the Portuguese nipped away. McKenna came across to close his opponent down, but in doing so allowed Goncalves to slip in David Milinkovic.

The Serb had about 20 yards of space to control and run in on goal, but his effort was blocked by a brilliant Joe Lewis save.

Rooney then really should have opened the scoring after 41 minutes. Andrew Considine’s shot hit a ruck of players and fell to the striker just five yards from goal. Somehow, McLaughlin spread himself to turn the ball wide.

Rooney, again, should have done better when Arnason’s long throw landed at his feet than blaze over.

Stewart was introduced at halftime and he was unlucky not to score. Christie’s cross was headed clear by Christophe Berra, but Stewart bounced the ball using his chest, though his volley, which was on target, deflected wide.

From the resultant corner, McLaughlin made a stunning save high to his left to deny McKenna, who met Christie’s delivery.

Goncalves passed up a couple of chances to snatch it and Aberdeen felt they should have had a penalty when Jamie Brandon handled the ball in his own box.

However, the final moments will be remembered for Lafferty’s stupidity. Shinnie was bombing into the Hearts half and the striker made the cynical foul with too much force and aggression for referee John Beaton’s liking.