Dundee Utd 4
Hearts 1
League (Premiership)

Match Report

United came into this game on the back of a great run having scored four or more goals in each of their last three games.

United had the best of the opening exchanges and were producing some good passing football. The first real chance of the match came when Ryan Gauld sent in a looping strike from distance forcing Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald to touch over the bar. Soon after that United were ahead, Mackay-Steven played in Stuart Armstrong who angled the ball towards goal and watched it roll home. Hearts reacted well and were level within a few minutes when Jamie Walker showed some trickery in the box and was tripped by Mark Wilson. From the penalty spot Jamie Hamill hit the ball low to the left to equalise. Gauld almost conjured a great chance for United, playing a pass through the Hearts defence for Souttar, but the forward-thinking defender had his chance blocked off by a combination of his own team-mate Armstrong and Hearts defender McHattie. Just before half-time, Graham fired over the bar while at the other end Ryan Stevenson had a close-range shot blocked.

United came flying out the traps in the second half. First a fierce Rankin drive was touched wide by MacDonald, then, from a corner Brian Graham crashed home a free header recovering United's lead. The Hearts players pleaded with referee Craig Thomson to award an infringement on Calum Paterson, but the goal stood. Hearts, to their credit, held firm against the tangerine onslaught before beginning to creep back in the game as they pressed for an equaliser. However, with that they became ever more vulnerable on the break. The match was clinched though near the end when Gary Mackay-Steven cut in from the right and curled a left foot shot past MacDonald, then a deflected effort from John Rankin left MacDonald with no chance.

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