Hearts 1-0 Aberdeen: Scissor kick gives Jambos cutting edge

OUT of the blue, out of character, and definitely out of this world. Eggert Jonsson executed Saturday's winning goal with panache more synonymous with Hugo Sanchez than a quietly-efficient Icelandic utility player.

It merely summed up the man's varying qualities that he performed the various roles of holding midfielder, centre-back and match-winner all in one 90-minute period.

This was a mundane game played on a threadbare Pittodrie pitch, yet Jonsson illuminated proceedings with an overhead bicycle kick on 64 minutes. It was the kind Mexico's Sanchez specialised in during his 1980s pomp and arrived just as events appeared to be conspiring against Hearts. Larry Kingston had been unfairly sent off 12 minutes previously and both starting centre-backs, Dawid Kucharski and Marius Zaliukas, had departed through injury. At the time of scoring, Jonsson was playing central defence alongside Lee Wallace with David Obua the auxiliary left-back.

He sprinted out of defence to intercept a pass, released the ball to substitute Paul Mulrooney and continued towards the penalty area, sensing an opening may arise. Calum Elliot took possession from Mulrooney and his shot ricocheted off Charlie Mulgrew to spin awkwardly into the air. As it dropped near the penalty spot, the last thing anyone inside the stadium expected was Jonsson to perform an acrobatic attempt at goal.

Those most surprised by the Icelander's feat included Aberdeen midfielder Mark Kerr, the closest in attendance to Jonsson, who failed to apply any pressure on his opponent. Similarly, goalkeeper Jamie Langfield was caught unaware when Jonsson arced his body back and raised his right foot to dispatch the ball goalwards. As it nestled in the net, he set off to celebrate a priceless moment of improvisation.

"The ball was falling perfectly for the way I was standing," he said. "It was in the air quite long so I was almost on the ground when I hit it. It was a great goal but the most important thing was getting the three points. I did something similar against Hamilton as well (in December]. I picked the ball up in the same position, passed it out wide and continued my run. I got on the end of it that day so I thought I'd try again and it came off. I might start doing it more often.

"It's the best goal I've scored, although I've done it a few times in training. The ball was up in the air and I just hit it. I don't think it's going to happen again though. I was playing defence and the ball was played up to their striker. I saw it was going short and I got the ball. I just kept on going and I was glad to get on the end of the ball after Calum's shot.

"I played striker once last year, and you can see the reason why," he laughed. "I've played many different positions and, with the two centre-backs going off injured and us down to ten men, we would have been happy with a draw at that stage. But we got three points so we're delighted."

Jim Jefferies, the Hearts manager, admitted being concerned when he saw Jonsson scampering out of defence. "He's a strange one because he's playing centre-half and he's in the opposition box when we're down to ten men," he said. "Trying to get him to sit was impossible but it worked for us as he's come up with a tremendous goal. One goal was always going to win it because there was so little action in the penalty boxes.

"I've been impressed with Eggert's attitude but I knew that before I came back to the club. He competes very well and he's still a young boy. I played him at right-back, I've had him in midfield and at centre-back. Unfortunately he's suspended for next week but Ismael Bouzid should be back."

A third successive victory and securing an eight-point gap between themselves and Aberdeen in the pursuit of top-six places were undoubted positives for Hearts. However, they were countered by Kingston's ordering off and injuries to Kucharski's groin and Zaliukas's hamstring which, with Jonsson suspended, may present Jefferies with defensive problems at Tannadice next Sunday.

Kingston's red card may be appealed today given the injustice surrounding referee William Collum's decision. The Ghanaian replaced Kucharski seconds before the interval but played only seven minutes in total. Shortly after half-time he was penalised for a high challenge on Aberdeen's Fraser Fyvie, his first tackle of the game. He made only minimal contact but his studs were caught in Fyvie's shorts and Collum produced an instant red card for an offence which merited a yellow at worst. In the first half, the referee cautioned Aberdeen's Mark Kerr for a perfectly legal tackle and Kingston was incensed at being sent off.

"I've had a word with the referee to say people are saying it's a bit harsh," continued Jefferies. "My first reaction was he might be unlucky to get a booking never mind a red card."

For a five-minute spell late in the game, Hearts were reduced to nine men as Lee Wallace had a head wound bandaged in the visitors' technical area. "Lee should have been in for stitches but he said to put a bandage on because he knew the numbers we had," said Jefferies. "I was that excited by the result I never even looked at the wound. We lost the two centre-halves and were down to nine men at one point, I don't think I've made so many changes during a game.

"To come through it and get three points is a fantastic result. A lot went against us – injuries and the sending off – but I said to the players that nobody can doubt their spirit and application. A lot was made of the fact we lost our first three games so hopefully we'll get credit for winning three games on the trot. We've given ourselves a bit of breathing space but Aberdeen have a game in hand. Now we have to see who's above us and see if we can catch them. We're going to Tannadice next week and I want more players back from injury."

For Aberdeen, the misery continues. This was their third successive loss following defeats to Raith and Falkirk.

It also extended their winless sequence to eight, and manager Mark McGhee consequently finds himself under pressure. "There was a lot of huff and puff from us," he said of his team's performance. "The quality was poor and the surface didn't lend itself to quality.

"I don't think there was any lack of effort. I'm disappointed we didn't keep the ball better up front and we lost the goal through losing the ball up front. We didn't create many chances but I don't think Hearts were any better at that than us.

"There was a lack of confidence after losing the goal. I felt we were the team who was going to get the goal and win the game. I thought beforehand it was always going to be a one-goal game. Eight games without a win isn't a concern but three defeats in a row is a concern. We've lost three games: Raith, Falkirk and Hearts, and we're now eight points behind Hearts. We need a transformation in form to make the top six and I saw nothing on Saturday to suggest that is what is going to happen any time soon.

"We have to batten down the hatches and make sure we don't end up in a relegation fight."