Hearts 2 Dundee Utd 1

The Tynecastle record goalscorer struck after an hour to earn all three points for Jim Jefferies' side and launch them to the league summit.

Hearts overwhelmed United throughout with some sparkling attacking football but it took Robbo's strike to tip the balance.

Hearts replaced flu victim Gilles Rousset with youngster Roddy McKenzie in goal while United gave a debut to new Scandinavian signing Magnus Skoldmark.

Hearts looked in the mood from the opening whistle and produced a first half display of some class.

Wing ace Neil McCann signalled his intention early on with a brilliant 40-yard running pass to Colin Cameron but he should have done better than shoot straight at keeper Sieb Dykstra.

The United No 1 must have sensed he was in for a busy afternoon when he scrambled Jim Hamilton's half-volley round the post after eight minutes.

He was right. Dykstra flicked a Steve Fulton free kick off the head of French striker Stephane Adam and blocked a sizzling Neil Pointon drive.

In between time, United striker Kjell Olofsson deflected a fierce Stefano Salvatori free kick over his own crossbar and Adam lost a great chance with a poor first touch.

Adam was replaced by club record scorer Robertson on 40 minutes and within four minutes Hearts went in front.

Hamilton sent in a dangerous cross from the left touchline and Steven Pressley flicked the ball into his own net under pressure from Robertson.

It was a goal Hearts deserved but they went to sleep and allowed United to snatch an undeserved equaliser just 45 second later in first half injury time.

Olofsson was allowed time and space inside the area to fire an Andy McLaren cross low past the despairing reach of McKenzie.

United's undeserved equaliser could have knocked the stuffing out of Hearts, but they regained the initiative straight from the restart.

Defender David Weir and Hamilton both missed chances from delightful Cameron corners before deadly Robertson gave Hearts the lead.

McCann did the hard work with some inventive link play on the right flank and his pinpoint cross was glanced into the net by the unmarked Robertson from the six-yard line.

Hearts attacking play was at times breathtaking and McCann created another chance for Hamilton to end the contest which he wasted.

But despite being under the cosh for long periods United maintained their counter attacking threat and scorer Olofsson forced a smart diving save from McKenzie to issue a warning to Hearts against complacency.

It was a warning they failed to heed and Ray McKinnon came even closer with a 20-yard drive which grazed a post.

And as Hearts hung on the final minutes, McKenzie saved his best save for last with a wonderful fingertip stop to deny debut boy Skoldmark in the dying seconds.

Teams:
Hearts: McKenzie, McManus, Pointon, Weir, Salvatori, Ritchie, McCann, Fulton, Hamilton, Cameron, Adam (Robertson 40).

Subs Not Used: Frail, Locke.

Booked: McCann, Hamilton.

Goals: Pressley 44 og, Robertson 60.

Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Bowman, Pressley, Perry, Pedersen, Olofsson, Zetterlund, McKinnon, Dolan (Marklund 57), McLaren (Easton 89), Skoldmark.

Subs Not Used: McKimmie.

Goals: Olofsson 45.

Att: 13,415

Ref: H Dallas (Motherwell).

Taken from sportinglife.com