Dundee 1 Hearts 0

An own goal by Scottish international David Weir was enough to give Dundee another three valuable points.

In what was almost a repeat of Wednesday's victory over Dunfermline the home side came back to win after being totally outplayed in the first 45 minutes.

Hearts however will realise that this defeat stretches their unsuccessful run to 11 games with only one win and a return to last season's form is necessary if they are not to find themselves at the wrong end of the table.

Hearts carried out their threat to ring the changes and there were four different players from the team defeated by St Johnstone in Tuesday's semi-final.

It seemed to work for Hearts were well on top right from the start and after only four minutes ex-Dundee United striker Gary McSwegan was not far away with a 25-yarder.

Jose Quitongo then had a penalty claim turned down and in the 13th minute the visitors missed a good chance when Stephane Adam played a one-two with McSwegan but then spoiled all his good work by shooting over from a good position.

The visitors were in complete control and it took a last-gasp tackle by tireless Gordon Hunter to foil McSwegan as he ran on to Rob McKinnon's through ball.

Quitongo should have done better when a Steve Fulton corner found its way to him at the far post but his angled effort went over the bar.

Six minutes from the break Dundee had their first real threat when Iain Anderson played a short free-kick to Shaun McSkimming whose 25-yarder flew just beyond the post.

McKinnon was booked for a foul on Willie Miller before Dundee had another chance as half-time approached when Hunter should have done better than glance an Anderson free-kick beyond the post from six yards.

On the stroke of half-time Hearts again came close when Fulton and McSwegan combined to give Dave McPherson a chance but from 18 yards the ex-Ranger shot inches past the post.

Grant Murray was booked for a foul on Eddie Annand four minutes after the break then Hearts again almost broke the deadlock.

The impressive Fulton bent in a free-kick and it required a brave save by Robert Douglas when he was forced to dive at McSwegan's feet.

Willie Falconer was booked for dissent then Douglas did well to push a narrow angled drive by Quitongo past the post.

The little Portuguese again came close when he took a pass from McSwegan but failed to get sufficient power behind his 10-yard effort.

The home side did break the deadlock with 13 minutes remaining when Falconer shrugged off a Steven Pressley tackle and although he hit his shot off the advancing Gilles Rousset the ball bounced off the onrushing Weir and rolled into the unguarded net.

Gavin Rae became the second Dundee player to be booked and a superb diving save by Douglas from Weir's fierce 30 yarder saw Dundee home for another valuable three points.

Teams

Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Irvine, Anderson, Annand (Coyne 55), McInally, Falconer, McSkimming, Miller, Rae, Hunter (Raeside 80).

Subs Not Used: Grant, Bayne, Langfield.

Booked: Falconer, Rae.

Goals: Weir 77 og.

Hearts: Rousset, McPherson, Weir, Fulton, Adam (Hamilton 82), Locke, Quitongo, McKinnon (Naysmith 46), Pressley, Murray (Guerin 82), McSwegan.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, O'Neill.

Booked: McKinnon, Murray.

Att: 6,142

Ref: M McCurry (Glasgow).

Taken from sportinglife.com