Hearts 4 Dundee 0

Power-packed Hearts leapt back to form with a comfortable thrashing of disappointing Dundee at Tynecastle.

Jim Jefferies' side dominated for long spells and an early strike from Stephane Adam plus late efforts from Darren Jackson, Colin Cameron and man-of-the-match Scott Severin secured an easy success.

It was sweet revenge for Hearts who lost all four league meetings of the side last season.

But it was a dreadful day for Dundee who failed to get out of first gear in the wake of a Hearts onslaught.

Hearts was quickly into their stride and snatched the lead after just six minutes with a sweeping, counter-attacking strike.

Defender Paul Ritchie won a tackle on his own 18-yard line and fed Jackson whose instant through-pass sprung the Dundee offside trap and sent Gary McSwegan racing clear on the right.

The striker showed excellent awareness to centre the ball first time for strike partner Adam who confidently drove home from eight yards.

Adam's strike was the perfect opening for Hearts and they bombarded the Dundee goal for the remainder of the half.

Play was flowing towards Robert Douglas and youngster Severin stung the Dundee keeper's palms with a vicious right-foot drive.

A poor first touch from goal hero Adam denied him the chance of a second goal, but the goal-hungry Frenchman almost made amends midway through the first period with a 25-yard curler which dropped inches over the bar.

Dundee were struggling to get into Hearts half and James Grady's wild shot over the bar on the half hour was their first serious effort at goal.

It was a brief respite for their defence, however, as Hearts continued to control proceedings.

Douglas produced a terrific stop to touch a Thomas Flogel chip over the bar and grabbed a Kevin James header from the resultant corner.

Dundee saved their best effort of the opening half for injury time when Steven Presley headed terrifically off his own line as Eddie Annand was ready to meet a Willie Falconer cross.

That little flurry seemed to give the Taysiders added hope for the second period.

Hearts keeper Gilles Rousset, who spent the entire first half viewing the action, made sharp saves from Shaun McSkimming and Annand within five minutes of the restart.

The midfield domination which Hearts had enjoyed exclusively was evaporating as Dundee began to threaten an equaliser.

Adam blew a golden chance to ease the tension when he shot wildly over from close range, but Hearts killed the game with a second goal after 73 minutes.

McSwegan did the spade work with a run and cross and Jackson controlled the ball expertly before despatching a crisp low drive into the bottom corner.

Relief swamped the home fans and Cameron took advantage of great lead-up work from Severin to slot home number three two minutes later as the home side relaxed.

Youngster Severin had turned in a man-of-the-match display in midfield and the powerful superkid put the final seal on victory with a richly deserved fourth goal nine minutes from time.

Jackson's flighted free-kick found the youngster in isolation in the area and he bulleted home a terrific diving header.

Teams

p> Hearts: Rousset, Pressley, James, Ritchie, Naysmith, Severin, Cameron, Jackson, Flogel (Locke 83), McSwegan (Juanjo 80), Adam (Wales 80).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Fulton.

Booked: Ritchie.

Goals: Adam 7, Jackson 73, Cameron 75, Severin 81.

Dundee: Douglas, McSkimming (Robertson 80), Smith, Miller, Tweed, Maddison, Boyack, Rae, Falconer, Annand (Bayne 69), Grady.

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Van Eijs, Wilkie.

Booked: Miller, Boyack, Falconer.

Att: 13,378

Ref: Kevin Toner (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com