Aberdeen’s hopes of beating last season’s points tally were dashed by a rugged and resolute Hearts at Pittodrie this evening.
Abiola Dauda’s goal inflicted a second home defeat of the campaign on the Dons but it was a loss which will have hurt Derek McInnes and his players, who so dearly wanted to surpass their tally of the last campaign.
It was far from a classic and clear-cut chances were few and far between in a forgettable affair.
It should come as no surprise that there was little between the sides. After all, this was the meeting of the second and third best teams in the country. Aberdeen won the first two encounters with Hearts winning the Scottish Cup tie and the recent league encounter at Tynecastle.
They had come to Pittodrie with no intention of allowing the Dons to regain the initiative and they departed having achieved what they set out to do, and with all three points to show for it too.
For the Dons, it was a disappointing night but one which should not come as a surprise.
Scott McKenna was given his first start at Pittodrie alongside Ashton Taylor in central defence.
With Simon Church and Adam Rooney both missing due to injury Kenny McLean played in the number nine role.
Both sets of supporters paid tribute to Dons supporter Norman Goldie, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 87, prior to kick-off. Goldie was a familiar face at Pittodrie and on the road due to his famous red sock on one foot and white sock on the other.
A banner and drawing of the late Goldie was unfurled to respectful and heartfelt applause in a fitting tribute for the long-time fan of the Dons.
There is nothing at stake for any of the teams in the Scottish Premiership as we head into the final weekend of the season and it showed in this encounter.
The Dons had their own personal club goal of beating last season’s tally of 75 points for the campaign which gave them a spark of sorts but there was no escaping the fact something was missing.
Hearts were happy to sit in and hit on the counter but they almost capitalised on a poor kick from Adam Collin only for the goalkeeper to redeem himself when he turned Prince Buaben’s shot past the post.
Aberdeen were lively at times, particularly down the flanks thanks to the efforts of Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn but it took the Dons until the 38th minute to test Hearts goalkeeper Jack Hamilton through Shay Logan’s long range effort.
That was it from either side in a first half which it is fair to say will not live long in the memory and it would be no overstatement to suggest the half-time whistle was greeted with relief.
The Dons came out with renewed vigour as they chased the win they needed. Hayes saw his dipping 30 yard effort deflected wide for a corner before McGinn cut inside from the left flank before curling a rising effort just past Hamilton’s post.
But the Jambos were not here to rollover and let the Dons have it all their own way and they brought a much needed edge to proceedings shortly after the hour mark by opening the scoring.
With so little space in behind either team it was no surprise that a set-piece should provide the breakthrough. The visitors were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal after Dons captain Ryan Jack had fouled defender Callum Paterson.
Hearts captain Alim Ozturk took the free kick, firing in a powerful shot which was parried by Collin but only as far as Dauda who fired the rebound into the empty net.
McInnes sent Cammy Smith on before adding Joe Nuttall to the attack in his debut in an attempt to find an equaliser but the Dons failed to create a meaningful chance.
A long and arduous campaign appears to be taking its toll on McInnes and his men as they reach the finish line.
A season which started on July 2 has left the Aberdeen squad struggling towards the final game against Ross County on Sunday.
It’s less a case of the tank running on empty; more the fact they have been left lacking in one area in particular and it has blunted their threat substantially.
The season is ending at the right time.
