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Aberdeen’s Tynecastle misery continues with 2-1 defeat as Hearts close gap on third place
Aberdeen made it three games without a win after falling to a 2-1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle.
Barry Robson’s men had taken a first half lead through Mattie Pollock, but were then pegged back by a superb equaliser from Josh Ginnelly.
The Jambos were the better team across the piece, and grabbed what turned out to be the winner early in the second half through ex-Aberdeen striker Lawrence Shankland.
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The Dons were dealt a huge blow in the build up to the game with star men Luis Duk Lopes and Ross McCrorie both omitted from the line up with injury.
The opening 15 minutes was a scrappy affair, but it was the hosts who created the first opening, when Kelle Roos got down low to palm away a strike from Shankland.
Less than two minutes later the Dutchman came to his side’s rescue again, denying Yutaro Oda from close range after Jonny Hayes had been caught sleeping.
Robson’s men then had their first opportunity when Marley Watkins latched onto a ball over the top, only to see his left-footed effort kept out by Zander Clark.
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They then had a shout for a penalty waved away by VAR on 23 minutes, after Watkins appeared to be tripped as he stretched to reach the ball inside the area.
Aberdeen were content to try and play on the counter attack, with the front two of Watkins and Bojan Miovski looking to get on the end of long passes forward.
But it was through a set piece that the visitors went in front on 32 minutes. Leighton Clarkson whipped in a corner from the left hand side, and after Jambos stopper Clark misjudged the flight of the ball, Pollock was able to nod it home and claim his second goal for the club.
Within a minute of the restart Hearts almost levelled, but Liam Scales produced a last ditch block to deny full back Alex Cochrane.
Roos has been in imperious form in recent weeks, and showed his class once again making a smart save with his feet from another Oda strike.
Watford loanee Pollock almost bagged his second with five minutes of the half remaining, when his diving header from Hayes’ in swinging free-kick drifted narrowly wide.
But on 43 minutes the home side found an equaliser as winger Ginnelly beat Kelle Roos from 20 yards out with an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
The Jambos then threatened to hit Aberdeen with a double whammy, but Roos was able to get down low to make another fine stop.
The Dons had showed their clinical touch in front of goal to take the lead with just their second effort on target, but went into the interval level thanking their star keeper for his exceptional first half display.
Hearts came quick out the blocks and went close to completing the turnaround within the first minute of the second half, as Ginnelly flicked a header wide after being left alone inside the box.
On 51 minutes Pollock met another Clarkson corner at the back post, but this time was unable to get his header on target.
A minute later and the impressive Oda tried his luck again, but saw his strike from the edge of the box deflected wide for a corner.
A combination of good Hearts pressure and slack passing from the visitors then saw Aberdeen fall behind on 55 minutes. Cochrane broke down the left hand side and cut the ball back to Shankland, who beat Roos with an instinctive finish.
VAR checked the goal for a possible offside, but referee Kevin Clancy pointed to the halfway line and Shankland bagged his 29th goal of the season.
Robson then tried to change the tide of the game by introducing Jack Mackenzie, Ryan Duncan and Shayden Morris in a triple switch on the hour mark.
Morris almost made an instant impact by latching onto Clarkson’s clever pass, but could only fire the ball into the gloves of Clark.
But those alterations were unable to have the desired effect, and the Dons struggled to find a route back into the game.
They did then have a half chance for a leveller with 20 minutes to go, when Miovski scuffed a shot straight at Clark after some pinball in the Hearts penalty area.
Blackburn loanee Dilan Markanday was then brought on in place of Watkins for the last 12 minutes as the Dons tried to add some much needed spark at the top end of the pitch.
However if there was another goal to arrive in the final 10 minutes, then it wasn’t coming from the visiting team.
Substiute Alan Forrest should have wrapped the game up, but somehow side-footed an effort wide from 12 yards.
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Eight minutes were added on at the end because of the various stoppages, but the Reds were unable to build up any significant pressure to seriously trouble Clark and the Jambos back line.
Clarkson then spared his team from further misery, with a great goal line clearance after Shankland broke clear down the right.
Hearts held on for a vital victory, and reduced the gap to Aberdeen in third to just two points with two games remaining in the race for European football.
The Dons host St Mirren on Wednesday night before taking on champions Celtic in their final game of the season at Parkhead next Saturday.
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