Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, Aberdeen 3.
HeartsHeart of Midlothian1AberdeenAberdeen3
Aberdeen stunned Hearts with three first-half goals at packed Tynecastle to take their Scottish Premiership record to eight consecutive wins.
David Goodwillie headed the Dons in front from a Niall McGinn free-kick before McGinn lashed in a second with Hearts' defence in disarray.
McGinn's great run set up Goodwillie for a composed third for Aberdeen.
After the interval Igor Rossi pulled one back for an improved home side but Aberdeen had further chances to score.
The home side started the game on the back of two straight defeats but were quickly on the attack. However, the Dons moved in front with their first attack.
Callum Paterson gave away a needless free-kick on Goodwillie near the corner flag.
McGinn swung the ball into the six-yard area where Goodwillie got the better of Miguel Pallardo in the aerial challenge and, although Neil Alexander managed to get a hand on the ball, the Hearts goalkeeper failed to stop it crossing the line.
The Dons doubled their advantage midway through the first half when Northern Irishman McGinn won the ball on the edge of his own box before racing upfield to collect a pass close to the corner flag.
And as Blazej Augustyn dived in to tackle him, McGinn waltzed past the defender before curling the ball into the corner of the net.
Hearts, who had started the season so brightly, were being made to look very ordinary by an Aberdeen side with a hunger for goals.
And their third came in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
A Hearts attack broke down when Goodwillie dispossessed Prince Buaben just outside the Aberdeen 18-yard box.
The striker raced to the other end of the pitch to collect a pass from McGinn before dispatching the ball beyond Alexander.
Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson brought on Sam Nicholson for the ineffective Gavin Reilly for the second half and within seven minutes of the restart the home side had pulled a goal back.
The Aberdeen defence failed to deal with a corner and Rossi turned the ball home from close range to give the Hearts fans some hope.
As the game swung from end to end Alexander kept Hearts in the game with two magnificent stops from Peter Pawlett and McGinn.
Paterson came close to a second for Hearts with a free-kick from 25 yards that had Danny Ward scrambling across his line but the ball crashed off the top of the crossbar.
Hearts enjoyed more possession but Aberdeen were in control and easily saw out the game to maintain their run of league wins.
Line-ups
Hearts
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Alexander
- 2Paterson
- 5Ozturk
- 4Augustyn
- 18Rossi
- 8BuabenSubstituted forKingat 84'minutes
- 14Pallardo GonzalezBooked at 42mins
- 10Sow
- 20ReillySubstituted forNicholsonat 45'minutes
- 7Walker
- 19Delgado LloriaBooked at 53mins
Substitutes
- 11Nicholson
- 12King
- 13Hamilton
- 22McGhee
- 23Swanson
- 28Smith
- 35McKirdy
Aberdeen
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 19WardBooked at 46mins
- 2Logan
- 5Taylor
- 18QuinnBooked at 82mins
- 4Considine
- 22Jack
- 3Shinnie
- 10McGinnSubstituted forMcLaughlinat 90+2'minutes
- 7McLean
- 16PawlettSubstituted forRooneyat 66'minutes
- 17GoodwillieSubstituted forParkerat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Flood
- 9Rooney
- 14Smith
- 15Robson
- 20Brown
- 21McLaughlin
- 32Parker
- Referee:
- Bobby Madden
- Attendance:
- 16,702
Match Stats
Home TeamHeartsAway TeamAberdeen
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home8
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home21
- Away20
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, Aberdeen 3.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alim Ozturk (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Ryan McLaughlin replaces Niall McGinn.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt saved. Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Miguel Pallardó (Heart of Midlothian).
Post update
Adam Rooney (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Paul Quinn (Aberdeen).
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Josh Parker replaces David Goodwillie.
Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Billy King replaces Prince Buaben.
Post update
Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Considine (Aberdeen).
Post update
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Andrew Considine.
Booking
Paul Quinn (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Paul Quinn (Aberdeen).
Post update
Foul by Blazej Augustyn (Heart of Midlothian).
