Hearts vs Aberdeen

Robbie Neilson's men host Jim Goodwin and Co in a huge midweek night under the lights in the battle for third spot in the Premiership and European football ...

The capital club have been handed a major boost off the park ahead of this one with star man [Kye Rowles](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/all-about/kye-rowles) putting pen to paper on a five-year deal. [Aberdeen](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/all-about/aberdeen-fc) to a massive nine points with the same number of games played while they could potentially move further ahead of Livingston depending on the outcome of their match against Dundee United. The [Jambos](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/all-about/heart-of-midlothian-fc) currently hold a four point advantage over fourth placed Livingston and are two further points ahead of the Dons in the best of the rest position ahead of tonight's encounter. [Edinburgh Live Sport](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/sport/) on Twitter. [Paddy Power](https://www.paddypower.com/football/uefa-champions-league-qualifiers/rangers-v-union-st-gilloise-31635052) at time of writing** [Edinburgh Live newsletters](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre) for more headlines straight to your inbox [bought here](https://ppv.heartsfc.co.uk/) for £12.99. [- We 'signed' Garang Kuol for Hearts in January and Robbie Neilson's side reached Scottish Cup Final](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/sport/signed-garang-kuol-hearts-january-25964063) [- Christophe Berra appointed new Livingston coach with Neil Hastings made assistant after Marvin Bartley departure](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/sport/football/christophe-berra-appointed-new-livingston-25959423) [- Andy Walker in Hearts' stronger' verdict as pundit backs Robbie Neilson's men for third spot finish](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/sport/andy-walker-hearts-stronger-verdict-25949847) [- Yutaro Oda reveals Hearts' research that sealed deal as he details speed and dribbling as key traits](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/sport/yutaro-oda-reveals-hearts-research-25947461) [- Hearts new boy James Hill reveals secret weapon as he details key attributes after loan transfer](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/sport/hearts-new-boy-james-hill-25936697) [Garang Kuol reveals Eddie Howe six-word message ahead of Hearts loan transfer from Newcastle United](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/sport/football/garang-kuol-reveals-eddie-howe-25985857) [Robbie Neilson](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/all-about/robbie-neilson) and Co welcome Jim Goodwin's men to the capital with the battle to finish third behind [Celtic](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/all-about/celtic-fc) and [Rangers](https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/all-about/rangers-fc) coming right into focus here. He is the only major absentee for the Hearts boss who gave an update on the state of play in this pre-match press conference. The visitors arrive in Gorgie off the back of a extra-time League Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers on Sunday.

Hearts and Aberdeen are set to duke it out in a huge match at the top of the Premiership on Wednesday night at Tynecastle Park.

In terms of points per game, Hearts have the best home form outside the Old Firm. Aberdeen have had their struggles on the road with just one win – against Motherwell – outside AB24 since August. [Livingston](/topic/livingston) currently split the team with Robbie Neilson’s men in third and the Dons in fifth.

A big one in the battle for third as Jim Goodwin takes his side to Tynecastle.

But it's [Hearts](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/hearts-fc) who currently occupy the 'best of the rest' slot just now, six points ahead of the Dons with both having played 21 games. What is the latest team news? Who is the referee? [Aberdeen](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/aberdeen-fc) are the best team outside of the Old Firm at the moment. The size of that gap is why this match could be so pivotal. [Tynecastle](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/tynecastle-park) tonight as two of the favourites for third place go head-to-head.

After securing an important three points over Hamilton Accies last Sunday, Aberdeen Women return to the Balmoral Stadium on Sunday where they take.

We go into the game confident and in good form having been undefeated in the past four games.” Hannah has not played as much as she would have liked, and it is hard when you fall into that category because when you do get a chance to impact a game, your match fitness is maybe not up to the speed of everyone else. Hearts are having a very good season and they will certainly have taken a lot of confidence from having taken a point from their game against Rangers. For us to come in, it is a pleasure to work with people who are obsessed with learning and want to get better. When a new manager comes in, it clears the decks for everyone to have a fresh start. She is in the Scotland youth camps and has a big future ahead of her, but our goalkeeper has been very important to the recent performances.

The Irish boss has confirmed that there are doubts about the fitness of several players going into the huge game against Hearts at Tynecastle in the race ...

Duk had to be taken off halfway through the second half on Sunday, and faces a real battle to start the game at Tynecastle. [Jim Goodwin](https://www.aberdeenlive.news/all-about/jim-goodwin) has admitted that he will have to make a late call on his starting XI for the game against Hearts at Tynecastle tonight. But they were applauded off by the 15,000 strong Red Army, who could not fault their team's application in the game and the desire to win. [Luis Duk Lopes](https://www.aberdeenlive.news/all-about/luis-duk-lopes) limped off on 63 minutes at the national stadium, shortly after former Dons skipper Ryan Jack cancelled out Bojan Miovski's superb opening goal. [ Kelle Roos ](https://www.aberdeenlive.news/all-about/kelle-roos)hurt himself during the Rangers defeat at Hampden, but the Dutch stopper should make a recovery to keep his place between the sticks. The Irishman has revealed the difficult pitch that his side had to play on in the Viaplay Cup semi final defeat to Rangers on Sunday, has meant that several players are yet to be declared fit to go again against the Jambos in Edinburgh.

At Tynecastle Park, round 22 of the Scottish Premiership will feature a match between Hearts and Aberdeen.

Aberdeen and their fans that traveled with them will be hoping for a better outcome here after the team's previous League Cup match, which was played against Rangers and ended in a loss. During that game, Hearts controlled the ball for 68% of the time and had 12 shots on goal, with only three of them finding the target. At Tynecastle Park, round 22 of the Scottish Premiership will feature a match between Hearts and Aberdeen.

The Jambos face two massive games this week with the Dons coming to town tomorrow and then Hibs in the cup on Sunday.

With so much riding on the league game it may seem unlikely but it is something the manager will have to weigh up. A home win would make it very difficult for the Dons to claw back the deficit and prevent the capital side from securing back-to-back thirds. New signings Garang Kuol and Yutaro Oda as well as Stephen Humphrys will be knocking on the door but will have to make do with minutes off the bench for new. [Neilson](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/robbie-neilson) is left with a bit of a dilemma in terms of whether to rest any of his stars tomorrow night when the Dons come to to town. Centre back James Hill had an impressive debut against St Mirren but with Stephen Kingsley coming back he could drop to the bench to allow Kingsley and Sibbick to play either side of Kye Rowles in the back three. [Aberdeen](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/aberdeen-fc) come to Tynecastle tomorrow night with Jim Goodwin's men six points behind the Jambos who occupy third spot as it stands.

The Jambos are sitting pretty in third but the Dons can make up some ground with a win in Gorgie this evening.

[Jim Goodwin](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/jim-goodwin) and his team to claw back, especially considering the Jambos' form and with captain Lawrence Shankland joint top scorer in the division. Both have crunch Scottish Cup ties to look forward to after this, so could do with the boost three points would bring. He was intrumental in beating Hearts in the Noerth East earlier in the season, and will be a big miss if he isn't fit enough to be invovled tonight. Jim Goodwin is looking at a number of defensive and forward options as he looks to strengthen before the close of the window. [Aberdeen](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/aberdeen-fc) took all three points when the sides met at Pittodrie earlier in the season, but a trip to Tynecastle represents a very different test against what is now a more confident team under [Robbie Neilson](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/robbie-neilson). [Hearts](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/hearts-fc) have risen back to the familiar surroundings they got used to last season and sit best of the rest, four points clear of Livingston and six clear of tonight's opponents.

Hearts are unbeaten in their last seven Premiership matches and sit third in the division behind Celtic and Rangers. For Robbie Neilson it's been all about ...

[ Robbie Neilson](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/robbie-neilson) it's been all about consistency and keeping his top man, Lawrence Shankland, fit and firing and scoring the goals to maintain momentum to ensure they emulate last season's finish in the league. Alfie Bavidge is on the bench. They still must overthrow Livingston in fourth and attempt to overcome the Jambos' six point lead ahead of them, but the best place to start is at Tynecastle this evening. There's just a spot on the bench for new boy Yutaro Oda. [Aberdeen](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/aberdeen-fc), meanwhile, have been hit and miss at times this season with boss [Jim Goodwin](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/jim-goodwin) recently blasting them for their Kilmarnock defeat and insisting it's the worst he's ever watched from his players. [Premiership](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/scottish-premiership) matches and sit third in the division behind Celtic and Rangers.

Summary · Listen to Sportsound · Celtic 4-0 St Mirren - Kyogo brace & Turnbull effort add to Abada opener; both sides have efforts ruled out for offside · Hearts 5 ...

Hearts thrash woeful Aberdeen at Tynecastle to leave Jim Goodwin's side with just one win in their last eight games.

- Squad number17Player nameForrestAverage rating - Squad number9Player nameShanklandAverage rating - Squad number14Player nameDevlinAverage rating - Squad number15Player nameRowlesAverage rating - Squad number2Player nameSmithAverage rating Attempt blocked. Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: "We're obviously delighted with the final outcome. It could, and perhaps should, have been more. The second half continued in much the same vein, with Hearts creating chances at will. Hearts were gifted a penalty when Liam Scales clearly handballed an optimistic cross. From there though, it was all downhill for Aberdeen. Ylber Ramadani was given the freedom of Tyncecastle and forced a decent save from Zander Clark from outside the box.