Dundee Utd 1
Hearts 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Just as United's unblemished home record looked to have been dented, a final thrust on the Hearts goal produced a late equaliser by Richard Gough.

Despite much the better of the first half we failed to breach a tight Tynecastie rearguard. Ralph Milne came closest to scoring. He ended a mazy run from just inside the visitor's half with a shot which hit the post and his follow-up effort went just wide of the far post. Ian Redford then met a Richard Gough cross but his effort flew only inches past the post. Billy Thomson was then called into action and twice made excellent saves from shots by Colquhoun and Mackay.

Although Paul Sturrock hit a first-time shot straight at Smith after the interval, it was Hearts who dominated most of the second half. A spell of heavy pressure brought its reward when a blocked Berry shot broke to Ian Jardine, and his sweetly struck dipping shot from 20 yards gave Billy Thomson no chance. Hearts' miserable record here looked on the verge of ending when United contrived a last minute goal with their best move of the game. Eamonn Bannon, deep in his own half, hit a long accurate crossfield pass which found Paul Sturrock on the left. Paul ran to the bye-line before crossing and Richard Gough's header with the apparent aid of a deflection sailed into the top right-hand corner.