Aberdeen did their part to put the pressure on rivals Rangers and Hibernian in the race for second place in the Scottish Premiership by seeing off the feeble challenge of Hearts at Pittodrie last night.
The Dons cruised to a comfortable victory against a Jambos team which offered little in return.
Aberdeen were not at their best but it was more than enough against the Edinburgh men, who gave the impression they cannot wait for the season to end. The Dons, however, seem intent on leading from the front.
The Dons were bullied in their recent defeat at Tynecastle and manager Derek McInnes opted to match-up physically with the Jambos for last night’s game.
The manner of the Tynecastle loss this month shaped the Dons manager’s approach to this game as Sam Cosgrove made his first appearance in the starting line-up.
Aberdeen went into their fourth meeting with the men from Gorgie still searching for their first goal of the season against their opponents and a surging run forward from Dominic Ball ended with the midfielder laying the ball off for Graeme Shinnie, who saw his 20-yard strike saved by Hearts goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin.
In keeping with the previous matches this season, the play was ragged and combative but one moment of good play created the opportunity for the Dons to break the deadlock in the 21st minute.
Shay Logan’s flick released Gary Mackay-Steven down the right and he forced a corner for his side. McGinn’s delivery was perfect as he picked out Cosgrove and the big centre forward justified his manager’s faith in him by heading the ball down for Anthony O’Connor, who converted from close range.
The home side went close to adding a second a minute later when Stevie May’s free kick found McGinn but McLaughlin did well to hold the Dons winger’s volley.
Hearts struggled to get anywhere near Joe Lewis’s goal and their ineffectiveness was punished as the Dons doubled their lead in the 37th minute.
Don Cowie was hustled out of possession 35 yards in front of his own goal and Aberdeen surged forward with Kenny McLean’s terrific pass splitting the Hearts defence and Mackay-Steven ran clear into the box before beating McLaughlin with a low, curling effort.
The manner in which Hearts collapsed in the closing minutes must have concerned watching manager Craig Levein.
It should have been 3-0 before the interval as May found Logan unmarked in the box but he could not direct his header on target.
Scott McKenna became the first player cautioned at the start of the second half for hauling Euan Henderson to the deck before Mackay-Steven fired a shot wide from 20 yards as the Dons started the second half determined to continue where they left off. It took another good save from McLaughlin to prevent the Reds from extending their lead as he turned a powerful Cosgrove header over the bar.
If Hearts had been given a half-time pep-talk from their manager it had little to no effect, such was the paucity of their start to the second half. The reaction, or lack of it, must have been hugely depressing for the 450 away fans who had made the trip north.
Aberdeen’s grip on proceedings was so strong that even Dominic Ball, deployed as holding midfielder in front of the back four, was encouraged to push forward and he tried his luck with a dipping half volley from 25 yards. It went high over the bar but was a further illustration with the ease with which the home team was able to play the second half.
ABERDEEN (4-4-2) – Lewis 6, Logan 7, O’Connor 7, Ball 7, McKenna 7, Shinnie 6, McLean 7, McGinn 6 (Considine 83), Mackay-Steven 7, May 6 (Christie 75), Cosgrove 7 (Rooney 75). Subs not used: Woodman, Arnason, Reynolds, Stewart.
HEARTS (3-5-2) – McLaughlin 7, Smith 5, Souttar 6, Hughes 6, Berra 6, Lafferty 6, Naismith 6, Cowie 5 (McDonald 84), Randall 6 (Irving 74), Moore 5, Henderson 5 (Cochrane 58). Subs not used: Hamilton, Amankwaa, Callachan, Hamilton.
Referee – Andrew Dallas 6
Attendance: 14,045.
Man of the match: Kenny McLean.