Hearts 3 Dundee United 2

Paul Hartley earned Hearts their first win since December 4 with a well-driven free-kick four minutes from time against Dundee United at Tynecastle.

A Barry Robson free-kick after 19 minutes gave United the lead up until a minute before the break when Tannadice goalkeeper Tony Bullock flapped at a Phil Stamp corner to give Steven Pressley the easiest of chances to equalise from close range.

Debutant Lee Miller bundled over the line four minutes after the break.

But, four minutes later, Tannadice defender Alan Archibald thundered a glorious 25-yard free-kick past Craig Gordon.

However, with only three minutes to go, Hartley was aided by a wicked deflection as he drove past Bullock for the Jambos' first win in six games.

Hearts were looking for their first win since December 4 as struggling Dundee United arrived at Tynecastle for their Bank of Scotland Premier League clash.

The Jambos have stuttered in recent weeks and their cause has not been helped after losing the services of striker Mark de Vries and defender Alan Maybury to Leicester City.

But the Edinburgh club were boosted by the signing of 21-year-old striker Lee Miller on loan from Bristol City and he started on the bench.

Hearts head coach John Robertson made two changes to the side which drew 0-0 with Partick Thistle in the Tennent's Scottish Cup third round last week.

Midfielder Paul Hartley returned from suspension to replace Dennis Wyness and striker Ramon Pereira came in for Graham Weir who dropped to the bench along with the former Inverness striker.

United had been busy in the January transfer window securing striker Stevie Crawford from Plymouth, ironically beating Hearts for the Scottish international's signature, and defender Lee Mair from Stockport.

Manager Ian McCall put Crawford straight into his attack alongside Jim McIntyre but Mair was named as a substitute.

From the first whistle, the home side assumed control.

Kevin McKenna got a far-post header in on goal from a Joe Hamill cross after four minutes but United keeper Bullock saved comfortably.

However, moments later at the other end, Crawford should have opened his account.

United playmaker Grant Brebner robbed Stamp in the midfield area to leave the Scottish international clean through.

But Crawford blasted his 16-yard shot straight at Hearts keeper Craig Gordon and the ball was eventually cleared to safety as the Jambos' defence re-grouped.

Then, in the 19th minute, the visitors took the lead out of the blue with a deflected free-kick from midfielder Robson.

After Derek McInnes had been pushed in the back by Hartley 25 yards from goal, Robson stepped up to thunder a left-footed shot towards goal.

The strike took a touch off the Hearts wall and arced over Gordon and into the top corner.

The Edinburgh side battled to regain their grip on the game, but their fans began to lose patience as United calmly held firm in defence.

Hearts were guilty of simply launching high balls up to McKenna and, although the Canadian was winning his fair share of headers, the Taysiders were dealing well with the second ball.

In the 32nd minute, McKenna himself had a decent chance when he latched onto a Pereira lob into the penalty area, but he was off balance and knocked his volley past Bullock's left-hand post from around eight yards out.

The Jambos' support were becoming increasingly frustrated as the first half went on and their mood could have worsened in the 39th minute when Mark Kerr's cross from the right found the incoming Robson only six yards from goal.

The United midfielder's clever flick looked destined for the far corner until Gordon pulled off a terrific reaction save to save the day.

Moments later, Hartley had a lame shot from 30 yards which Bullock saved with ease.

But, in the 44th minute, the home side were back on level terms with a goal which was the product of poor goalkeeping by Bullock.

Stamp swung a corner over from the right which the United keeper came out and missed completely and Pressley was at the back post to volley into the empty goal from close range.

HT: Hearts 1 Dundee United 1

Hearts' new striker Miller came on to make his debut after the interval for Joe Hamill as Robertson opted for a more positive line-up.

The Jambos head coach's bravado worked almost immediately in the 48th minute when the former Falkirk player grabbed his first goal in maroon to give the home side the lead.

A Hartley free-kick to the back post, after Miller had been fouled by United defender Alan Archibald, was headed across goal by McKenna. From there, the Gorgie substitute almost had to push Pereira out of the way to bundle the ball into the net from on the line.

The match looked as if it had swung towards the Edinburgh side, who suddenly were playing with a new-found confidence.

But in the 53rd minute, the visitors equalised with a tremendous Archibald free-kick from around 25 yards after Gorgie full-back Robbie Neilson had been penalised for high feet.

As the Hearts defensive wall braced themselves, Scotland Future player Mark Wilson rolled the ball across to the former Partick defender who unleashed an unstoppable drive which flew past the flailing Gordon and into the net.

The three points were again up for grabs as play raced from end to end.

But Pereira might have done better in the 64th minute than blasting his right-footed shot over the bar from 16 yards after skilfully turning inside Wilson.

In the 70th minute, Gordon pulled off a great save from Mark Kerr after the United midfielder had driven a snap-shot from 25 yards.

The home side dominated the latter stages of the game and got the goal their pressure deserved in the 86th minute after United defender Paul Ritchie had fouled Hearts substitute Wyness, on earlier for McKenna.

Paul Hartley hammered a 25-yard free-kick past Bullock with the aid of a deflection to give the home side a welcome victory.

FT: Hearts 3 Dundee United 2

Taken from sportinglife.com