Kevin Kyle's goal 40 seconds into the second half proved enough to separate the sides as Hearts overcame Aberdeen 1-0 at Pittodrie.
Seven yellow cards were shown by referee Mike Tumilty in a physical affair.
Dons assistant manager Scott Leitch was sent to the stand late on for venting his frustrations.
Jim Jefferies' men were first to threaten after four minutes, Kyle getting on the end of a Santana cross, but Dons keeper Mark Howard was happy to watch as the ball sailed into the stand.
Sone Aluko showed the first flash of his creative abilities after eight minutes as he strode forward from his own half, and picked out Chris Maguire on the right. His cross narrowly evaded both Andrius Velicka and Scott Vernon.
At the other end, Jambos striker Calum Elliot saw his shot from the edge of the area crash off Howard's right post a minute later.
A nice link-up on the right between Vernon and full-back Ross Jack then saw the former put in a low cross to the near post, which Marian Kello claimed under pressure from Velicka.
In injury time, Maguire shot narrowly wide from 18 yards after being played in by Paul Hartley, and the half ended with Dons keeper Howard receiving treatment after he was challenged strongly.
Hearts took the lead within moments of the restart. Kyle had become a target for the home support following his clash with Zander Diamond, but silenced the crowd as he threw himself full-length to head Stephen Elliott's cross beyond Howard.
The goalkeeper had clearly not recovered from the knock he suffered on the stroke of half-time, though, as he was replaced by Jamie Langfield after 54 minutes. And with 20 minutes remaining, sub keeper Langfield also required treatment as he stretched to push Darren Barr's cross away from the sliding Rudolf Skacel.
Source: PA
