Interim boss Peter Leven demands Aberdeen players ‘stand up and take responsibility’ after 1-0 loss at Hearts

Interim boss Peter Leven has warned Aberdeen players must “stand up and take responsibility” after their dismal Premiership form continued.

A 1-0 loss to league leaders Hearts at Tynecastle all but ended Aberdeen’s hopes of finishing in the Premiership top six this season.

The Dons have won only once in the last 12 league games and have failed to score in their last seven Premiership away fixtures.

Leven’s Reds languish eighth in the Premiership table, 13 points behind sixth-placed Falkirk with only five games remaining before the split.

In interim charge of the Dons since the Pittodrie board sacked Jimmy Thelin on January 4, Leven says he also takes responsibility for the dire league form.

Following full-time at Tynecastle there was a flashpoint between Aberdeen midfielder Dennis Geiger and Hearts manager Derek McInnes.

Aberdeen need to ‘stand up’

Leven revealed on loan Hoffenheim midfielder Geiger accused ex-Dons boss McInnes of nudging him in the back.

Interim boss Leven was also frustrated Aberdeen were not awarded a penalty for a foul on substitute Stuart Armstrong.

Leven said: “We need to stand up and I need to take responsibility for that, the players as well.

“We need to start picking up points and as were not good enough.

“In the first half we looked nervy and never picked up second balls and the gaps were too big.

“We let Hearts into the game and the fans at Tynecastle really picks it up.

“In the second half we were a bit better.

“However the final third was not good enough as too many shots were blocked.

“It was better in the second half but not enough end product.”

Hearts strengthened their bid to win an historic Scottish top flight title.

Geiger and McInnes flashpoint

No club outside Celtic or Rangers has won the league title since Aberdeen under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1985.

At full-time there was a flashpoint between Geiger and the Hearts gaffer.

Leven said: “He (Geiger) said McInnes nudged him in the back when he walked past him.

“I’ve not seen it back.

“I just asked Derek the question.

“I said ‘why is my player saying to you that you’ve nudged him in the back?’

“He said ‘no I never’.

“So I said ‘okay’.”

McInnes, who managed Aberdeen from 2013 to 2021, was asked about the incident.

The Hearts manager said: “We shook hands. We’re fine.

“It wasn’t me that pushed him.”

Aberdeen appear destined to play out the rest of the season in the bottom six post league split.

Leven’s frustration at penalty call

The Reds face Celtic at home in the Premiership on Wednesday.

When asked if the top six hopes are now over, Leven said: “It is still achievable but right now we are not picking up any points.

“We need to start picking up points and have a tough game on Wednesday (against Celtic) where we are at home.”

Leven was left angered the Dons were not awarded a penalty in the second half for a foul on substitute Armstrong by Michael Steinwender.

The interim Dons’ gaffer’s frustration was compounded as Liam Morrison received a straight red for a similar incident in the recent 3-2 loss to Dundee.

Leven said: “We had a player sent off last week when (Tony) Yogane cut across Liam Morrison and for me this one was similar.

“I just watched it back and Stuart Armstrong goes across him and it is not shoulder to shoulder.

“He actually leans into the back of him with a knee as well so I don’t know why it is not a penalty.”

Did Leven ask for an explanation?

“No, there is no point,” he said.

Did VAR check it?

Leven said: “At that point I never spoke to the fourth official (Graham Grainger) as he was giving me absolutely nothing.

“They should have as we got a player sent off for the exact same thing last week.

“So it is frustrating.”

Sweat on Nicky Devlin’s injury

Hearts grabbed the lead in the 28th minute when Claudio Braga fired in a superb low shot from 12 yards.

Aberdeen face an injury sweat on right-back Nicky Develin who limped off in the 70th minute after a collision.

Leven said: “He is sore.

“I don’t know why he was booked. He was low but I think their player went a wee bit high as well.

“So I will need to watch that back as well. I don’t know yet if it is anything serious.”

Injury update on keeper Bratveit

Aberdeen keeper Per Kristian Bratvreit was ruled out of the clash against Hearts due to injury.

Bulgarian international Dimitar Mitov came in as replacement.

Mitov had been number one for 18 months until losing that slot recently to January transfer window signing Bratveit.

Leven said: “He (Bratveit) felt his groin the other day and we gave him to the last minute.

“He will hopefully not be out for too long.”

[Source: Press and Journal]