Pa Broon comes tae toun.

Hearts were looking to continue their recent run of fine form against SPL strugglers Aberdeen.  The Dons meanwhile had secured an agreement during the week with Craig Brown to take over as their next manager.  Whilst they hadn’t officially commenced their duties, both Brown and his assistant Archie Knox were present at Tynecastle to oversee proceedings.

Neil Simpson and Neale Cooper took temporary charge of Aberdeen for the last time before returning to their regular jobs with the club, however, Craig Brown was still on hand to deliver a few words to the media.  In fact, Brown’s attendance at the game caused a bit of a scrum amongst the touchline photographers who seemed desperate to obtain a photograph for the following day’s newspapers.

Craig Brown talks to the media.

When a club appoints a new manger it often causes an immediate surge in confidence inspiring the team to victory. Brown was yet to take over the reigns at Pittodrie but there was always the feeling that the announcement of his appointment and his looming presence over the Aberdeen squad from the Main Stand might have had the required, galvanising effect.  It was this theory which I, in a typically a glass half empty approach, aired in The Diggers whilst enjoying a pre match pint with my Dad and Uncle.

My Uncle, a life long Hearts supporter who was making one of his few pilgrimages per season to Tynecastle, did little do much to dispel my negativity by reminding me that his last visit to Tynecastle was a 0-3 reverse.  The opponents that day were of course none other than Aberdeen!

Recent heavy snowfall had caused the guttering to collapse and damage the front couple of rows.

The dugout roofs had also required a bit of fixing up!

Upon finishing our pints we walked down towards the ground and entered the lower section of the Main Stand. We were quite lucky to have secured a ticket for my Uncle in this area, as generally speaking, Hearts are no longer selling one off tickets for this section of the ground following objects being thrown on the pitch from this area during a recent game against Rangers. Earlier in the week we'd been able to speak directly to the Ticket Office Manager, Martin Ewart, who thankfully authorised our request once we’d explained the situation and assured him 64 year old Uncle Bill posed a minimal hooliganism threat.  Martin was happy to help us out and it was great to see common sense prevailing.  We couldn’t have sent the old git to sit on his own, he might have needed a hand with the stairs!

The teams warm up before kick off.

Aberdeen’s travelling support was fairly impressive considering the forthcoming festive seaons, the recent bad weather, the journey involved and the fact that their recent play has been less attractive than Bella Emberg modelling Ann Summers' lingerie.  I often think of Aberdeen FC as the Newcastle Utd of Scotland, what with being a one club city, having a good support, being massive underachievers (..only joking) and a handful of their fans added to this theme by going topless (all male I hasten to add).  Only slightly warmer were the few fans who dressed in Santa outfits.  It probably seemed a good idea at the time!

The Aberdeen support.

A few nutters brave the cold.

The game itself started in a lively fashion.  Zander Diamond drew first blood by heading a cross wide of Kello’s far post.  Aberdeen’s dominance was to be short lived however, Templeton received the ball out wide before cutting inside and appearing to get bundled over in the box.  Whilst pretty much everyone was screaming for a penalty, Templeton had the presence of mind to sweep the ball towards goal.  Aberdeen made the clearance after it beat Langfield before the referee judged that the ball had in fact crossed the line and awarded the goal.

Only a few minutes later Hearts had doubled their lead.  Skacel finished a lovely sweeping move to fire the ball across goal and high into the Aberdeen net after some breath taking work by Templeton.  The heads of the Aberdeen players seemed to drop after that and many on the men in red shirts looked as if they’d rather by anywhere else than on the pitch.  I guess it’s an understandable reaction given some of the defeats they’ve suffered in recent weeks, but it’s one they need to get out of the habit of. If nothing else their supporters deserver far, far better.

Hearts celebrate the second goal.

In addition to the two goals, the first half was notable by some bizarre referring decision from Mike Tumilty.  Rudi Skacel appeared to be booked for taking a free kick early (note: the referee did not officiate consistently by failing to caution Hartley for an identical 'misdemeanor' in the second half) before Ian Black also picked up a yellow card, presumably for dissent or questioning the ref.  Skacel’s baffling booking may have been rescinded as it appeared to be missing from any match reports I read on Sunday. Whatever the eventual decision was, the reasoning behind it had everyone in the stadium stumped.

The second half started in much the same way that the first half ended and despite some encouraging play from Aberdeen, all of which came through Aluko, it wasn’t long before Hearts added to their lead.  Hartley put in a crunching tackle on Zaliukas before the ball reached Palazuelos as the ref frantically waved at Hearts to take advantage of their possession (maybe he wasn’t all bad).  Irish striker Stephen Elliott  got his head to Palazuelos’ impressive cross and bulleted the ball into the back of the net to take the score to 3-0.

It’s good to see Elliott looking the part after a couple of ropey substitute appearance when he was clearly still unfit.  He is strong and quick with good feet and certainly seems to know where the goal is (a pile of clichés I know, but all of them are fitting in this case).

Elliott takes a breather during the second half.

Skacel scored Hearts’ fourth goal of the afternoon with a tap in after Templeton (who else?) reached the by line and squared the ball across goal.  Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield kicked the ball in frustration as the Hearts players and fans alike celebrated in delight.

At 4-0 most people in the stadium thought they would wtiness the game pertering out towards full time and most of the jambos seemed content to cheer every pass as Hearts played long spells of 'keep ball'. The young Lithuanian player Arvydas Novikovas, who came on as a substitute, deicded he had better things to do with his time and put his own stamp on proceedings by scoring possibly the pick of the goals with about 10 minutes to go.  Kevin Kyle played the ball to Novikovas on the edge of the box before he beat three Aberdeen players and fired the ball into the top corner of the Aberdeen goal with expert precision.

Action in the corner as the game nears full time.

The Hearts supporters were delighted with the score and whilst Aberdeen were poor, it was inapropriate to take anything away from Hearts who had produced a first class performance.  As the full time whistle blew, The Hearts supporters, players and management team greeted the result with emphatic cheers and celebrations.  The remaining fans in the Aberdeen sections made for the exits and started, what, for many, would be a miserable journey home.

Craig Brown meanwhile looked on solemnly from the Main Stand.  For him, the hard work most definitely starts here.