MX23RW : Wednesday, April 3 22:28:33| >> :600:312749:312749:
Mar 30, 2019 at 3pm UK at ​Tynecastle Stadium (Edinburgh)
Attendance: 17,880
Hearts
2-1
Aberdeen
Clare (59' pen.), Ikpeazu (77')
FT(HT: 0-1)
McLennan (16')

Craig Levein full of praise for injured match-winner Uche Ikpeazu

Craig Levein full of praise for injured match-winner Uche Ikpeazu
© Reuters
The striker netted Hearts' winner before suffering a nasty-looking head injury.

Hearts manager Craig Levein hailed match-winner Uche Ikpeazu after the striker's goal sealed a comeback victory against Aberdeen.

The marksman's action-packed afternoon ended when he was taken down the tunnel on a stretcher after succumbing to a serious-looking head knock.

However, by that stage the 24-year-old had sealed all three points for the Tynecastle side after Sean Clare had cancelled out Aberdeen's first-half opener from Connor McLennan.

Levein insists he will be guided by the club's medical team as to the exact nature of Ikpeazu's injury but made light of it before confessing the fans' favourite will be hugely missed should he be sidelined.

He said: "He's a bit dazed. I think he hit his head on the turf when he landed, that's what I saw, but maybe there was a clash of heads as well.

"He thinks he's scored a hat-trick, I told him he scored a hat-trick, so he's quite happy!

"If he's out in the coming games, it will be a concern for us. I thought his play was fantastic today, under a lot of provocation from their two centre-backs.

"One of them was holding him and the other one would win the header. I don't know how many times that happened in the match and he showed great strength of character not to get involved.

"He just kept plugging away and plugging away. But all credit to him, he's been a real handful and the two centre-backs from Aberdeen really struggled to cope with him.

"He loves scoring goals. He's not scored for a while and I think that was important for him, particularly to get the winner after really having a tough afternoon and not getting much change, decisions-wise."

Levein insisted Ikpeazu should have been awarded a second-half penalty when referee John Beaton instead booked him for diving under a challenge from Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis.

And the Hearts boss claimed his side should also have won a spot-kick when Lewis and wing-back Jamie Brandon clashed.

He added: "The only saving grace for me is I'm not getting myself into trouble because we won the match.

"I thought Jamie Brandon got pulled back by Lewis, which was a penalty, and Uche's is the biggest stonewall penalty you'll ever see."

Meanwhile, Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes admits the Dons fans will be left bemused by his team's second-half performance after they dominated large spells of the first.

He said: "The away support will be scratching their heads because it was so good in the first half and to lose that game from a winning position is the most disappointing part of it.

"We've been to tougher venues and against better teams and managed to see out the victory once we've gone in front, and that's the disappointing thing."


Click here for more stories about Craig Levein

Click here for more stories about Aberdeen

Share this article now:
Aberdeen's Graeme Shinnie pictured in July 2018
Read Next:
McInnes launches staunch defence of Shinnie
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32262483216280
2Liverpool32247172195379
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs322111060342664
4Arsenal31196665392663
5Chelsea32196755342163
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd32187761431861
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32138114039147
8Watford32137124747046
9Leicester CityLeicester32135144243-144
10Everton32127134542343
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham32126144148-742
12Bournemouth32115164358-1538
13Crystal Palace32106163843-536
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3298153142-1135
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3196163246-1433
16Southampton3189143550-1533
17Burnley3296173759-2233
18Cardiff CityCardiff3284202861-3328
RFulham3345243076-4617
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3235241859-4114

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account