A late penalty by Jamie Hamill saw Hearts secure a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen in tonight's Scottish Premiership clash at Tynecastle.
After just five minutes played, Niall McGinn was able to get into position for the visitors and fire a powerful shot towards goal, but Jambos keeper Jamie MacDonald managed to save the effort.
The Dons continued to threaten in the opening stages, but Shaleum Logan's and Peter Pawlett's crosses into the Hearts box had nobody at the end of them to capitalise.
Midway through the first half, a forward ball from Barry Robson was met by Adam Rooney, who then proceeded to head it towards Pawlett, but Danny Wilson managed to usher it out for a corner, which came to nothing.
Hearts stepped it up a gear in the early stages of second half, with a quick free kick releasing David Smith, who then proceeded to skip past his man and attempt a shot, but he fired over.
Callum Paterson then had a go in the 67th minute by beating two men, firing from distance and forcing an acrobatic save from James Langfield.
The Jambos made things difficult for themselves when Wilson was sent off midway through the second half, with the away side scoring a goal just a few minutes later courtesy of Willo Flood's free kick.
Hearts, however, won a penalty with just three minutes left to play when Logan fouled Paterson in the box. Hamill stepped up and sent the ball down the middle for the equalising goal.
A frantic final period ensued, but the game eventually finished 1-1, which means that the Jambos are still not mathematically relegated.
Giuseppe Labellarte
