Aberdeen 0 - 1 Heart of Midlothian

As the game got under way it was obvious that underfoot conditions might well have a bearing on this match. The players struggled to keep their footing and there was plenty of surface water on the pitch. Aberdeen won the first corner of the match in the 5th minute and forced a second a minute later. Both caused problems for the visitors, but they eventually cleared safely. Two minutes later it was Hearts who forced two successive corners and the second almost provided the opener. Kjaer was forced into a brilliant stop from a Severin effort then a second attempt was headed off the line.

Hearts were looking dangerous from corners and the 14th minute saw another one whipped in forcing Kjaer to punch clear. Aberdeen were showing neat build up play, but had yet to seriously threaten McKenzie in the Hearts goal. After a promising start the game lost a lot of its impetus with play being restricted to the middle of the park.

Aberdeen created their best chance in the 35th minute when McGuire and Anderson combined at a Deloumeaux free kick. McGuire headed the ball back across the face of the goal, but Anderson's header went wide of the target. A minute later McAllister went close with a free kick with McKenzie scurrying across his goal line. The Dons should have taken the lead in the 43rd minute when Mackie and Mike combined well to set up Bisconti. Unfortunately the Belgian scooped his effort over the bar when a goal looked easier. Seconds later Mike set up Mackie in a similar position, but his shot went wide as he tried to ride a heavy challenge.

The second half was more or less following the pattern of the first with few clear-cut chances being created. The underfoot conditions certainly weren't helping matters. Aberdeen tried to end the stalemate by introducing Scott Michie in the 55th minute. A minute later it was Rutkiewicz who went close with a looping header that went wide of the target. Michie had his first glimpse of goal in the 58th minute when he collected a Derek Young pass on the edge of the box. Unfortunately he had to turn away from goal before unleashing a shot which was blocked by Pressley.

In the 72nd minute Aberdeen won a series of corners as they tried to break through. A minute later there were loud appeals for a penalty again when Tiernan went down as he steadied himself to shoot. There looked little in the claim however. Michie looked to have grabbed the equaliser in the 74th minute, but a late outstretched foot from McKenzie denied the youngster. Anderson also went close in the 78th minute when he headed a Bisconti chip inches wide of the target.

In a final roll of the dice Ben Thornley and Darren Young were introduced to the fray in place of Derek Young and Roberto Bisconti. Despite their best efforts the Dons couldn't claw it back and it took a wonderful stop by Kjaer to deny Hearts a second.