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Aberdeen stunned Hearts with three first-half goals at packed Tynecastle to take their Scottish Premiership record to eight consecutive wins.

David Goodwillie headed the Dons in front from a Niall McGinn free-kick before McGinn lashed in a second with Hearts' defence in disarray.

McGinn's great run set up Goodwillie for a composed third for Aberdeen.

After the interval Igor Rossi pulled one back for an improved home side but Aberdeen had further chances to score.

The home side started the game on the back of two straight defeats but were quickly on the attack. However, the Dons moved in front with their first attack.

Callum Paterson gave away a needless free-kick on Goodwillie near the corner flag.

McGinn swung the ball into the six-yard area where Goodwillie got the better of Miguel Pallardo in the aerial challenge and, although Neil Alexander managed to get a hand on the ball, the Hearts goalkeeper failed to stop it crossing the line.

The Dons doubled their advantage midway through the first half when Northern Irishman McGinn won the ball on the edge of his own box before racing upfield to collect a pass close to the corner flag.

And as Blazej Augustyn dived in to tackle him, McGinn waltzed past the defender before curling the ball into the corner of the net.

Hearts, who had started the season so brightly, were being made to look very ordinary by an Aberdeen side with a hunger for goals.

And their third came in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

A Hearts attack broke down when Goodwillie dispossessed Prince Buaben just outside the Aberdeen 18-yard box.

The striker raced to the other end of the pitch to collect a pass from McGinn before dispatching the ball beyond Alexander.

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson brought on Sam Nicholson for the ineffective Gavin Reilly for the second half and within seven minutes of the restart the home side had pulled a goal back.

The Aberdeen defence failed to deal with a corner and Rossi turned the ball home from close range to give the Hearts fans some hope.

As the game swung from end to end Alexander kept Hearts in the game with two magnificent stops from Peter Pawlett and McGinn.

Paterson came close to a second for Hearts with a free-kick from 25 yards that had Danny Ward scrambling across his line but the ball crashed off the top of the crossbar.

Hearts enjoyed more possession but Aberdeen were in control and easily saw out the game to maintain their run of league wins.