Aberdeen 1 - Hearts 0: McGhee 'moment of madness' gifts Dons three points at Pittodrie

The game was turned in the last three minutes after a tight affair

ABERDEEN lost Mark Reynolds with a broken nose but still managed to land a late knockout blow to Hearts.

 

The Dons came out on top as Adam Rooney’s penalty sunk the third-placed Jambos.

It was a harsh one for Robbie Neilson’s men to take after Jordan McGhee’s needless handball threw away the points.

Aberdeen are now just one point behind champions Celtic – although they have two games in hand, starting with this afternoon’s clash at St Johnstone.

Dons boss Derek McInnes said: “It was the right result with the points coming to Aberdeen. We were totally dominant in the first half. We asked a lot of questions for them and half-time came at the wrong time.

“We also lost Mark Reynolds who broke his nose and we couldn’t get the bleeding to stop. 

“It was a tight game and they are quite often decided by fine margins.  Young Jordan made the mistake after having played well. I think David Goodwillie spooked him and it was a real bonus for us.”

The most controversial moment of the first period came in the 29th minute.  Miguel Pallardo had been booked 60 seconds earlier for a foul on Peter Pawlett and then clearly took out Jonny Hayes. It looked to be a second yellow but referee Craig Thomson let the Spaniard off with a warning.

Furious Hearts boss Robbie Neilson responded by hauling off Pallardo and giving him a stern lecture, before sending on Morgaro Gomis.

A Hayes free-kick then found Andrew Considine but his header was straight at Neil Alexander, who made another flying stop to keep out McLean at the end of the first period.

Reynolds had to be replaced at the break by skipper Ryan Jack, and the impressive Sam Nicholson almost caught Aberdeen cold with a superb, curling effort that beat Danny Ward from 25 yards but came back off his bar.

Hearts went even closer when Gomis threaded in Juanma but he was denied by a fine save from Danny Ward.

Nicholson’s corner was then met by the head of Callum Paterson but Willo Flood was on the line to clear.

The match looked to be fading out until McGhee’s moment of madness.

 

McLean curled in a cross and there looked to be no danger until the teenager inexplicably handled.

Rooney took the kick and slotted it low past Alexander for the 49th goal of his Dons career.

Neilson acknowledged it was a harsh lesson, and bemoaned the fact the Jambos had spurned a number of good chances after the break.

Neilson said: “The penalty was disappointing but these things happen. 

“We will continue to give young players a chance. We could have brought in a 28 or 29-year-old and seen the game out but we are trying to develop players. It was an honest mistake and he will learn from it."