Dundee 0 Hearts 1

Steven Pressley burst the bubble of optimism around Dens Park as his 85th-minute penalty secured all three points for Hearts at Dundee.

The Dark Blues were still celebrating the chance of a bright new future after exiting administration on Friday.

But, after Dundee goalkeeper Derek Soutar took the legs from under Ramon Pereira, Pressley stepped up to the spot to snatch an opening day win in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Dundee fielded two of their summer signings, Bobby Mann and John Sutton, from the start while Hearts, who were without the influential Mark de Vries, handed new boy Pereira his debut.

The Jambos created the first opportunity after only eight minutes when Pereira combined well with Graham Weir on the edge of the box to send the young forward through on goal.

He tried to send a shot across Soutar's body, but the goalkeeper, in only his second start for the club, managed to palm the ball away.

The visitors came within inches of taking the lead in the 17th minute when Pereira volleyed Joe Hamill's cross off the bar from six yards.

The Dundee goalkeeper was well beaten, but received a huge slice of fortune as the shot cracked off the woodwork and spun clear.

Dundee had rarely troubled the Hearts defence, but were fortunate to emerge unscathed after leaving Sutton in space on the edge of the box.

The on-loan Millwall man tried to catch Craig Gordon out with a snap-shot, but sent his effort well over the bar.

Patrick Kisnorbo was the first player cautioned, for a late sliding challenge on Jonay Hernandez.

His team-mate Robbie Neilson soon followed him into Craig Thomson's book after impeding Steve Lovell as he tried to wriggle free of his attentions.

Soutar was called upon five minutes before the break to smoother Pereira's little head-flick from inside the six-yard area.

The keeper got down well to take the sting out of the ball but could not get it fully under his control at the first attempt and had to scramble to grab it before Weir nicked it from him.

His counterpart Gordon, had to look lively straight after the interval as Dundee broke away and almost took advantage of Hearts' slow start.

Neil Jablonski found space on the edge of the area to volley Lovell's cross on target, but the Hearts goalkeeper was well positioned and showed a strong pair of hands.

The hosts had a penalty claim denied five minutes after the re-start when Lovell, who had raced on to a brilliant defence-splitting pass from Brent Sancho, appeared to be fouled by Alan Maybury.

Unfortunately for Jim Duffy's side the referee did not share the view of Lovell or the crowd on the incident.

Pereira became the third Hearts player to be booked midway through the second-half for a late lunge on Dens Park captain Barry Smith.

Phil Stamp brought out a good save from Soutar, with a rising effort from the impressive Pereira's cut-back.

The Dees' goalkeeper was involved again minutes later when he had to look lively to beat away Alan Maybury's long-range shot.

Duffy made his first change immediately afterwards, replacing Jablonski with Iain Anderson.

He soon followed that up with another switch, this time bringing on Mark Fotheringham for Steven Robb.

Hearts also made a couple of changes, bringing on Michael Stewart and Dennis Wyness for Stamp and Weir.

The changes sparked life into them and they grabbed the winner with six minutes remaining.

Pereira bolted through to collect Hamill's defence-splitting pass and whipped the ball past Soutar, who had already committed himself to a challenge and took the Spaniard's feet from beneath him.

Club captain Pressley stepped up to take the kick and fired into the right-hand corner to give the Edinburgh side the full three points for a perfect start to the season.

Teams

Dundee Soutar, Smith, Mann, Sancho, Hernandez Santos, McDonald, Jablonski (Anderson 64), Brady, Robb (Fotheringham 77), Sutton, Lovell.

Subs Not Used: Jack, Larsen, McNally.

Booked: Fotheringham.

Hearts Gordon, Maybury, Pressley, Webster, Kisnorbo, Neilson, Stamp (Stewart 75), Hartley, Hamill, Pereira (Sloan 86), Weir (Wyness 81).

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, MacFarlane, McAllister, Berra.

Booked: Kisnorbo, Neilson, Pereira.

Goals: Pressley 85 pen.

Att: 7,770

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com