Dundee 1 Hearts 1

By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

Hearts teenager Andrew Webster went from villain to hero in the space of a week - but he could not prevent David Mackay's late header from giving Dundee a share of the points at Dens Park.

He was public enemy number one last week after his tackle brought Celtic's decisive penalty in the 1-0 reverse at Tynecastle and damaged Didier Agathe's knee ligaments in the process to crock him for at least three months.

But Webster's hopes of glory were cruelly snatched away with just 10 minutes to go when Mackay also grabbed his first goal for his club to keep Dundee two points clear of the Edinburgh side in the Scottish Premier League.

Hearts made the more promising start of the two sides, with Ricardo Fuller causing Dundee some early problems.

The on-loan striker went on a mazy run in the third minute and pulled the ball back for Tommi Gronlund on the edge of the area, but Barry Smith made the vital block.

Dundee should have gone in front on nine minutes when Alberto Carranza found space down the right and crossed to the back post, but Juan Sara pulled his header inches past the upright.

Fabian Caballero almost sent Temuri Ketsbaia clear minutes later, but Kevin McKenna made a telling interception.

Dundee's plans suffered an early setback in the 16th minute when Massimo Beghetto limped off with what looked to be a thigh strain and on came Mark Robertson in his place.

And just four minutes later, the visitors came within inches of breaking the deadlock.

Fuller timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and latch onto Stephane Adam's pass, and despite beating keeper Jamie Langfield, his shot came back off the post.

The Jamaican again went close in the 22nd minute when he found space in the box to fire a shot which the Dundee goalkeeper this time got down to save.

But Hearts did take the lead on the half-hour when Alan Maybury crossed to the back post invitingly for Webster to head home off the underside of the crossbar for his first goal for the club.

The home side were shell-shocked, but Gavin Rae tried to lift them with a 25-yard shot in the 36th minute which Hearts goalkeeper Antti Niemi got down well to save.

Hearts deserved to be in front and they sliced the home side open again on 40 minutes when Maybury played Stevie Fulton through, but Zurab Khizanishvili made the vital tackle.

Dundee boss Ivano Bonetti replaced Garrido with Javier Artero at the break and the home side came flying out of their stalls at the restart.

Niemi was unable to hold Rae's stinging long-range effort in the 46th minute, but McKenna reacted quickly to clear the danger.

Hearts had to weather the early storm and their Finnish keeper again had to be alert to save Carranza's low right-foot effort just four minutes later.

Niemi produced his best save of the match on 53 minutes to maintain his side's lead as Ketsbaia sent Carranza racing clear, but he was foiled by the arm of the keeper.

Craig Levein freshened up his side in the 72nd minute when he replaced the hard-working Adam for Gary Wales and moments later, Langfield saved Fuller's dipping volley.

Rae had also not given up hope of an equaliser and he blazed wide in the 75th minute after good work from Ketsbaia.

But the home side's persistence was rewarded with the equaliser in the 80th minute when Mackay rose at the back post to nod Robertson's header home from close range.

Hearts almost snatched the points with five minutes remaining when Fuller found Wales, who crashed his shot against the post.

But it was not to be and youngsters Webster and Mackay probably deserved to share the headlines.

Teams

Dundee: Langfield, MacKay, Smith, Khizanishvili, Beghetto (Robertson 16), Garrido (Artero 46), Rae, Ketsbaia, Carranza, Caballero, Sara (Milne 78).

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Forbes.

Goals: MacKay 80.

Hearts: Niemi, Pressley, McKenna, Webster, Maybury, Gronlund, Flogel, Fulton (Davidson 78), Mahe, Adam (Wales 72), Fuller.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Kirk, McCann.

Goals: Webster 30.

Att: 7,219

Ref: W Young (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com