Dundee Utd2–1Hearts

Both Hearts and United were looking for a reaction to poor midweek results, both teams recording seven changes from their respective Tuesday games.

It was United that showed an early desire to take the game to their visitors. The hosts had the first opportunity to test the Hearts defence as early as the second minute, Guy Demel receiving the ball at the edge of the area, but he failed to find the space to get the ball into the danger area. United’s fans then screamed for a penalty as a driven cross from Spittal appeared to strike the hand of Oshinawa inside the penalty area, but referee Kevin Clancy paid no heed to the shouts and play continued. In the eighteenth minute, Edward Ofere, starting his first game, was close to making the breakthrough rising at the front post to make a perfect connection with Fraser’s corner, but Neil Alexander produced a wonderful save to claw the ball out of the top corner and round the post for a corner. Hearts had struggled to gain any momentum in the game, but proved that they could be dangerous after slack play in the United defence presented Sam Nicholson the chance to drive in from the right and fizz a shot just wide of Kashawima’s left hand post. Guy Demel then had a great opportunity to open the scoring, unmarked six yards out, but his header, from a Spittal cross, was straight at the Hearts keeper and he did well to push it away for another United corner. Hearts midfielder Jordan McGhee was then sent off in the fortieth minute, for a second caution in quick succession, his first for upending Sinama-Pongolle, then appearing to catch Ofere late when challenging for the ball. The referee showed no hesitation despite the protests of the men in maroon. Hearts almost immediately made a change to accommodate the red card, taking off Mario Zanatta and replacing him with ex United player John Souttar. John Rankin then found his name in the book, cautioned for catching Walker late as the United man attempted a shot, but he was beaten to the ball. The ever involved Rankin then just missed out on putting the Terrors ahead, ghosting in from the left and placing a shot into the far corner, out of the reach of Alexander, but the ball appeared to take an awkward bounce off the pitch and agonisingly rebounded back into play for the Hearts defence to clear for a corner. United did take the lead a minute later, another dangerous corner from Fraser was met by the onrushing Demel and he rose between two defenders to thunder a header into the net sparking huge celebrations from the fans in tangerine.

Hearts made a further change at half time, bringing on Rossi, for Oshinawa. It took three minutes for United to undo all of the good work in the first half gifting possession to Hearts in the middle of the park. The ball found its way to Souttar who lofted a great ball into a dangerous area. As the United defence hesitated, Jamie Walker wasted no time in latching onto the ball and firing a ferocious shot past Kawashima from a very difficult angle. Guy Demel made way for Paul Dixon, shortly before Ryan Dow came on for Sinama-Pongolle as United failed to match the standards they set in the first half. Ten minutes after his introduction though Dow had his head in his hands as his fantastic lob had beaten Hearts keeper Alexander, but the ball bounced two yards from the goal and agonisingly over the bar as United searched for the all-important winner. United were throwing everything at Hearts, with Hearts blocking everything in their path and happy to keep firing the ball back to the half way line. As a clearance fell to Rankin forty yards from goal, he slipped a pass into Dow who skipped past a challenge but then lost control at the edge of the area; the ball fell to Anier who laid it into the path of Paton. Paton set himself and from fully twenty five yards fired an explosive shot high into the net and out of reach of the impressive Alexander. The men in tangerine and those in the stands went wild, a quality goal that could have a big say in the fate of United this season. Henri Anier followed McGhee for an early bath, again after two bookings in quick succession. Hearts skipper Ozturk was also booked in the altercation with Anier, Paton, Fraser and Durnan all received cautions late in the match. United had to hold strong as this pressed Hearts into a response and despite a couple of shaky moments defensively and an additional five minutes of playing time United held on for a very impressive victory.

Formation: 3-4-1-2
Captain: Paul Paton
Arab Archive 'Man of the Match': Paul Paton

Match Photos courtesy of Riki Grauer - More photos available at:
Dundee United Official Flickr Page