Dundee United 1 Hearts 1

A Mark Wilson strike gave battling Dundee United a share of the points against Hearts but could not prevent the Tangerines slipping to the foot of the Bank of Scotland Premier League table.

The game was barely five minutes old when Jambos utility player Kevin McKenna took an Alan Maybury throw-in and volleyed and unstoppable shot from 16 yards past United goalkeeper Paul Jarvie.

The home side, however, came back strongly in the second half to take control and got their just rewards when Wilson hooked a shot from 15 yards over Craig Gordon and into the far corner of the net in the 62nd minute.

The visitors looked tired in the closing stages as the Taysiders pressed for the winner but a fatigued Hearts held on.

But, with Inverness earning a 2-1 win over Dundee, the Tannadice club slipped into 12th place on goal difference.

In a frantic start to the game it was the Tynecastle side who took the lead in the fifth minute.

Alan Maybury took a throw-in from the left to McKenna, playing in an unusual left midfield slot, and he skilfully turned and volleyed a right footed shot from 16 yards over United keeper Jarvie and into the far corner of the net.

It was the Canadian international's first goal of the season and clearly shocked the Taysiders who had looked to carry on from their good point at Rangers on Sunday.

In the 16th minute, the Gorgie side should have doubled their lead when McKenna set up Dennis Wyness 10 yards from goal, but the former Inverness player carelessly blasted his shot over the bar.

In the 20th minute, Patrick Kisnorbo had the ball in the net from a Joe Hamill cross, but referee Iain Brines ruled it off, correctly it appeared, for a foul on United skipper Derek McInnes.

The home side showed they were far from finished when Collin Samuel drove a shot from the edge of the box, which cannoned off Gordon's post before striking United striker James Grady and going behind for a goal-kick.

Then, in the 24th minute, it was the visitors' turn to hit woodwork through defender Andy Webster's 30-yard drive, which bounced away to safety.

Billy Dodds fired over the bar from 10 yards out when he should have hit the target, but still the Jambos kept their noses in front up until the break.

The United players had been booed off at half-time and were looking to appease their disgruntled fans by getting back on level terms as quickly as possible.

In the 50th minute, Hearts head coach Craig Levein introduced substitute Ramon Pereira for Graham Weir, who looked less than happy as he made is way off the field.

But it was the Tangerines who were on top and, two minutes later, when Dodds had the ball in the net from a yard out following a Chris Innes header, it looked like they had drawn level.

But Dodds' joy was cut short when he spotted the assistant referee with his flag up.

As the second half wore on, the game went off the boil but, in the 62nd minute, United got the goal their pressure deserved.

Robson's free-kick from the right, after Maybury had fouled Grady, was cleared by a wall of Hearts defenders.

But the ball only dropped as far as Wilson 16 yards from goal.

The United defender hooked a terrific right-footed shot over Gordon and into the far corner of the net before rushing to take the acclaim of the United fans.

The home side had the initiative now and United midfielder Grant Brebner sent Grady clear on the left, but the striker's angled shot from 20 yards went wide of the far post.

Hearts looked tired now but almost regained the lead in the 70th minute when substitute Pereira shrugged off Innes 14 yards from goal before crashing a shot off the base of Jarvie's near side post.

There was no respite and, seconds later, at the other end, Wilson's in-swinging corner from the left was knocked off the line by Maybury.

In the 80th minute, Hearts substitute Jamie McAllister was lucky to escape with only a booking after retaliating to Brebner's challenge from behind on the touchline.

The Tangerines pressed hard in the closing stages but just could not find the winner which would have kept them off the foot of the table.

Teams

Dundee Utd Jarvie, Wilson, McCracken, Innes, Archibald, Samuel (Scotland 67), Brebner, McInnes, Robson, Dodds (McIntyre 71), Grady (Kerkar 71).

Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Ritchie, Gardiner, Cameron.

Booked: Wilson, Brebner.

Goals: Wilson 62.

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Maybury, Wyness (McAllister 68), Hartley (Stewart 74), Kisnorbo, Hamill, Weir (Pereira 50), McKenna.

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

Booked: Pressley, McAllister, Maybury.

Goals: McKenna 5.

Att: 5,723

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com