Vrancken brands Hearts’ late collapse at Aberdeen a nightmare
Stunned Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken described his side’s ten‑man, dramatic late collapse at Aberdeen as "unbelievable" in a post‑match interview published at 23:10 BST on 1 August 2026 and updated at the same time. The Tynecastle outfit had been 1‑0 up at half‑time and appeared on course for their first win at Pittodrie in ten years when the final minutes arrived.
Oisin McEntee opened the scoring before the break, giving Hearts a comfortable lead and a sense that control was theirs as the game entered the 90th minute. The half‑time advantage seemed to set the stage for a historic victory at the Granite City stadium.
However, a cheaply conceded and badly defended free‑kick allowed Lewis Mayo to snatch an equaliser, erasing the advantage that had seemed secure. The goal came as the match slipped from Hearts’ grasp in the dying moments.
Just 33 seconds later, referee David Dickinson awarded a penalty after Stuart Findlay was sent off for bringing down Toyosi Olusanya in the area. Aberdeen captain Kevin Nisbet converted the spot‑kick, sealing the points for the Dons and completing the turnaround.
Vrancken, still shellshocked, told his players they must develop an "over my dead body" mindset and admitted the situation was far from OK. He warned that such late lapses could not be afforded again if Hearts are to compete.
Reflecting on the performance, Vrancken said, "The first half was OK. Not many chances. Our quality on the ball was not good enough, but we had more control in the second half. Then we weren’t smart at the end. We had to keep the control in these moments instead of, like, going everywhere. It was so disappointing."
Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson praised his side’s never‑say‑die attitude, saying the determination shown in the final minutes would not have happened last season and reflected the changes he has demanded since taking over.
Kevin Nisbet later claimed the equaliser should have been credited to Lewis Mayo, insisting that a pass from substitute Stuart Armstrong set up the free‑kick and that he believed the goal was his, not Mayo’s.