Hearts 0 Aberdeen 0

Last updated : 09 November 2002 By Footymad Previewer

After last week's derby heroics Hearts crashed back down to earth with a horror show against Aberdeen.

The Dons were coming off the back of a 7-0 thrashing at Parkhead but never looked in danger of conceding a goal against lacklustre Hearts.

Ebbe Skovdahl will be the happier boss since he successfully plugged his leaky defence, but Aberdeen could have played all week without scoring.

All in all a poor affair for the 12,000 fans.

Hearts persisted with Kevin McKenna upfront after his late goal against Hibs, but the big Canadian squandered a great early chance, heading wide from Jean Louis Valois' flick .

And although McKenna was Hearts greatest threat it was all from deep crosses and Peter Kjaer was limited to a couple of very comfortable saves.

Scotland international Scott Severin tried his luck with a well controlled right foot volley, but again the Dons keeper had an easy job to tidy up.

Meanwhile, Roddy McKenzie in the Hearts goal could have pulled out his deckchair as he was a spectator with Aberdeen failing to test him.

Sub Neil Janczyk showed quick thinking to fire in a forty yard effort after a poor clearance from Kjaer, but he was a yard wide with the empty net gaping.

Young Kevin Rutkiewicz was the chief Dons threat and did an excellent job in snuffing out McKenna's aerial threat in the second half and his presence helped Aberdeen finish the stronger side.

Darren Young brought McKenzie into the game with a 25 yarder that the Hearts keeper held and Aberdeen almost stole the points at the death.

Eric Deloumeaux swung in a corner from the left and Phil McGuire was given the freedom of Tynecastle to power in a header that he sent woefully over the top