Maguire (left) holds off the challenge of Lee Wallace
A bad-tempered clash at Pittodrie ended goalless as 10-man Hearts earned what could prove to be a crucial Scottish Premier League point against Aberdeen.
Hearts' Marian Kello was the busier of the two goalkeepers early on but it was the visitors who had the best chance of the first half through David Templeton.
Aberdeen's Jamie Smith struck the woodwork early in the second half.
Marius Zaliukas was given a straight red card following an off-the-ball kick at Chris Maguire but Hearts held on.
The result stretches third-place Hearts' lead over Dundee United to two points, while Aberdeen are now three points behind United, who lost to Celtic.
Charlie Mulgrew had the opportunity to test Kello with an early free-kick but the Aberdeen left-back's effort was claimed comfortably by the keeper.
Another Mulgrew set piece, this time a corner, caused uncertainty in the Hearts defence as Kello flapped at the in-swinging cross and Dons captain Scott Severin volleyed the loose ball into the side netting.
Kello coped better moments later when he smothered Smith's low diagonal shot.
The prowess of Mulgrew caused Hearts problems again when his right-footed cross was headed narrowly over by Aberdeen top scorer Lee Miller.
Hearts had largely struggled to maintain meaningful possession in the opposition half but in one rare attack, Calum Elliot powerfully shot wide after being presented with a loose ball outside the area.
Smith saw another shot collected by Kello before Templeton replaced the injured Laryea Kingston.
And it was the substitute who created the best opening of the first half as he weaved his way past several Aberdeen defenders and tried to lift the ball beyond Jamie Langfield but the Dons keeper made an instinctive save to divert the shot wide.
Zaliukas received his second successive red card at Pittodrie
Hearts' resurgence continued after the break with Langfield making another impressive save from Elliot's inventive flick.
The Dons responded with a breakaway on the right and, after Maguire's shot had been pushed out by Kello, Smith contrived to strike against the post with the goal gaping.
Minutes later, Sone Aluko stung the palms of Kello with a ferocious shot.
Aberdeen were almost undone by the pace of Elliot when the ball broke kindly for the striker but his eventual shot flashed across goal and out for a throw-in.
Zaliukas, who had earlier been booked, was then given a straight red card following an off-the-ball kick at Maguire.
A flurry of bookings interrupted play before Smith swept a shot wide of the far post and the Dons midfielder was soon forced off injured to be replaced by Stuart Duff.
Kello blocked from Foster before Hearts substitute Christian Nade fired wide in the sixth minute of injury time.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood: "The first half was a bit dead. They strangled the game with their play and their wasting time.
"In the second half, we got a lot of pace into it and the crowd came alive and all credit to them, they hung on but it's a sore one for us.
"They came here to get a point and they got a point but you wouldn't want to watch that every week, it's a European game. They got what they wanted but the referee's got to step in and do something about (the time-wasting).
"I think the whole stadium saw it and the referee saw it but he didn't do anything about it and they just kept doing it. These things happen in Europe but they don't happen in Scotland.
"We should've won. I don't think they had too many chances. We had some great chances but it wasn't to be.
"We didn't have the form on the day to be honest - our crossing was poor."
Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo: "If you take one point here, you must be satisfied.
"If we count the chances, a draw is a fair result. It was very important to not lose the game.
"I cannot accept the attitude from Marius Zaliukas. I don't know how many times he has got a red card.
"The team showed a very high spirit and we had a bit of luck. The opponent pressed us, especially in the last 10 minutes.
"We didn't get any red cards, we didn't get any yellow cards and we didn't get any punishment from the referee for arresting the time. The referee never had the possibility to tell my players to go quicker. We used only the rules that football gives us.
"The rules were there for Zaliukas to be sent off and I think this was correct."
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