Alan proves the main reason for United's victory

27 Nov 1989

Dundee United 2, Hearts 1

A premier-division campaign which has been highlighted by the fallibility of all 10 competitors had the fact underlined in a dramatic late, late show at Tannadice Park on Saturday.

Both sides had entered the fray seeking to extend unbeaten sequences into a fifth league outing, and seven consecutive draws in the series between the pair hinted that neither would emerge disappointed from the latest meeting.

Treble-chance speculators around the terracings were indulging in self-congratulations as the final minute ticked away with the score tied at 1-1.

Then the drama unfolded.

Home striker Mixu Paatelainen sprang Hearts' attempted off-side trap inside the centre circle before running clear, luring Henry Smith to the edge of his area, and clipping the winner over the goalkeeper's attempts to block.

That left United to celebrate their first league success over Hearts for almost three years and, more importantly, rubber stamp Tayside claims that the Tangerines are back in business after their early-term inconsistencies.

Mind you, while goal scorers Dave Bowman and Scandinavian Paatelainen earned the weekend headlines, it was the performance of young goalkeeper Alan Main which deservedly captured the acclaim of a discerning home support.

The 21-year-old Highlander, who only a couple of months ago was third in line for the first-team spot behind Billy and Scott Thomson, had a string of superb saves during the 90 minutes.

Whereas United's comeback success was based on their ability to battle for the full 90 minutes, the better scoring opportunities fell to the visitors.

John Robertson, Gary Mackay, John Colquhoun, and Dave Kirkwood were included among those who most regretted Main's immaculate display of handling at vital stages in the contest.

But it was Hearts manager Alex MacDonald who clearly suffered most from that late blow.

He commented: "I can't clearly express my disappointment at allowing that one to slip away from us after creating so many clear-cut chances."

Scott Crabbe's twenty-fifth minute spot-kick conversion, his fourteenth goal of the season, gave Hearts the advantage until 16 minutes from the end when Dave Bowman scored a superb 25-yard equaliser, his first goal for exactly a year.

DUNDEE UNITED -- Main, Van der Hoorn, Malpas, McInally, Krivokapic, Narey, McKinlay, Bowman, O'Neill, Paatelainen, Gallacher.

Substitutes -- Clark, Jackson.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, McKinlay, Levein, Kirkwood, McPherson, Colquhoun, Mackay, Robertson, Crabbe, Bannon.

Substitutes -- Ferguson, Sandison.

Referee -- B R McGinlay (Balfron).