Hearts Vs Aberdeen: Claudio Braga sends league leaders seven points clear at top
In the hearts vs aberdeen fixture, Claudio Braga's half-hour strike proved decisive as Hearts beat Aberdeen 1-0 at Tynecastle to move seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Hearts Vs Aberdeen: Tynecastle decides
Braga's goal, slotted in from about 10 yards just before the half-hour mark, was the only score of the game at Tynecastle and was his 15th of the season. The packed stadium roared the hosts on as Hearts secured three points that stretched the lead at the summit to seven, with nine games to play.
Braga and the key moments that mattered
Hearts dominated early passages: Braga forced Dimitar Mitov into action after 10 minutes and sent a header wide soon after, while Pierre Landry Kabore should have opened the scoring after 21 minutes but could not lift his lob over the onrushing Mitov. Kabore then muscled down the right, avoided a sliding challenge from Liam Morrison and picked out Braga, who finished from 10 yards.
A stubborn Aberdeen and notable visitors
Aberdeen, whose form means they are eighth after a fifth game without a win, struggled to create clear chances in a stuffy second half and finished the match without a shot on target; Kevin Nesbit's wayward first-time volley was their best effort. Legendary figure Sir Alex Ferguson watched from the stands as Aberdeen produced another disappointing result that all but ends hopes of a top-six finish.
How the second half played out
After the break, Kabore stung the palms of Mitov and later created a sight of goal when he flicked on for Braga at the back post, only for Mitov to make the stop. Aberdeen pushed late in search of an equaliser but Hearts were never truly in danger and held on for a vital victory.
Coaches, comments and squad notes
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes praised the application and approach of his side, saying the team put crosses in and applied pressure, while noting there were a couple of scary moments in transitions given the pace of Topi Keskinen and Toyosi Olusanya. McInnes added that Alex Schwolow "hasn't had a save to make. " He also singled out Braga, saying his output and fitness have been "unbelievable, " and that "this week will good for him" as the striker manages a groin issue. Braga, the Portuguese forward, said the stands helped and that the goal relieved tension: "With the stands behind us, the players gave everything and we just won. "
Team context, signings and fixture run-in
Braga, a former Aalesunds forward, has now scored 15 goals in 35 appearances this season and his form has been emblematic of Hearts' campaign. Earlier in the season the club signed Alexandros Kyziridis from Zemplin Michalovce, and defender Stuart Findlay had been an ever-present since his summer move until recently. The win at Tynecastle was Hearts' second in a row and leaves them set to watch Rangers and Celtic meet at Ibrox on Sunday in a high-noon showdown trying to keep in touch with the leaders.
League-wide reactions and highlights
Highlights of the day's matches begin at 19: 15. Managers around the division offered post-match reactions from other fixtures: Kilmarnock's Neil McCann said his side were beaten by the better team and noted how conceding early hurt; Hibernian's David Gray spoke of mixed emotions after losing a late goal; Dundee United's Jim Goodwin questioned a penalty decision that he felt turned his match; and St Mirren's Stephen Robinson described a draw as a point gained away from home.
Hearts are not in action again until 14 March, and the run-in will include two games against high-flying Motherwell, a likely trip to Celtic Park and to Easter Road after the split, and a home meeting with Rangers, who beat Hearts at Ibrox earlier this month.
