Hearts suffered their first league defeat of the season as Aberdeen claimed a 1-0 win at Pittodrie.
Topi Keskinen's low strike in the first half was enough to separate the sides in the north-east, with Hearts made to pay for a misfiring day in front of goal.
Derek McInnes made two changes to the side that drew with Dundee United last time out; Lawrence Shankland and Ageu both missing the trip to the Granite City with calf and hamstring issues respectively.
Craig Halkett's suspension opened the door for the returning Frankie Kent, whilst Michael Steinwender was handed a starting berth, linking up with Kent as the central defensive pairing.
Aberdeen carved out the first chance after three minutes at a blustery Pittodrie; Topi Keskinen's through-ball was eventually worked to Dylan Lobben on the right, but his low drive was a simple diving save for Alex Schwolow in the maroon net.
After shading possession in the opening stanza, Hearts hit back on 11 minutes when Stuart Findlay poked a short range chance wide following a cute delivery from Alexandros Kyziridis at the free kick.
Local lad Harry Milne almost secured Hearts' first after 16 minutes when Cammy Devlin's deflected strike at goal fell in the defender's path perfectly; but he wasn't to haunt his hometown team as he clipped Dimitar Mitov's crossbar.
25 minutes in, and the Jambos went close again, a packed goalmouth unable to prevent Frankie Kent from leaping up and nodding towards goal, with Mitov emerging on top once again as Hearts maintained the pressure.
Despite creating more chances, Hearts trailed at Pittodrie after 39 minutes. A ball forward picked out Topi Keskinen on the left in space - he weaved his way forward, evading the attentions of his markers, before slamming the ball into the bottom corner with a low strike.
It hadn't been a brilliant first half for the Jambos, with a far more clinical showing required in the second 45.
HT: Aberdeen 1-0 Heart of Midlothian
Mitov continued to frustrate at the start of the second half; producing good reactions to deny Tomas Magnusson's close range header after good work by Claudio Braga to lift the ball back into the box as it edged to the byline.
The game would rumble on to the 76th minute before the next Hearts chance appeared; Landry Kabore expertly taking down a ball forward and easing into the path of Braga - but Mitov denied him first before Jack Milne produced a superb tackle to divert Claudio's second attempt on the rebound.
Into the closing stages, and with seven minutes of stoppage time, Hearts had to throw everything they had if they hoped to get some kind of result.
No equaliser was to come, and Hearts had to return to Edinburgh empty-handed.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Knoester, Aouchiche, Polvara, Armstrong (Clarkson 81'), Milne, Lazetic (Nisbet 84'), Jensen, Lobban (Molloy 81'), Keskinen (Milanovic 84')
Subs: Suman, Shinnie, Clarkson, Milanovic, Bilalovic, Nisbet, Molloy, Kjartansson, Gyamfi
Hearts: Schwolow, Kent, Braga (Forrest 84), Kabore, Devlin, Steinwender (Spittal 73'), Milne, Findlay (McCart 73'), Magnusson (Wilson 84'), McEntee (Borchgrevink 73'), Kyziridis
Subs: Gordon, Kingsley, McCart, Kabangu, Borchgrevink, Spittal, Forrest, Wilson, Kerjota
Attendance: 17,850
