Draw fails to satisfy either team's needs

RAY HEPBURN

27 Apr 1994

Hearts 1, Aberdeen 1

HEARTS and Aberdeen failed to satisfy completely their aspirations at Tynecastle last night when victory was so vital for their respective relegation and European ambitions.

The Edinburgh side stay locked deep in difficulties at the wrong end of the table while Aberdeen continue to trail Motherwell in the joust for a UEFA Cup place.

Sandy Clark's team can reflect on a night when they produced the better work, but finding the target proved elusive.

Aberdeen, who lost Ray McKinnon with a troublesome looking leg injury in the second half, still managed to create a number of chances, mostly from crosses that were sloppily dealt with by Hearts.

There was a crowd of 13,811, and the nervousness which has affected Hearts home form this season seemed absent as they set about earning an early goal.

In the fifth minute John Colquhoun forced Theo Snelders to save above his head.

Colquhoun forced the Dutch keeper to make two more important saves after 24 minutes, first with a rising shot from 20 yards and then 30 seconds later with a low shot from a similar distance.

Hearts paid dearly for an alarming lack of concentration in 34 minutes.

Ray McKinnon's corner from the left found Aberdeen's tallest player Brian Irvine completely unmarked, and his header back across goal sailed high into the net.

Six minutes into the second half Eoin Jess used his pace to go clear on the right.

His low cross found Duncan Shearer, but Aberdeen's top scorer saw his touch let him down and a simple chance was lost.

Hearts equalised after an hour when Robertson turned swiftly round Stephen Wright.

After the full back pulled him down, the Hearts striker scored from the penalty spot himself.

There was another moment of consternation for Hearts in 74 minutes when Irvine headed from an unmarked position once more, this time from Hugh Robertson's corner, but McKinlay cleared off the line.

The Aberdeen keeper produced the save of the night with 11 minutes remaining when Mackay released McKinlay on the left.

His cross was headed in by John Millar, but Snelders dived to his left to touch the ball away.

Six players were booked -- Hearts' Colquhoun and Millar along with Aberdeen's Robertson, McKimmie, Jess and Smith.

HEARTS -- Smith, Frail, McKinlay, Levein, Berry, McLaren, Colquhoun, Mackay, Robertson, M Johnston, Millar.

Substitutes - Foster, A Johnston, Walker.

ABERDEEN -- Snelders, McKimmie, Wright, McKinnon, Smith, Irvine, Jess, Grant, Booth, Shearer, Robertson.

Substitutes -- Paatelainen, Roddie, Burridge.

Referee -- R Tait (East Kilbride)

Taken from the Herald