Hearts 1
Dundee Utd 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

This was our thirteenth visit to Tynecastle since we last recorded a victory there and for a long period it looked as though, it wouldn't be unlucky, particularly, after we went ahead thanks to Duncan Ferguson's third goal in as many matches. Quite the contrary to be honest, because Hearts applied a tremendous amount of pressure after the break in an effort to maintain their unbeaten record this term. The League Leaders had made a confident and resourceful start to the match and with the advantage of wind and rain play flowed towards Alan Main, but apart from Ferguson blazing over a knock down from Robertson, Hearts rarely threatened, to score in those early stages. Torrential rain made conditions extremely difficult and gradually we established control in midfield and were rewarded with a goal eight minutes from the interval. Hamish French played the ball wide to Dave Bowman on the right and his first time cross was headed home by Duncan Ferguson who had stolen in following indecision between Hogg and his keeper, Smith.

From then until half-time we dominated, but Hearts opened aggressively in the second period and were unfortunate not to get back on level terms when Ferguson slipped a short free-kick to Tosh McKinlay who proceeded to crash a 35-yard drive against the angle of upright and bar in the 61st minute. The Hearts defender wasn't to be denied, however. Eight minutes later Mackay dragged the ball in from the left before firing an angled shot which Alan Main stopped, but couldn't hold and Tosh McKinlay was on the spot to net the rebound from a couple of yards. Initially, thereafter, Hearts stepped up the pace in search of a winner and in the final analysis we were happy to leave Tynecastle with a point.