Aberdeen 2 - 0 Heart of Midlothian

Aberdeen sent Hearts crashing out of the Scottish Cup this afternoon with a deserved 2-0 win at Pittodrie. The Dons had dominated the first half with Darren Mackie going close on a couple of occasions and it was the Dons striker who eventually broke the deadlock on the hour mark when Pawlett timed his pass perfectly to Lee Miller and he set up Mackie who made no mistake with his finish. Miller added a second sixteen minutes later in another move started by Pawlett and this time Miller slid in at the far post to turn a Maguire shot into the net. So a tricky tie has been successfully overcome and Aberdeen will be looking for another home tie from tomorrow's draw.

Aberdeen kicked off with a makeshift back four of Ross and Young at full back with Ifil and Mulgrew at the centre of the defence. Straight from the off Mackie worked his way down the right, but his cross was cut out by Kello. There was a real battle going on in the middle of the park, but in the 4th minute a cross was fired across the face of the Dons goal, but fortunately there were no takers. A minute later Aberdeen won the first corner of the match, but Kello dealt with the cross comfortably.

Aberdeen won a free kick wide right in the 11th minute, but Marshall's delivery failed to get past the first defender. At the other end Ifil conceded a similar free kick and the Hearts delivery also disappointed. Good work from Mackie forced a second corner in the 14th minute and a second quickly followed, but again Kello dominated his penalty area. Pawlett was crowded out three minutes later then Mackie almost broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when he did well to beat Bouzid, lofted the ball over Kello then watched in anguish as it slipped over the bar.

Aberdeen were increasing the pressure now and they went close again as they won another couple of corners. Hearts won their own first corner in the 22nd minute and Langfield punched the ball clear of danger before Black fired over from distance. Aberdeen won a free kick on the edge of the box when Kerr was clipped as he broke into the box, but the effort from Mulgrew went over the bar. Cinikas was booked for a late challenge on Fyvie in the build up to that move..

Pawlett did well in the 34th minute when he collected a Marshall pass and whipped a decent cross in, but Kello was out quickly to collect. At the other end Langfield also showed good skill to cut out a cross. Aberdeen went close a minute later when a Young cross was headed powerfully towards goal by Mackie and Kello pulled off a terrific save. Fyvie pounced on to the loose ball, but could only fire the ball across the face of the Hearts goal. The red army were getting frustrated by a series of soft awards that didn't help the flow of the game.

Zaliukas was spoken to for a late challenge on Kerr and Hearts were starting to waste time at this early stage. Aberdeen won another corner in the 42nd minute as the Hearts defence started to creak. Kello just beat Mackie to the ball in the 44th minute when Fyvie lobbed it into the danger area then seconds later Mackie hit a decent volley inches wide of the target. In the final seconds a great through ball from Kerr just eluded Fyvie as the half time whistle blew.

Hearts started the second half the stronger as the Dons were pegged back in the opening five minutes, The Dons then moved forward with some good passing play, but the move ended with a poor final delivery from Marshall. Fyvie then went down with a head knock, but the referee failed to stop the play. The youngster was able to continue after treatment, but Hearts were unhappy when Maurice Ross refused to give them the ball back when play resumed. Aberdeen then won the first corner of the second half in the 55th minute, but nothing came of it. Aberdeen should have opened the scoring two minutes later when Kerr picked out Ross on the left, but Mackie failed to convert the cross with only Kello to beat.

Aberdeen had another chance on the hour mark, but after good play Pawlett failed to convert. That was all forgotten seconds later when the Dons took a deserved lead as Pawlett timed his pass perfectly to Lee Miller and he set up Mackie who made no mistake with his finish. Aberdeen were so close to beating the offside trap again four minutes later when Pawlett was caught out as he ran through on an empty goal. Hearts made a double substitution in the 66th minute, but it was Aberdeen who almost doubled their advantage when Pawlett hit a low shot into the arms of Kello from the edge of the box.

Maguire replaced Marshall in the 67th minute and as Hearts tried to pull one back the challenges were starting to get meaty. Kello was forced into another fine save as he blocked an effort from Maguire who had latched on to the delivery from Fyvie. A snapshot from Ross was then well saved from the keeper in the 75th minute, but he could do nothing a minute later as Lee Miller made it 2-0. Pawlett started the move in midfield, fed the ball to Maguire and Miller slid in at the back post to convert the cross as Pittodrie erupted.

Jonsson collected another yellow card in the 85th minute for a very poor challenge on Pawlett. From the resultant free kick Mulgrew went close as Kello clutched the ball low to his right. At the other end Langfield made a fine save from Nade after the striker was given too much space. A minute later another Nade effort from outside the box was deflected wide as Hearts looked for a way back into the tie. Aberdeen were comfortable and never looked like letting this one slip as they comfortably secured the win.