Dundee Utd 1 - 1 Hearts

DAVE HAMMOND at Tannadice October 28 2004

For the second time in a week Dundee United belied their lowly league status by extracting a creditable draw against higher-placed opponents.

Amid some ordinary play against Hearts were flashes of confident football, and when Ian McCall introduced a trio of substitutes in the second half, the Tannadice side showed that their injury crisis is clearly coming to an end.

Vladimir Romanov, Hearts' suitor, watched from the stand and would have been well impressed with the start Kevin McKenna gave his side after just four minutes. The Canadian swivelled on the edge of the penalty area to hook an Alan Maybury throw-in past the despairing reach of Paul Jarvie and into the far top corner of the United net.

The home side drew level when, in a rare lapse, the Hearts defence was caught cold from a United corner. As the ball bounced out away from the goal area, Mark Wilson, in space just inside the penalty area sent a low drive in.

Hearts' head coach, Craig Levein, admitted afterwards that he is looking forward to a clear-the-air meeting with Romanov to see where the Lithuanian businessman aims to take the Edinburgh side.

"It's a very informal meeting, and it gives me the chance to ask some questions, and also for him to ask some questions of me," he said. "We can get to know each other, and see where we are headed.

"We need to discuss if there is going to be a new set-up with regard to the backroom staff, but I welcome the meeting."

Romanov said he would look forward to the meeting. "I was delighted to be in a position to combine watching Hearts play with a series of meetings in Glasgow and Edinburgh over the next few days," he said. "Tonight was another example of the passion that exists in the game in Scotland.

"I will be meeting with Craig Levein and look forward to hearing his views on taking Hearts forward."

Collin Samuel was a handful for Hearts' defence and twice in the early stages he breached the back four. In the 20th minute he sent a thunderous shot against the foot of Craig Gordon's post and four minutes later his cross from the right set up a glorious chance for Billy Dodds to level the score, the striker scooping over from six yards.

Samuel continued to harass the Hearts defence down the flank, but did not have the support required for United to turn his skills, and their possession, into goals.

Hearts occasionally looked slick down the flanks and had they shown a little more finesse in front of goal, they could have doubled their lead before the break.

As it was, Patrick Kisnorbo scored a headed "goal" that was disallowed and Andy Webster hit the post with a long-range shot. Dennis Wyness was also guilty of passing up a scoring chance, stabbing the ball over the bar from close range.

United also had a "goal" chalked off after the break, Dodds apparently adjudged to have committed a foul before bundling in a close-range effort.

Dundee Utd (4-4-2)Jarvie; Wilson, McCracken, Innes, Archibald; Samuel (Scotland 67), Brebner, McInnes, Robson; Dodds (McIntyre 71), Grady (Kerkar 71). Subs: Hirschfeld, Ritchie, Gardiner, Cameron Booked Wilson, Brebner

Hearts (4-4-2) Gordon; Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Maybury; Wyness (McAllister 68), Hartley (Stewart 74), Kisnorbo, Hamill; Weir (Pereira 50), McKenna. Subs: Moilanen, MacFarlane, Berra, Elliot

Booked Pressley, McAllister, Maybury

Referee I Brines

Attendance 5723

Taken from the Sunday Herald