ABERDEEN consolidated their lead at the top of the SPFL Premiership with a relatively comfortable victory against Hearts at Tynecastle. A first-half double from David Goodwillie either side of a Niall McGinn solo effort meant the win was all but secured by the break. Hearts got one back early in the second half through Igor Rossi and hit the bar via a Callum Paterson free kick but Derek McInnes’ side held on to record an eighth successive victory.
They had moved in front after just nine minutes. Goodwillie was fouled wide on the left and when McGinn’s free kick arrived it was the striker who was in place to bundle it past Neil Alexander from a matter of yards for his first goal of the season.
That gave the visitors a platform and after 23 minutes they doubled their lead. A long searching pass from Ryan Jack picked out McGinn and he skinned Blazej Augustyn and made a fool out of Callum Paterson before curling a terrific effort into the far corner.
It was 3-0 by half-time. Again McGinn was pivotal as Aberdeen countered at pace, the forward getting past Miguel Pallardo before crossing for Goodwillie who rolled his effort beyond Alexander.
Hearts looked dead and buried but they gave themselves a lifeline early in the second half when Aberdeen failed to properly clear substitute Sam Nicholson’s corner and Rossi stabbed in the loose ball for his first Hearts goal.
HEARTS (4-2-3-1): Alexander; Paterson, Augustyn, Ozturk, Rossi; Buaben (King 84), Pallardo; Reilly (Nicholson 46), Walker, Juanma; Sow
Booked: Pallardo 42, Juanma 52
Scorers: Rossi 52
ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1): Ward; Logan, Taylor, Quinn, Considine; Jack, Shinnie; Pawlett (Rooney 64), McLean, McGinn (McLaughlin 90); Goodwillie (Parker 84)
Booked: Ward 46
Scorers: Goodwillie 9, McGinn 23, Quinn 81
Referee: Bobby Madden
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