MORE praise for Tynecastle's teenagers - plus a measure of condemnation for those who are old enough to know better.

The latest product from the formidable Gorgie production line, 17-year-old Jordan McGhee, popped up in the 88th minute to head in his first senior goal for the club to defy Hearts' one-man disadvantage and cut their arrears on the rest of the SPFL Premiership table to single figures. While he did so, a fair old rammy was ensuing between the respective dug-outs.

The cause was some over-zealous celebration from Hearts assistant Billy Brown and Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes's rather uncharitable reaction to finding him suddenly in his technical area. When referee Alan Muir, fourth official Iain Brines and the police had sorted matters out, both men had been sent to the stands and can expect a hefty fine and a suspension for their trouble.

McInnes afterwards apologised for his part in the strife, but pointed the finger at the intruder into his dug-out. "I've never seen another opposition member of staff come right into an opposition's technical area to celebrate a goal like he did," said McInnes. "But as soon as I've put my arms on him to try and push him back I'm guilty. I've apologised to the referee and I feel disappointed in myself for that. I was surprised at the reaction to the goal, but I should have let the officials deal with it."

Gary Locke - who disappeared into the bowels of Tynecastle for a conciliatory pint with his opposite number - generally made light of the incident, but felt his assistant hadn't been the guilty party.

"I don't think Billy did a lot wrong, to be honest. His momentum obviously took him into their technical area, but I didn't know he could move that quickly!" said Locke.

"I am surprised because I would expect him to be calming me down. It was something out of nothing, not a big deal.

"We will go and have a beer now and it will be quickly forgotten about. There was a lot in the game and for me we should be concentrating on that, much more than Basher Broon!"

The high jinks afterwards could partially be put down to the fact that both camps ended this one with a sense of grievance against officialdom. Hearts led just after the quarter of an hour mark due to a fine finish from Jamie Walker and a neat assist by Jamie Holt, but felt Muir's decision to award a penalty and dismiss Kevin McHattie in the run-up to Niall McGinn's penalty equaliser had been harsh.

The full-back clearly played the ball as substitute Calvin Zola homed in on goal, but his positioning hadn't been great and his challenge was clumsy.

Aberdeen might have been a couple of goals to the good early on had Scott Vernon been sharper, but for their part they ended the match indignant about the referee's decision to ignore a second penalty claim by Peter Pawlett, their rage compounded by the fact that he also booked the Aberdeen winger for diving, despite the best efforts of Hearts' Jamie Hamill to talk the referee out of it.

"The second one for me when Pawlett went down was a penalty, but I didn't think the first one was," said Locke afterwards.

"I know he [Pawlett] has got a bad reputation which has gone before him and maybe it was a case of that today," was McInnes's verdict.

"I thought he was outstanding today and he has been since the start of the season and I want to be talking about him in a positive way."

It was harder for the Aberdeen boss to be positive about the manner in which his side defended the goal which settled this one and cut the gap between Hearts and St Mirren to nine points.

McGhee, who had been introduced to the fray for only his second senior appearance when Brad McKay had to be withdrawn with concussion, got on the end of a deep Calum Tapping free-kick with Aberdeen goalkeeper Nicky Weaver apparently pre-occupied by the presence of Danny Wilson.

There was still time for Jamie MacDonald to produce a fine save from Josh Magennis but the progress of this tenacious Tynecastle young team is emerging as the heart-warming story of the SPFL Premiership season.