Dundee United 0-3 Hearts

Captain Steven Pressley headed in the first from Rudi Skacel's free kick after just six minutes.

Roman Bednar doubled the lead, controlling Skacel's pass before spinning to lash the ball past Derek Stillie in the United goal.

Skacel scored the third in injury time, hammering in off the bar.

United might have taken the lead before Hearts made the breakthrough - Grant Brebner and Stevie Crawford combined to free Barry Robson on the left wing and his shot was a real test for Craig Gordon who beat the ball away.

As it was Hearts scored the two quick goals to take command of the game and they almost got a third when the impressive Skacel was granted space in the penalty box, but Alan Archibald produced a terrific last-gasp tackle to prevent his side falling further behind.

Jim McIntyre should have given United a lifeline on the half-hour, but he headed Mark Wilson's cross inches wide.

United had another great chance to get themselves back in the reckoning, but Crawford could not pick out McIntyre inside the penalty area.

Lee Miller had the ball in the net after 58 minutes, prodding home after a great move between McIntyre and Mark Kerr - but he was flagged offside.

Michal Pospisil came on for Edgaras Jankauskas and he showed some great control and pace to turn in the box, but shot first at the goalkeeper and then against the side-netting.

Youngster Lee Wallace tried his luck from the edge of the box in the dying minutes, but Stillie managed to get down and scoop the ball away with his left hand.

But Skacel did add a third in the dying seconds, prodding home Bednar's low cross from six yards.

Dundee Utd: Stillie, McCracken, Wilson, Archibald, Duff, Kerr, Brebner, Robson, Miller, Crawford (Fernandez 60), McIntyre.

Subs Not Used: Samson, McInnes, Dodds, Kenneth, Robertson, Cameron.

Booked: Miller, Brebner, Duff, McIntyre.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Mikoliunas (McAllister 45), Brellier (Wallace 61), Hartley, Skacel, Jankauskas (Pospisil 73), Bednar.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Simmons, Cesnauskis, Berra.

Booked: Brellier, Bednar, Pressley.

Goals: Pressley 6, Bednar 12, Skacel 90.

Att: 11,654

Ref: C Richmond

Taken from the BBC