FT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Shinnie diverts Milne cross into his own net early on
Shankland rockets second high into the net only for VAR to rule out for offside
Findlay nods at back post to tighten Hearts' grip on game
FT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
That's all from us tonight as Hearts beat Aberdeen 2-0 at Tynecastle to start their league campaign in ideal fashion.
A Graeme Shinnie own-goal and Stuart Findlay's header either side of half-time did the trick for Derek McInnes' side.
Hearts are next in action away to Dundee United on Sunday, while Aberdeen host Celtic on the same day.
Image source, SNSFT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: "In the first half we were disappointed with our performance because they won the battle with second balls.
"We had to do better. In the second half there were less mistakes and we created chances, but 50-50 duels we have to do better in the future.
"We knew what we were going to face today. It's going to be a different type of game against Celtic."
FT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Craig Levein
Former Hearts manager on BBC Sportsound
Derek McInnes has got a new lease of life with the opportunity he's got here.
He's got good players here and if he can make them better, Hearts have a really good season ahead.
FT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
We'll have the thoughts of Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin shortly...
FT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "We got the outcome we wanted.
"Every manager wants to get the first win as soon as possible and I thought we were thoroughly deserving.
"We came out the traps strongly and were probably worthy of probably going into half-time a couple of goals ahead.
"I don't think we were brilliant second half, but when we got the second goal we managed the game brilliantly from there.
"It was a tough game as you'd expect against Aberdeen. What we've got in there is a bunch of lads who are screaming to do well, fully motivated.
"We can play better, but it was a good start. We'll take the three points and move on."
Image source, SNSFT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen and Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland
It wasn't an unexpected win for Hearts tonight.
In this stage of the season, Aberdeen don't look like they've got energy or belief.
You've got to be more prepared than what Aberdeen were in the first half, they had more control of the game in the second half.
FT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Hearts goalscorer Stuart Findlay tells Sky Sports: "The second goal was always going to be pivotal and after that the tension eased a bit.
"The boys saw it out really well and really professionally.
"You saw how we came out of the blocks and pressed aggressively. The manager wants Tynecastle to be a difficult place to come to.
"He said to us the only thing now is Dundee United next week."
Image source, SNSFT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Interestingly, the stats don't paint such a straightforward victory for Hearts.
As we know, they don't always tell the full story though...
Image source, OptaFT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen and Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland
There's still a lot of work to do for Aberdeen.
They need to find more quality up top and some more energy.
Who is going to be that defensive unit? Who is their strongest midfield?
FT: Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Craig Levein
Former Hearts manager on BBC Sportsound
Derek McInnes is a great appointment.
I was delighted when he took over in charge.
Combined with the investment from Tony Bloom, it's an exciting time for Hearts.
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Three hard-earned points for Derek McInnes and Heart of Midlothian.
Image source, SNSStuart Findlay scored Hearts' second goal
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Adil Aouchiche curls an aimless ball into the Hearts box that comes to nothing.
He's another Aberdeen debutant that has struggled to make an impact.
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Five minutes added on.
Tomas Bent Magnusson is on for his Hearts debut having signed earlier today.
Lawrence Shankland heads off for a breather.
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen and Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland
Aberdeen have accepted defeat.
The body language from the players could be more positive.
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
One minute left of the 90 at Tynecastle.
Hearts are very comfortable.
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland at Tynecastle
The 607 Aberdeen fans who have made the journey to Tynecastle have been quiet ever since the second Hearts goal was confirmed.
The same cannot be said about the 18,070 home fans who have not stopped singing throughout the evening.
On his first appearance at Tynecastle, Tony Bloom must feel it’s been £10m well spent!
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Image source, SNSStuart Findlay nods Hearts 2-0 in front
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Hearts get away with one.
Zander Clark flaps at a Shayden Morris cross, but Adil Aouchiche pokes his shot well wide.
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen and Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland
Findlay is reliable, I like him as a player.
His consistency is excellent, you know what you're going to get from him.
Image source, SNSHearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Goal given!
Hearts are well on their way to three points.
Highlights: Hearts beat Aberdeen in league opener
Hearts started their Scottish Premiership campaign with a comfortable win over a wasteful Aberdeen side at Tynecastle.
Derek McInnes' side started fast, putting the Scottish Cup holders under early pressure before Harry Milne's low cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by visiting captain Graeme Shinnie.
Summer signing Stuart Findlay was alert at the far post to bundle in their second late in the second half, getting on the end of another Milne delivery.
Hearts had breezed through the Premier Sports Cup group stage with a 100% record, and many fans are anticipating a season to remember after minority owner Tony Bloom said they have a "very good chance" of finishing second this season.
An early flurry of chances for the hosts was backed by a raucous Tynecastle, who were soon celebrating when Milne's driven cross was turned over the line by Shinnie on his 34th birthday.
Moments later, Milne almost doubled the lead in spectacular fashion when his rasping left-footed strike from distance cracked off the post. Aberdeen's Kusini Yengi also hit the woodwork as his side flew up the other end of the pitch.
The breathless and frenetic nature of the opening 30 minutes subsided as the interval approached, but the hosts thought they'd doubled their lead through a magnificent Lawrence Shankland strike.
The Scotland international's curling strike from outside of the area fizzed past a stranded Dimitar Mitov, but it was ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR) for an offside in the build-up.
Yengi spurned a rare Aberdeen chance in the second half, while Adil Aouchiche failed to connect with another, with both misses being punished by Finlday's back-post header at the other end.
Hearts fans, neutral punters, and pundits were all intrigued by Bloom's comments that second place was a realistic goal this season.
A spotless League Cup record, Bloom's claims, and a general feel-good factor gave the players on the park an almighty task to live up to, but they did admirably.
Aberdeen's competitive season did only begin this evening - a factor that shouldn't go unmentioned in any suggestion they were lacklustre.
Tynecastle was rocking from the first whistle and many, if not all, fans will now believe this will be the year they make a move into the upper echelons of Scottish football.
All you may have heard lately has been about Claudio Braga.
Hearts fans watched videos of him for hours and hours after his signing was confirmed, and this was confirmation of what they'd seen.
Fans will hope the Portuguese forward's signing from Aalesunds can signal the new type of additions the club will now be able to make, thanks to Bloom's analytical access.
Milne deserves a mention too. His first cross was dangerous and resulted in the opening own goal, with his late free-kick dropping into the perfect spot to trouble the Dons backline and allow Findlay to nod in.
Had his first-half effort crept inside the woodwork, he'd already have a claim for goal of the season too.
Despite losing 2-0, Aberdeen generated 1.55 expected goals, with forwards Aouchiche and Yengi combining for 1.36xG.
35 of Cammy Devlin's 39 passes were accurate, giving him an impressive completion rate of 89.7%.
Aberdeen winger Nicolas Milanovic won the most duels in the game, winning 11 of his 21.
Hearts played 122 passes into the final third, dwarfing Aberdeen's total of 70.
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "We got the outcome we wanted.
"Every manager wants to get the first win as soon as possible and I thought we were thoroughly deserving.
"We came out the traps strongly and were probably worthy of probably going into half-time a couple of goals ahead.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "In the first half we were disappointed with our performance because they won the battle with second balls.
"We had to do better. In the second half there were less mistakes and we created chances, but 50-50 duels we have to do better in the future.
"We knew what we were going to face today. It's going to be a different type of game against Celtic."
Hearts visit Dundee United on Sunday, 10 August (15:00 BST), while Aberdeen host Celtic on the same day at 12:30.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
Manager: Derek McInnes
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: Jimmy Thelin
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Derek McInnes
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: Jimmy Thelin
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Scottish Premiership
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
The side playing at home has lost none of the last 23 Scottish Premiership matches between Heart of Midlothian and Aberdeen (W17 D6) since the Dons’ 2-1 win at Tynecastle in May 2017.
This will be the third time in the 21st century that Hearts and Aberdeen have faced on MD1 of a league season, after 2003-04 (Hearts won 2-0) and 2019-20 (Aberdeen won 3-2).
Hearts have won on MD1 in three of their four Scottish Premiership seasons since they were promoted in 2021 (D1), although their last opening day defeat in the competition was to Aberdeen in 2019-20 (2-3).
Aberdeen have only lost one MD1 in two of their last 10 league campaigns (W5 D3), defeats to Rangers in 2020-21 (0-1) and Celtic in 2022-23 (0-2).
This will be Derek McInnes’ first league game in charge of Hearts, making them the fourth club he has managed in the Scottish top-flight (also St. Johnstone, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock). He will be only the second manager to take charge of four separate clubs in Scotland’s top tier in the 21st century, after John Hughes (Falkirk, Hibernian, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Ross County).
