Defense inefficiency at Hearts makes for miserable afternoon

Hearts 1
Kingston (90)

Dundee United 3
Robertson (14, 25), Robson (88 pen)

WITH more than a little help from referee Craig Thomson, Dundee United ruled Tynecastle for the second time this year after recording a resounding victory on Saturday.

The official infuriated Hearts with some shocking decisions which largely contributed to a 2-0 interval scoreline, and for all the hosts' huffing and puffing the result was never in doubt at any point in the second half.

The defeat follows United's 4-0 victory in Gorgie in March, and Craig Levein's side are now sitting deservedly in joint third place in the SPL.

Hearts have previously been accused of complaining about referees unjustly but such an accusation could not be levelled on Saturday. Thomson at times overlooked basic fouls, although it must be said the home defence was questionable throughout the afternoon and suffered for their inefficiency.

Jose Goncalves, Calum Elliot and Christian Nade returned to Hearts' starting line-up at the expense of Tomas Kancelskis, Audrius Ksanavicius and Andrius Velicka respectively. Mauricio Pinilla was handed a place on the substitutes' bench on the back of his midweek reserve efforts at Love Street.
Hearts Christian Nade and Utds Darren Dods

Hearts Christian Nade and Utds Darren Dods

The game opened at frenetic pace and Hearts appealed for a ninth-minute penalty when Christian Kalvenes appeared to nudge Elliot in the back as Nade's left-sided cross landed in the penalty area. Dundee United had their own attacking intentions which principally centred around the bustling figure of Robertson, whose duel with Marius Zaliukas was a fascinating aspect of the afternoon.

The Lithuanian constantly toiled to contain his opponent and lost out at the opening goal when his indecisive clearing header landed at Robertson's feet, allowing the on-loan Sheffield United striker to pivot and drill a left-footed finish off the inside of Steve Banks' left post.

Thomson's inconsistency further unsettled the Gorgie natives. When Larry Kingston was dragged off the ball by Kalvenes, Thomson ignored what was a blatant foul. Moments later, he penalised Robbie Neilson for a far less obvious infringement on United's Prince Buabengen, and from the resultant free-kick United doubled their advantage.

The set-piece was lofted into the home penalty area by Kalvenes and Noel Hunt nodded it down for Robertson to convert. Zaliukas' marking was sub-standard, but frustration at the officiating had impacted on everyone's concentration levels. The injustice effectively killed Hearts' hopes and Stephen Frail, unsurprisingly, had some choice words for both the referee and his standside assistant, John Gilmour.

Grzegorz Szamotulski, the visiting goalkeeper, beat a Michael Stewart shot away just after the half-hour before Morgaro Gomis blocked Elliot's shot on the goal line. Hearts were trying to fashion a way back into the game but Levein is a master of defensive consolidation and United gave nothing away through to the interval.
Szamotulski was dismissed for a second booking before Larry Kingston curled the free-kick beyond replacement goalkeeper.

Szamotulski was dismissed for a second booking before Larry Kingston curled the free-kick beyond replacement goalkeeper.

Thomson and his assistants were booed furiously as they walked towards the tunnel and Hearts restarted in determined fashion. Stewart and Kingston attempted to drive their side forward but, with Levein's players often funnelling back to form a five-man midfield, the home players found themselves crowded out.

An attempt at reinvigoration brought Pinilla off the bench on 61 minutes but the Chilean was largely ineffectual until stoppage time. Chasing Eggert Jonsson's long ball, he was taken out by the onrushing Szamotulski and left the field accompanied by a paramedic and Hearts physio Davie Henderson. Szamotulski was dismissed for a second booking before Larry Kingston curled the free-kick beyond replacement goalkeeper.

It meant little in the context of the result, for United had moved 3-0 ahead moments earlier. Banks tipped Barry Robson's shot on to the crossbar and from the resultant corner Elliot saved Lee Wilkie's header with his forearm and was promptly red-carded. Robson lashed home the subsequent penalty to compound a miserable afternoon for Hearts.

Hearts (4-4-2): Banks; Neilson, Zaliukas, Berra, Goncalves; Kingston, Stewart, Jonsson, Driver; Nade, Elliot. Subs: Kurskis, Tall, Karipidis, Pinilla 61 (for Nade), Palazuelos, Ivaskevicius 87 (for Goncalves), Ksanavicius 46 (for Driver).

Dundee United (4-1-4-1): Szamotulski; Dillon, Wilkie, Dods, Kalvenes; Buaben; Hunt, Flood, Gomis, Robson; Robertson. Subs: McLean 90 (for Flood), Kerr 83 (for Gomis), Daly, Robb 84 (for Robertson), Cameron, Kenneth, Duff.

Attendance: 16,661.
Referee: Craig Thomson.

Taken from the Scotsman