Hearts fight back and sink Aberdeen as battle for third spot heats up

Lawrence Shankland scored a second-half winner as Hearts defeated Aberdeen 2-1 at Tynecastle to crank up the heat on their opponents in the battle for third in the Premiership.

The Dons arrived boasting a five-point lead over the Jambos and they looked on course to kill off their hosts’ hopes of catching them when Mattie Pollock headed the opening goal just after the half hour. But a stunning equaliser from Josh Ginnelly and Shankland’s 27th goal of the season turned the game in their favour as they closed the gap to two points with two matches remaining in the fight for automatic European group-stage qualification next term.

After a relatively low-key start, things started to liven up after the Dons had Jonny Hayes booked for a robust challenge on Yutaro Oda in the 11th minute. Shankland had the first notable attempt of the match in the 14th minute when he was denied from just inside the box by a save from Kelle Roos. The Aberdeen keeper had to stand firm two minutes later to keep out a powerful angled strike from Oda after the Japanese attacker nicked the ball off Hayes and got himself clear in the box.

The Dons’ first opportunity came in the 17th minute when Marley Watkins cut inside Kyle Rowles and his shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Zander Clark. The hosts continued to look the more threatening side, though, and Shankland fired over from 12 yards after Aberdeen failed to deal with a corner into the box.

Aberdeen seized the advantage in the 31st minute when Leighton Clarkson’s corner looped beyond Clark and Pollock rose to nod home at the back post.

Hearts had a great chance to equalise two minutes later when Ginnelly back-heeled a pass from Barrie McKay into the path of Alex Cochrane, who was bursting