Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson reacts to the 2-1 Scottish Premiership win over Hearts. Twelve months ago, Hearts came off a 100% record in the League Cup group stage to secure a home win over Scottish Cup winners Aberdeen.
Hearts’ miserable summer continued as they conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 to Aberdeen in their Scottish Premiership opener at Pittodrie. Two stoppage-time goals secured 2-1 win for the hosts.
On Saturday, Aberdeen were the home side, fresh from four straight League Cup wins and Premiership runners-up Hearts were smarting after a heavy aggregate Champions League qualifying loss to Sturm Graz. Following a summer of transition and a 6-0 aggregate defeat by Sturm Graz that had done little to improve the mood of the fans since that agonising end to the past campaign, there was a sense of trepidation in some quarters about the prospect of kicking off the new season at Pittodrie, where they had not won in their previous 14 visits. There were five changes to the Hearts side that lost Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier at home to Sturm Graz, with the goalkeeper Beau Reus and Laurent Mendy handed their debuts and Sabah Kerjota – more than a year after joining – and Amadou Ba-Sy given their first competitive starts.
Hearts made the breakthrough in the 35th minute after some pinball in the penalty area. Ba-Sy’s cutback from the left broke to Blair Spittal, whose shot was blocked by Nesta Guinness-Walker on the edge of the six-yard box and the fellow defender Dan Happe’s attempt to clear ran into the path of McEntee, who shot low into the net from seven yards. The visitors generally looked comfortable for most of the second period, with Cláudio Braga spurning a good chance to double their lead.
The dramatic turnaround was completed in stoppage time when Toyosi Olusanya was hauled down by Findlay, who saw red, and Nisbet despatched the spot-kick.