Dundee Utd0–1Hearts

Encounters between United and Hearts are always fiercely contested and rarely does a goal separate either side. When both sides are on six match unbeaten runs and the visitors top of the league, it only serves to intensify the competitiveness of this particular fixture. Before the match, coach Paul Sturrock had forecast that it was unlikely to be a match for the purist. He was spot on in his assessment. During the first half, in particular, creativity was hard to find as both midfields cancelled one another out. It took some twenty-five minutes before either goalkeeper was tested. This followed a long ball played up field by McPherson which found Robertson in the clear and the Hearts striker's first shot was blocked by Freddy Van Der Hoorn and his effort from his follow up effort was well saved by Guide Van De Kamp. John Clark drilled a free kick just wide and then headed just past, and on the stroke of half-time Smith made the first of several good saves in the match when he tipped over a 20 yarder from Darren Jackson.

The earlier part of the second half followed a similar pattern, but in the 64th minute Hearts broke the stalemate with a goal out-of-the blue. Crabbe flighted the ball over from the right to Baird at the far post and he headed down to John Robertson who prodded the ball past Guide Van De Kamp. This certainly put life into the game and the introduction of Mixu Paatelainen almost reaped instant dividends as Duncan Ferguson headed one of the Finn's crosses from the left just over. Then came the flash point of a controversial incident. Ray McKinnon was felled by Wright as he made tracks towards goal. As the Hearts midfielder was being booked, the stand-side linesman flagged and the net result was the dismissal of Gary Mackay for an incident in the wake of the original foul on Ray McKinnon. From the ensuing free kick Henry Smith made a tremendous save from a viciously curling John Clark shot. We poured forward in search of an equaliser and almost grabbed one when McLaren directed a pass-back wide of Smith, but again the Hearts keeper was on the alert and dived to save an awkward situation.So our six match unbeaten run came to an end, though our efforts almost certainly merited a point from the last match to be played at Tannadice before the removal of the north enclosure to make way for a new two tiered stand in its place.