Duk was the toast of a packed-out Pittodrie as he returned from exile to assist Aberdeen eke out a 3-2 victory over 10-man Hearts and keep their excellent begin to the marketing campaign underneath Jimmy Thelin.
The Dons prolonged their outstanding successful run to 13 matches in all competitions however solely after being given an enormous scare by bottom-of-the-table Hearts, who have been on prime for lengthy durations till Jorge Grant was despatched off within the seventy fifth minute with the match poised at 2-2.
Duk was given an enormous ovation from the house help as he got here on for his first look of the season on the hour mark after being quickly suspended by the membership for going AWOL in the summertime.
The striker was the person fouled by Grant as he picked up his second yellow earlier than he laid on an 88th-minute winner for fellow sub Ante Palaversa, sparking delirious scenes amongst a house help who spent the closing phases singing about their staff “going to win the league”, and “bring on the Celtic”, a reference to their subsequent opponents after the worldwide break in what guarantees to be a mouth-watering top-of-the-table showdown.
Thelin despatched out the identical staff that began the 2-1 win at Dundee the earlier week, whereas interim Hearts boss Liam Fox made six adjustments to the aspect that began the Convention League win over Dinamo Minsk in Azerbaijan on Thursday.
Aberdeen acquired off to the right begin within the second minute when Topi Keskinen’s shot from the sting of the field took a big deflection off Kye Rowles and eluded Craig Gordon on its means into the online after Stephen Kingsley had been caught in possession.
The guests responded strongly and Lawrence Shankland spurned two large probabilities to equalise earlier than Jamie McGrath made an important intervention to cease Grant knocking in Daniel Oyegoke’s cross.
Rowles needed to get again to make an important block on Dons striker Kevin Nisbet however Hearts continued to be the extra threatening aspect, with a few teasing, inswinging Yan Dhanda crosses from the left simply eluding Grant after which Frankie Kent.
A excessive, looping effort by Dhanda from 25 yards out was tipped over by Dimitar Mitov within the thirty fifth minute, leading to a nook from which Hearts equalised. James Penrice’s supply discovered its option to Shankland, who cleverly dinked the ball again throughout purpose for Kent to nod dwelling.
Shankland – who had been booked on the half-hour – was lucky to keep away from a second yellow after a few fouls simply earlier than the break.
The guests spurned an excellent likelihood to go forward within the 53rd minute when Kenneth Vargas darted clear on purpose after capitalising on hesitancy between Jack MacKenzie and Gavin Molloy, however – with the choice of squaring to Shankland – the Costa Rican opted to try to chip Mitov, and the ball drifted over the bar.
Duk entered the fray to rapturous applause on the hour however Hearts remained the aspect within the ascendancy they usually took the lead within the 63rd minute when Blair Spittal rifled in a low shot from the sting of the field.
The guests’ benefit lasted simply two minutes, nonetheless, as Nicky Devlin – getting ready to hitch up with the Scotland squad this week after incomes his first call-up – shot dwelling from 20 yards out. Grant was booked for dissent within the aftermath of the purpose and he was then proven his second yellow for chopping down Duk.
Hearts’ Jorge Grant appears to be like dejected after being despatched off for a second yellow offence
The Dons abruptly had the higher hand and after a sustained spell of stress Palaversa lashed a shot excessive into the online from a Duk cutback.
What the managers stated…
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Aberdeen supervisor Jimmy Thelin reacts to Aberdeen beating Hearts 3-2 to make it 13 wins out of 13 this season
Aberdeen supervisor Jimmy Thelin:
“Things didn’t go exactly how we planned, but that’s football sometimes. We did some mistakes today but I don’t think it’s the right day to analyse that. We have to think about the atmosphere, the substitutes we made and how they made an impact in the game.
“The entire of Pittodrie was bouncing and these good emotions and the character of the staff when it isn’t going precisely as we deliberate – this starvation to attempt to discover the successful purpose, even when they have been all the way down to 10 males – I am so pleased with that right this moment.
“You can see the fire in the eyes of the players and how they push each other and really compete, together with the fans at Pittodrie.
“I feel everyone may really feel the ambiance right this moment was one thing additional, and it was wonderful, really.”
Hearts interim supervisor Liam Fox:
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Hearts’ interim boss Liam Fox speaks after Hearts’ 3-2 loss at Aberdeen
“I feel disappointed, I feel frustrated. I thought we were good for at least a point.
“The purple card undoubtedly adjustments the movement of the sport. The opposite factor that is value mentioning is that their second purpose, the ball’s really nonetheless shifting from a free-kick. They go up the park and rating.
“Jorge Grant is then booked for dissent because he’s complaining about the ball moving and then he gets sent off for a challenge. It’s a sore one to take.”
