Aberdeen 0 - 1 Hearts, match report

Larry Kingston was harshly sent off 12 minutes earlier for a high challenge on Aberdeen's Fraser Fyvie, and during the match both Dawid Kucharski and Marius Zaliukas departed through injury. But the visitors' resilience had to be admired as they put an eight-point gap between themselves and Aberdeen in the SPL table.

Kingston replaced Kucharski, who damaged a groin, seconds before half-time. Within seven minutes of the restart he was returning to the dressing room having been dismissed for the second time at Pittodrie. He challenged Fyvie in midfield and, while slightly reckless in catching the youngster's shorts with his studs, it must be said he clearly attempted to play the ball and did not deserve the straight red card issued by referee William Collum. Hearts are likely to appeal the decision next week.

The sense of injustice worked in the visitors' favour. After Zaliukas was withdrawn due to a hamstring complaint, Jonsson surged out of defence and when Calum Elliot's left-foot strike spun awkwardly into the air off Charlie Mulgrew, the Icelander expertly unleashed an overhead kick from 12 yards which sailed into the net. That it proved to be the decisive goal was entirely fitting given the quality of the execution.

The game had endured a turgid opening on a somewhat threadbare Pittodrie surface, Mulgrew's 20th-minute free-kick the nearest attempt at goal. Both sides attempted to pass the ball where possible but were often forced to resort to more direct football due to conditions underfoot. Aberdeen began exerting pressure as the first half progressed and Richard Foster struck side netting with a right-footed drive on 34 minutes.

Ryan Stevenson appealed for a penalty after appearing to take a dunt in the back from Paul Marshall, but referee Collum ignored his claims. Moments later, Hearts replaced the injured Kucharski with Kingston and shunted Jonsson to centre-back alongside Zaliukas. Stevenson's 30-yard drive was stopped with relative ease by Jamie Langfield, and that about summed up the first-half entertainment.