Aberdeen 3 – 2 Hearts

Duk was the toast of a packed-out Pittodrie as he returned from exile to assist Aberdeen eke out a 3-2 victory over 10-man Hearts and preserve their good begin to the marketing campaign underneath Jimmy Thelin.

The Dons prolonged their exceptional profitable run to 13 matches in all competitions however solely after being given an enormous scare by bottom-of-the-table Hearts, who have been on prime for lengthy durations till Jorge Grant was despatched off within the seventy fifth minute with the match poised at 2-2.

Duk was given an enormous ovation from the house assist as he got here on for his first look of the season on the hour mark after being quickly suspended by the membership for going AWOL in the summertime.

The striker was the person fouled by Grant as he picked up his second yellow earlier than he laid on an 88th-minute winner for fellow sub Ante Palaversa, sparking delirious scenes amongst a house assist who spent the closing phases singing about their crew “going to win the league”, and “bring on the Celtic”, a reference to their subsequent opponents after the worldwide break in what guarantees to be a mouth-watering top-of-the-table showdown.

Thelin despatched out the identical crew that began the 2-1 win at Dundee the earlier week, whereas interim Hearts boss Liam Fox made six modifications to the aspect that began the Convention League win over Dinamo Minsk in Azerbaijan on Thursday.

Aberdeen obtained off to the right begin within the second minute when Topi Keskinen’s shot from the sting of the field took a major deflection off Kye Rowles and eluded Craig Gordon on its approach into the online after Stephen Kingsley had been caught in possession.

The guests responded strongly and Lawrence Shankland spurned two huge probabilities to equalise earlier than Jamie McGrath made an important intervention to cease Grant knocking in Daniel Oyegoke’s cross.

Rowles needed to get again to make an important block on Dons striker Kevin Nisbet however Hearts continued to be the extra threatening aspect, with a few teasing, inswinging Yan Dhanda crosses from the left simply eluding Grant after which Frankie Kent.

A excessive, looping effort by Dhanda from 25 yards out was tipped over by Dimitar Mitov within the thirty fifth minute, leading to a nook from which Hearts equalised. James Penrice’s supply discovered its approach to Shankland, who cleverly dinked the ball again throughout aim for Kent to nod dwelling.

Shankland – who had been booked on the half-hour – was lucky to keep away from a second yellow after a few fouls simply earlier than the break.

The guests spurned a wonderful likelihood to go forward within the 53rd minute when Kenneth Vargas darted clear on aim after capitalising on hesitancy between Jack MacKenzie and Gavin Molloy, however – with the choice of squaring to Shankland – the Costa Rican opted to attempt to chip Mitov, and the ball drifted over the bar.

Duk entered the fray to rapturous applause on the hour however Hearts remained the aspect within the ascendancy they usually took the lead within the 63rd minute when Blair Spittal rifled in a low shot from the sting of the field.

The guests’ benefit lasted simply two minutes, nonetheless, as Nicky Devlin – making ready to affix up with the Scotland squad this week after incomes his first call-up – shot dwelling from 20 yards out. Grant was booked for dissent within the aftermath of the aim and he was then proven his second yellow for chopping down Duk.

The Dons all of a sudden had the higher hand and after a sustained spell of stress Palaversa lashed a shot excessive into the online from a Duk cutback.

What the managers mentioned…

Aberdeen supervisor Jimmy Thelin:

“Things didn’t go exactly how we planned, but that’s football sometimes. We did some mistakes today but I don’t think it’s the right day to analyse that. We have to think about the atmosphere, the substitutes we made and how they made an impact in the game.

“The entire of Pittodrie was bouncing and these good emotions and the character of the crew when it isn’t going precisely as we deliberate – this starvation to attempt to discover the profitable aim, even when they have been right down to 10 males – I am so proud of that as we speak.

“You can see the fire in the eyes of the players and how they push each other and really compete, together with the fans at Pittodrie.

“I feel everyone might really feel the environment as we speak was one thing further, and it was superb, really.”

Hearts interim supervisor Liam Fox:

“I feel disappointed, I feel frustrated. I thought we were good for at least a point.

“The pink card positively modifications the circulation of the sport. The opposite factor that is value mentioning is that their second aim, the ball’s really nonetheless transferring from a free-kick. They go up the park and rating.

“Jorge Grant is then booked for dissent because he’s complaining about the ball moving and then he gets sent off for a challenge. It’s a sore one to take.”

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