Dundee Utd 0 Hearts 2

Hearts took their run to only one defeat in the last nine games and in the process kept up their good record against United.

A Stephane Adam double meant that United suffered their first home defeat of the season but they got off lightly.

Hearts made their intentions known as early as the first minute when Colin Cameron ran on to an Adam flick and beat Jason de Vos before firing a fierce 16-yarder which brought out a fine save from Alan Combe.

In the very next minute, ex-Tannadice favourite Darren Jackson fired an angled 20-yarder just past the post.

Another ex-United man, Gary McSwegan, then forced Combe into another save with an 18-yard shot on the turn before a mix-up between the keeper and David Partridge gave Adam another chance but Partridge recovered in time to clear.

The visitors deservedly went ahead in the 14th minute with a superb goal when Adam robbed fellow Frenchman Bernard Pascual in his own half, and slipped the ball to Jackson before running 40 yards to be in place for the superb return ball, and chipping home for a memorable effort.

Visiting skipper Cameron then saw his 25-yarder saved before United had a half chance in the 19th minute.

The impressive Jim Paterson broke down the left before sending in an awkward cross which was cleared by Kevin James but then it was back to the other end when Jackson saw his dipping 18-yarder just clear the bar.

Jackson was having a great game against his old club, and his superb through ball allowed McSwegan to beat the home offside trap but he sent his shot from the edge of the box straight at the well-positioned Combe.

United's Partridge became the first player to be yellow carded when he held on to McSwegan and in the 35th minute Hearts almost went further ahead.

Gary Naysmith's corner was headed out by de Vos and Paul Ritchie saw his header from 16 yards hit the bar and go over.

As half-time approached, Hearts must have been regretting only capitalising on one of their many chances and Naysmith joined the band who might have added to their tally when he fired in a volley which brought out yet another fine save from Combe.

United improved in the second half and five minutes after the interval might have even equalised when Billy Dodds sent in a low cross which allowed Joaquim Ferraz to send a point-blank range flick goalwards but Gilles Rousset brought off a wonderful save to keep his team ahead.

United had more of the pressure but apart from a bad miss by substitute Magnus Skoldmark with eight minutes remaining they rarely threatened the visitors' goal.

And in the last minutes, with the home side looking for the equaliser, the goal came at the other end when Adam found himself totally unmarked. Substitute Gary Wales picked him out with a pass and, despite the keeper getting a touch, the Frenchman made it two with a 16-yard shot.

Teams

Dundee Utd: Combe, Pascual, De Vos, Jonsson (McCulloch 72), Partridge, Hannah, Easton (Skoldmark 79), Telesnikov, Paterson (Thompson 46), Dodds, Ferraz.

Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Davidson.

Booked: Partridge, Telesnikov.

Hearts: Rousset, Pressley, Ritchie, James, Naysmith, Jackson (Wales 85), Flogel, Severin, Cameron, Adam, McSwegan (Fulton 79).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Locke, Murray.

Booked: Cameron.

Goals: Adam 14, 89.

Att: 8,510

Ref: Michael McCurry (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com