THE END OF SEASON SALE

HEARTS 0

DUNDEE UTD 4

HURTING Hearts captain Craig Gordon chucked his skipper's armband at furious fans as he stormed down the tunnel to the sound of their jeers.

It was the worst possible marketing for Tynecastle's money men just three days before they put season tickets for NEXT campaign on sale to suffering punters.

The Scotland No.1 was expected to front the big launch on Tuesday - but his furious outburst followed by his storming exit from the ground must throw that into doubt.

He snubbed waiting reporters yesterday instead of explaining why he lost the rag.

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Gordon had to be hauled back by sub keeper Stevie Banks as he threw his armband towards cat-calling fans - and watched it land on top of the away dugout.

But the supporters should be more concerned about the fact the rest of their team seem to have thrown in the towel.

It's hard to know where to start. But after controversial first-half red cards for Ibrahim Tall and Dundee United's David Robertson, one side dug in and got organised while the other folded like a flat-pack wardrobe.

Barry Robson's second-half hat-trick and a Noel Hunt strike had the Jambos fans shoaling towards the exits 20 minutes from time.

Honest coach Stevie Frail was once again left holding the baby in front of the media for a head coach in hiding.

But he had no excuses as Hearts' run of SEVEN straight wins against the Arabs came crashing to an end.

Frail admitted: "It was another full house but we let down the fans. To be outfought by a team not playing for anything really is sad.

"It was horrendous watching the stands empty in the second half but I'd have been the same because that was nothing short of abysmal out there.

"I didn't see the sendings off but we lost a defender, they lost an attacking midfielder. We stuck to a three and they found room at the back and space to exploit.

"We can talk tactics all you like but if you don't roll up your sleeves and die for the badge you'll get nothing - that's what it looked like out there to me.

"It could have been five our six in the end. I'm not saying our players weren't trying - but United were trying harder.

"You'll need to ask the players if they're hurting. I am and I know the supporters are. I don't want to patronise the fans but I promise them we'll do what we can to put things right."

It never looked like a being a classic with the wind howling around Tynecastle like a twister.

Hunt clipping the post with a lob over Gordon was as good as it got in the first 20 minutes.

But ref Craig Mackay changed the face of the game after Bruno Aguiar had ballooned a free-kick into the School End.

Tall and Robertson tangled and the ref saw an elbow from the Hearts man and a square-up reaction from the 20-year-old as the pair went nose to nose.

Most in the ground expected yellows and were stunned when it was two reds for violent conduct.

United kept their discipline and shape but the Jambos were a SHAMBLES as they failed to adjust to losing their right back.

Even after the break, when they'd had time to reshuffle and sort it out, they were still a mess.

And the blame lies as much in the dugout with disinterested head coach Anatoly Korobochka as on the park.

Hearts went to a three but when you've a slacker like Sol Mikoliu-nas playing right midfield and a ponderously slow Marius Zaliukas on the right of the trio, there was enough room to drive a bus in where Tall should have been.

Within 15 minutes Hearts were trailing 2-0 and dead meat.

The first goal came on the counter, Steven Robb bursting clear through the middle and feeding Robson with a deadweight ball inside Zaliukas.

Robson couldn't have asked for it any sweeter as he hauled the stopper in on a rope then drilled a left-foot shot low and across Gordon into the bottom corner.

Eight minutes later Robson controlled Jon Daly's flick, took a touch then nutmegged Gordon from 10 yards.

That saw a disgusted mini exodus from the stands - and 10 minutes later they were like lemmings over a cliff.

Another marauding run from Robb down the left past sub Hristos Karipidis, another great ball in.

This time Hunt was at the back post to drill home.

Just to rub salt in the wounds Robson took his hat-trick AGAIN from the vacant right-back slot, slashing inside then burying a right-foot shot across Gordon.

STATS

SHOTS ON 2

SHOTS OFF 10

OFFSIDE 4

FOULS 14

CORNERS 9

BOOKINGS 1

SHOTS ON 9

SHOTS OFF 5

OFFSIDE 2

FOULS 18

CORNERS 4

BOOKINGS 1

REF WATCH

Supporting the 23rd Man

CRAIG MACKAY thought he was letting the game flow but he never looked in total control. He flashed two controversial red cards, three more yellows but let at least another two shockers go that should have been. Not great Rating:5/10.

Taken from the Sunday Mail