Heart of Midlothian's hopes of Scottish Cup success ended at the semi-final stage as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen in extra-time at Hampden Park despite a valiant effort.
The Tynecastle Park men finished the game with nine men following red cards to Michael Steinwender and Cammy Devlin.
Hearts fell behind following a strong start to the game after a Pape Gueye header hit the bar and then Craig Gordon before ending up in the back of the net. Lawrence Shankland got Hearts level before Steinwender's red card in the first half for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Neil Critchley's side battled brilliantly to deep into extra-time before Devlin was sent off for a second yellow card. Aberdeen would score the winner moments later.
Joel and Craig look back at the action at Hampden Park.
Strong character
Hearts won't head back to Hampden Park to compete in the final, but this loss in a big game is different from ones that came before.
In the build-up to the game, there were plenty of questions around the team's ability in big games, more from a mental and character perspective.
There could be no doubt about the team's character on display at Hampden Park. It was a performance of fight, of grit, of resilience.
Hearts, having started strongly, could have wilted when they went behind to a Craig Gordon own goal. Having got themselves level, they could have wilted when they went down to 10 men after Michael Steinwender's red card. They didn't. They dug in and worked for each other. It wasn't a game where one player stood out well above any other. It was the collective.
The team had to defend and battle with 10 men for the whole second half. And then 30 minutes of extra-time. Despite a lot of running and a lot of tired legs, they kept going and going. More impressive than perhaps anything was that there were few, if any, signs of mental fatigue. None of mental weakness.
Hearts would only falter after going down to nine men, with John Beaton adjudging Devlin to have committed a second yellow card offence despite trying to clear the ball. While there may not be too much debate about the first red card, there can certainly be questions about the Devlin yellow card.
It was a case of being so near to getting the game to penalties but just not being able to see it through.
Diamond formation
Neil Critchley stuck with the diamond formation, bringing Lawrence Shankland, James Wilson, and Cammy Devlin into the starting XI.
Hearts controlled the early parts of the game, either through some good play or through forcing Aberdeen into giving up possession in their own half. But it was a familiar story.
Hearts got into some great positions – especially in the opening 10 minutes – but the final ball was lacking. Somewhat predictably, Aberdeen took the lead with one of their first opportunities of the game.
One of the consequences of the Hearts shape was again a familiar one, at least in the last couple of weeks: the strikers do most of their work on the wing. Most of Elton Kabangu and James Wilson’s touches in the first half were out wide and away from goalscoring positions.
Critchley’s side pressed aggressively and were rewarded by winning possession in the opposition half a number of times.
This meant a high defensive line, which Aberdeen threatened to exploit a few times through their pacey wingers. Shayden Morris rounded Gordon at one point after getting behind the Hearts defence, but his touch took him too wide.
Not long before half-time, Topi Keskinen raced in behind the Hearts defence and was brought down by Steinwender, who was ordered off.
Response to going behind
The initial response was nervous. Hearts were thinking more about each pass and passed it around defence a little more. They started to give the ball away in dangerous areas where they hadn’t before.
Aberdeen continued to threaten, now looking to play balls in behind the Hearts backline as often as possible.
Momentum slowly shifted back towards Hearts, and they scored a deserved equaliser through Lawrence Shankland who delivered a captain's performance in what would become a tough task as the lone striker. After that, the game opened right up, and there was a short spell where it felt like the match could finish with any scoreline.
That was until the red card that came just before half-time. Rather than make changes right away, Critchley waited until half-time, temporarily moving Devlin to right-back and Forrester into the centre of defence.
Half-time changes
Now with 10 men, and with 15 minutes to prepare a new gameplan, the shape and strategy were completely different after the break.
Centre-backs Frankie Kent and Craig Halkett were brought on in place of the strike duo Wilson and Kabangu. It meant a switch to a back three/back five, with Shakland spearheading the attack in front of a midfield three. It was a huge call from Critchley and one that raised many eyebrows.
Hearts sat deep, forcing Aberdeen into possession at the edge of the box. The aim was to force crosses that the back three could repel.
Shankland was given the task of holding the ball up, often when isolated and he did well early in the half to win a free kick and relieve pressure.
Hearts understandably took an ultra-defensive approach and were arguably the better team in the second half despite the man disadvantage. Aberdeen were restricted to very few opportunities. The addition of Halkett and Kent to the backline provided real solidity and both thrive in such situations where they have to head and block. Both, alongside Jamie McCart, were dominant.
There was still a threat from Hearts, though. After a set piece, Halkett found himself in a promising position and won a corner, from which Jamie McCart headed over. Soon after, James Penrice broke free down the left. He probably picked the wrong option as Grant had made a promising run, but the ball fell to Forrester who shot over.
Beni's influence
The Congolese midfielder put in another eye-catching performance in the middle of the park for Hearts, both in and out of possession, and when the team had 11 and 10 men.
There was a moment in the second half when Hearts were under sustained pressure in terms of not getting out of their own half, where he put his foot on the ball, took on the responsibility and brought a calmness to the team. He would play a one-two with Lawrence Shankland before charging forward and slipping in James Penrice down the left. It would ultimately lead to a period of possession in the Aberdeen half.
Baningime was supported either side by the tenacity and energy of Cammy Devlin and Jorge Grant with the Aussie thriving across the game with his snarling, in-your-face qualities.
There is no one quite like Baningime in the Hearts squad for such an occasion where it looks like he is playing in the back garden on a Sunday afternoon with family, casually keeping the ball off them at ease or stealing the ball back when he wants it.
A subtly totemic performance.
Forrester stands tall
The 20-year-old was face-to-face with Topi Keskinen at the edge of the Hearts box beyond the 70th minute. He did enough to force the winger to the byline and make him play in a low cross that went to Craig Halkett covering. Forrester stayed down and it was clear his race was all but done.
What went before the right-back can be proud of. Many expected and wanted the youngster to be replaced for this game after a tough couple of weeks. We wrote about it this week. But there he was, in the starting XI, and he delivered.
Forrester was aggressive and decisive with a lot of what he did defensviely. If was worried about Keskinen's pace he didn't show it.
There were a few moments where he seemed eager to get the ball away early on but that was natural. He would settle on that side as well and put in a performance that could be regarded as his most impressive since making the step up from the B team, considering the doubts around his position in the team.
Craig Gordon
The veteran goalkeeper had very little to do after Hearts were reduced to 10 men. In front of him were five defenders, and three midfielders in front of them.
Most of Aberdeen’s balls into the box were repelled by the defence, but Gordon was required to make a vital save in the final minute of the first half of extra time.
Jeppe Okkels got goalside of Sander Kartum and cutback for Oday Dabbagh to strike. It looked destined for the net but the keeper got down quickly to keep it out with a strong arm. What was even more impressive was that he was partially sighted due to the presence of McCart in front of him.
Had that gone in, it would have been difficult to see Hearts raising themselves in the second period of extra time.
