Boss Hails Perfect Arabs After Heart Attack

Oct 21 2007 Rob Fairburn At Tynecastle

HEARTS 1

DUNDEE UTD 3

BEAMING Craig Levein returned to haunt his former club as United cruised to victory - and the gaffer claimed: That was perfect.

The Arabs followed up last season's four-goal romp at Tynecastle with two strikes from Jordan Robertson and skipper Barry Robson's late penalty.

Boss Levein could barely hide his delight as his troops 10-man Jambos licking their wounds yet again.

He said: "I am thrilled with the way the players performed. Rarely as a manager do you work on things and come the weekend everything goes for you.

"The main thing was to control the midfield and from there get as much possession as we could. We were excellent and kept the ball for long spells."

On-loan Sheffield United striker Robertson, Lee Wilkie and midfielder Morgaro Gomis were stand-outs in a fine team performance from United.

The only downer for Levein was the red card for Polish No.1 Grzegorz Szamotulski in injury time - minutes after Calum Elliot had been dismissed for Hearts.

Szamotulski had already been booked when he came out of his box and collided with sub Mauricio Pinilla and was shown a second yellow.

Sub goalie Ewan McLean's only task was to pick the ball out the net from Laryea Kingston's free-kick before the final whistle.

Levein said: "It is disappointing to lose Grzegorz for the Rangers game next week but I have no problem playing Ewan.

"However, we had to cancel a youth game because of injuries to keepers and it's something I will need to look at. It won't take the shine off my night though."

Hearts had a whirlwind start with Kingston a constant menace down the right.

He set up a couple of glorious chances for Elliot inside five minutes while Christian Nade also had two efforts go close.

But United scored with their first attack in 13 minutes. Hearts failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Robertson.

The teenager took a touch before drilling a low shot into the corner.

Willo Flood almost got a second soon after when he blasted over from close range.

Jambos were losing their discipline, challenging ref Craig Thomson's every call. And their frustration grew in 25 minutes when United extended their lead. Christian Kalavenes' free-kick was won in the air by Wilkie and Robertson buried the knockdown from six yards.

United handled everything Jambos could throw at them after the break with only Kingston a threat for the hosts.

As the clock ran down Robson unleashed a stunning 25-yarder that was flicked on to the bar by keeper Steve Banks.

But Robson was to get his reward in 88 minutes when Wilkie's close range header seemed net-bound only for Elliot to stick out an arm on the line.

He tried to claim the ball was already over to avoid being sent off but Thomson dished out the red card and Robson blasted home the penalty.

It was a great day for United, only marred by the last-gasp sending off for Szamotulski and Kingston's consolation.

Hearts coach Steve Frail said: "Goals change games. We were on top until United got their first. We still felt at half-time we could get back into it so it was disappointing."

Frail praised Wilkie for putting striker Maurico Pinilla in the recovery position after he fell badly in the collision with Szamotulski in stoppage time.

The Chilean was making his comeback after 13 months and was still dazed afterwards.

REF WATCH

CRAIG THOMSON made things difficult for himself by handing out early yellow cards but could have flashed even more as the home side lost their discipline. No arguments with the two sendings off though. Whistler will have better days. Rating: 6/10.

MATCH STATS

7 SHOTS ON 6

9 SHOTS OFF 3

2 OFFSIDE 1

12 FOULS 24

8 CORNERS 3

1 BOOKINGS 3

Taken from the Sunday Mail