Hearts 3 Dundee 1

Hearts answered their critics in emphatic style with a three-goal first half blitz which left Dundee shell-shocked.

The Tynecastle club were heavily criticised for their ultra-defensive tactics in last week's defeat at Parkhead.

But they displayed their attacking prowess with a lethal three goal burst in five minutes which sealed their second win of the season as early as the 17th minute.

Colin Cameron set the ball rolling with a crisp volley after 12 minutes before two goals in four minutes from young Gary Wales put the home team on easy street.

Georgi Nemsadze scored a late consolation for the visitors with a stunning individual effort in the 85th minute but it was too little too late as Dundee's losing streak against the Jambos stretched into another season.

But Dundee had signalled their attacking intentions as early as the first minute.

Beto Garrido forced a corner after good play down the Hearts left but, from the resulting kick, Juan Sara headed just over.

Seconds later Hearts goalkeeper Antti Niemi had to be alert to save at the feet of Fabian Caballero as he pounced on a slack back-pass.

Hearts took the lead in the 12th minute with a cleverly worked free-kick.

Steve Fulton caught the Dundee defence napping with a chipped pass for Colin Cameron, who volleyed the ball beyond Jamie Langfield in the Dundee goal.

Sixty seconds later Hearts found themselves 2-0 up.

Stephen Simmons set Wales free in the Dundee box and the young striker gave Langfield no chance with a stunning drive from just inside the box.

Four minutes later Hearts fans were delirious when their side added a third.

A Juanjo free-kick was knocked down by Canadian international Kevin McKenna for Wales, who stabbed the ball over the line from close range.

Dundee's Nemsadze earned himself a caution for retaliating to a tough challenge from Stephane Mahe as the visitors' frustration grew.

And Caballero also found his way into the referee's book for fouls on first Juanjo and then Thomas Flogel.

Hearts continued to press forward in search of more goals. McKenna, making his first appearance for Hearts as a striker, sent a looping shot from the edge of the area just over the bar.

But the visitors were much improved after the re-start and, in the 54th minute, Beto Carranza came close to getting one back for the Tayside club with a swerving volley from close range.

Sara was denied a consolation for Dundee eight minutes from time when he was ruled offside as he swept home a Caballero cross.

But five minutes from the final whistle the visitors finally got on the score sheet with a stunning individual goal from Georgian international Nemsadze.

Teams:

Hearts: Niemi, Flogel, Pressley, Severin, Mahe, Simmons (Boyack 66), Cameron, Fulton (McCann 90), Juanjo, Mckenna, Wales (Kirk 81).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Webster.

Goals: Cameron 13, Wales 14, 18.

Dundee: Langfield, Smith, Khizanishvili, Del Rio, Garrido (Milne 73), Romano, Nemsadze, Rae, Carranza, Caballero, Sara.

Subs Not Used: Mathers, Coyne, Robertson, Fatello.

Booked: Nemsadze, Caballero, Carranza.

Goals: Nemsadze 86.

Att: 12,259

Ref: K Toner (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com