League · Premier Division

Dundee Utd3–1Hearts

Eamonn Bannon 20′

Tommy Coyne 24′

Tommy Coyne 82′

Walter Kidd 6′

11 Mar 1984Sunday, 11 March 1984 · 3pmTannadice ParkAttendance: 10,058

Lineups

Dundee Utd

Hearts

Dundee Utd · Starting XI

Hearts · Starting XI

Henry Smith
Walter Kidd
George Cowie
Sandy Jardine
Roddy MacDonald
Craig Levein
Dave Bowman
John Robertson
Jimmy Bone
Alex MacDonald
Gary Mackay

Dundee Utd · Substitutes

12John Holt
14Ralph Milne

Hearts · Substitutes

Donald Park
Derek O'Connor

Dundee Utd · Substitutions

John Holt for Paul Hegarty34′
Ralph Milne for Paul Sturrock69′

Hearts · Substitutions

Donald Park for Craig Levein74′

Dundee Utd · Manager

Jim McLean

Hearts · Manager

Alex MacDonald

Dundee Utd · Cautions

Not recorded

Hearts · Cautions

Gary Mackay

Match report

United's first home Premier match on a Sunday completed a hat-trick of successes over the Jam Tarts at Tannadice this season. The home side, however, had to come from behind. After only 8 minutes a flick from John Robertson was picked up by captain Walter Kidd who ran in to score. The equaliser came 13 minutes later when Paul Sturrock got in a shot after appeals for a penalty. His effort was going wide but Eamonn Bannon followed up to side-foot home from close range. Four minutes later United were ahead. Hamish McAlpine's throw found Eamonn Bannon, his run up…Read moreRead less

United's first home Premier match on a Sunday completed a hat-trick of successes over the Jam Tarts at Tannadice this season. The home side, however, had to come from behind. After only 8 minutes a flick from John Robertson was picked up by captain Walter Kidd who ran in to score. The equaliser came 13 minutes later when Paul Sturrock got in a shot after appeals for a penalty. His effort was going wide but Eamonn Bannon followed up to side-foot home from close range. Four minutes later United were ahead. Hamish McAlpine's throw found Eamonn Bannon, his run up the left was followed by a perfect cross which Tom Coyne headed in via the post.

Hearts fought back in the second period but a slip by Henry Smith let in Tommy Coyne to seal the points with his second goal.

Programme

View programme

Programme Notes

After a spell of indifferent form, the performance against Celtic was more like the kind expected from a Dundee United side. The atmosphere generated by the large crowd made it easier for the players and it was a boost to win so vital a match in such a fine manner. Obviously having gained that victory we cannot afford the slightest slip up from now on if we are to maintain a challenge for the title. Another top quality display will again be required this afternoon as we entertain Hearts for what will be the first Sunday Premier fixture at Tannadice. This season's contests with the Tynecastle side have been too close for comfort, and only a single goal swayed the issue in our favour on both their previous visits. Indeed Hearts' ten men, urged on by their huge support at our recent cup-tie, were tremendous and almost denied us an outright victory. Only Rangers and Celtic can claim the benefit of a comparable travelling support and we ourselves have experienced the lift given by such voluble support in our match at Greenock last season, thus exemplifying the great advantage to clubs commanding substantial support away from home. At this point, I would like to make a plea to all fans here this afternoon to be on their best behaviour, particularly after the troubles that occurred in Paris when England played France recently. That type of violence is one trend we all hope doesn't spread North of the Border.

By comparison to our display against Celtic, previous performances have made me angry. The players last week showed what they are capable of, but the problem of consistently reproducing that form is not the players fault alone. Unless you have ready-made replacements waiting in the wings, the pressure isn't on those holding down a first team place. Ralph Milne's display against Celtic was a perfect example of this. Although only on for a quarter of an hour, his work rate was tremendous, a direct consequence of being left out the previous week. I will do all in my power to clear out those experienced fringe players who don't harbour genuine ambitions of first team football. Some of them are not giving enough in return for what they cost the club, although I have no intention of freeing any of them. Younger players like Dave Beaumont, Tom Coyne and John dark will be thrown in more often in the future and some will be involved in this afternoon's match. The period between now and the end of the season is when the destination of the trophies is decided. Naturally a continuation of our Celtic form will be necessary if we are to progress to the semi-finals of both European and Scottish Cups as well as maintain a League challenge. Hopefully that form will have been in evidence in Vienna in mid-week and again this afternoon.

Match details

Referee: Kenny Hope (Clarkston)
Assistant referee: P H Samuel (Macduff)
Assistant referee: K Stewart (Glasgow)
Season: 1983-84
Opponent: Hearts

UK number one

Source: Official Charts

Pre-match form

Previous meetings

Premier Division standings

As at 11 Mar 1984

Pos.	Team	P	GD	Pts
1	Aberdeen	24	49	41
2	Celtic	25	29	35
3	Dundee Utd	23	24	33
4	Rangers	26	10	30
5	Hearts	25	-10	24
6	St Mirren	25	-2	23
7	Hibernian	27	-9	22
8	Dundee	24	-19	16
9	St Johnstone	27	-42	15
10	Motherwell	26	-30	13