Hearts' league lead tested as Aberdeen edge them 1-0 amid busy December schedule
Hearts slip to a 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen but still lead the Scottish Premiership; concerns grow over Shankland’s injury and a demanding winter run.
Aberdeen 1-0 Hearts was the result at Pittodrie as the league leaders’ blistering start ran into a stubborn home display.
Hearts, who had won nine of their first 12 league games and sat at the top, remain four points clear of Celtic with a game in hand, but their recent form has shown some cracks after collecting just two points from the last four fixtures. They also await an update on striker Lawrence Shankland’s calf after he missed Sunday’s defeat.
The match bore echoes of Aberdeen’s early-season start last year, when they surged to the summit before a run of results slowed them. Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes refused to panic after the loss, insisting his squad remains capable of responding well to setbacks.
Match moments
In challenging conditions, Hearts had the better openings before half-time. Frankie Kent headed narrowly off target, Harry Milne struck the crossbar from close range, Tomas Magnusson directed a header straight at the goalkeeper, and Claudio Braga was denied when a finish looked certain.
Former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart felt Hearts could have taken all three points, noting they created enough chances to win. The decisive moment arrived when Kent failed to clear and Topi Keskinen finished calmly for Aberdeen.
McInnes said his side lacked the final touch rather than the performance being an issue, and he praised his players for competing without Shankland and Craig Halkett. “If we'd scored, it would have changed the mood today,” he said. “We thought we deserved something today and we defended well without those two.”
Hearts’ outlook and the festive run
Hearts have been overperforming relative to their expected goals this season, netting 29 goals against an xG around 22.5, which raises concern about sustainability if Shankland is out longer. Pierre Landry Kabore showed positive moments on his fifth appearance, though his best chance went high and wide.
Former Scotland striker Kris Boyd felt there was no need for alarm, noting Hearts defended well but lacked a killer edge in front of goal. McInnes’s side now face Motherwell on Saturday, before a demanding December stretch that includes visits to Kilmarnock, Celtic, Falkirk, Rangers and regional rivals Hibernian. “It’s not a daunting run,” he said. “We have exciting games and opportunities to win.”
Stand-in captain Cammy Devlin added: “We’ll be back in training and ready to go again. It’s about turning today’s feeling into wins as soon as possible.”
Fans’ take and the road ahead
Paul: Hearts’ bubble has burst. Alasdair: Celtic’s title push looks stronger now. Colin: Celtic back on top for Christmas. Jimmy: Hearts will finish third by Christmas, probably fourth. Peter: Hearts are vulnerable; VAR calls have had a big impact. Alan: defeats happen; the key is how they react. Ruddiger: 30 points from 39 is still impressive. Steven: the title race remains open; McInnes has work to do to win trophies.
Key takeaway: Hearts still lead, but the wobble underlines the need for a quick, positive response during a demanding winter schedule. BBC match report
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