Aberdeen have inflicted Hearts' first defeat in nine as the home side won 1-0 at Pittodrie Stadium this afternoon.
Hearts could have been reduced to 10 men in the first half after Miguel Pallardo tripped up an Aberdeen forward, but the Spaniard avoided a second yellow card and was substituted moments later.
The best chance of the half fell to the home side as Andrew Considine got himself on the end of a Jonny Hayes free kick, but the defender's header was straight at Neil Alexander.
In the second half, the away side started brightly as Sam Nicholson worked himself some space in the middle of the park, and the winger hit a curling effort from 25 yards that struck the bar.
Aberdeen had a glorious chance to take the lead as Kenny McLean's in-swinging cross found Adam Rooney, but the forward blazed his header over the bar from just a few yards out.
Hearts then had a clear chance of their own as Juanma was put through one-on-one, but Danny Ward spread himself wide to deny the Spaniard at close range.
With the resulting corner, Callum Paterson found himself alone at the back post but his header was cleared off the line by Willo Flood.
In the last five minutes, the Dons were awarded a penalty after Jordan McGhee handled the ball in the box with no-one around him, and Rooney stepped up to give the home side the the victory.
The win moves Aberdeen just a point behind Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table but the leaders have two games in hand, while Hearts are now seven points off of the Dons and remain a point above fourth-placed St Johnstone.
Nathan Staples
