Hearts 1 Dundee United 3

Dundee United crushed Hearts at Tynecastle for the second time in 2007 to continue their impressive start to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season.

After dishing out a 4-0 hammering to the Edinburgh club in March last season, Craig Levein's charges once again emerged victorious after a disciplined display and two goals from loanee Jordan Robertson.

Teenager Robertson, who United have borrowed from Sheffield United, broke the deadlock after 13 minutes as United were forced on the back foot during the early exchanges.

And the on-loan Sheffield United player doubled his side's lead in the 25th minute, taking advantage of some lax defending from the hosts.

With three minutes left, Barry Robson added a third goal from the penalty spot after Calum Elliot, who was sent off, handled on the line.

Laryea Kingston notched a consolation at the death with a neat free-kick after United goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski was dismissed for clattering into Mauricio Pinilla.

Despite their comprehensive defeat, Hearts had started well and had United panicking inside the opening minutes.

The lively Kingston charged into the box and hit a low drive into the area but the pace of the ball was too strong for the outstretched Elliot.

Hearts created another chance in the fifth minute when Christian Nade cut in from the left flank, but his shot was well held by Szamotulski at his near post.

After surviving those scares, United stormed into the lead in the 13th minute.

Marius Zaliukas' attempted clearance was headed back into the box by Robson and 19-year-old Robertson turned Christophe Berra on the six-yard line before lashing a left-footed shot into the net.

Robertson doubled United's lead in the 25th minute, taking advantage of slack marking.

Christian Kalvenes' free-kick was met by the head of Lee Wilkie and Robertson then pounced to smash the ball into the net from close range.

Having gone two goals down, the Hearts defence looked vulnerable every time United mounted an attack.

However, the hosts eventually regrouped and set about trying to salvage something from the game.

Their next chance came from a non-direct free-kick inside the box after Szamotulski picked up Robson's back-pass in the 31st minute.

Kingston squared for Stewart but the former Manchester United midfielder's shot was blocked by the army of United players who had retreated to the goalline.

A minute later, Zaliukas had a shot cleared of the line by Morgaro Gomis as the home outfit applied pressure.

Hearts made a lively start to the second half but there was no end product despite some neat build-up play.

Kingston was in the thick of the action for Hearts and a 53rd-minute drive from long range cleared the bar.

Seconds later Nade teed up Elliot in the box but his weak shot was well held by the goalkeeper.

With United beginning to tire at the end, Hearts were desperate to take advantage of gaps in their defence.

Substitute Pinilla, in his first appearance of the season, had a go from the edge of the box but his effort sailed well wide.

The visitors were content to defend their lead at the end and, with that, Hearts became more desperate with their attempts to score.

Stewart then hit an ambitious 25-yard shot over.

The drama was not over there as Elliot was sent off for saving Wilkie's header on the line with his hand three minutes from time, with Robson converting the penalty to make it 3-0.

United goalkeeper Szamotulski was also then given his marching orders for his foul on Pinilla.

With the last kick off the game, Kingston grabbed a consolation from the free-kick but there was no disguising Hearts' dismal day.

Teams:

Hearts Banks, Neilson, Zaliukas, Berra,Goncalves (Ivaskevicius 87), Kingston, Stewart, Jonsson,Driver (Ksanavicius 46), Nade (Pinilla 61), Elliot.

Subs Not Used: Kurskis, Tall, Karipidis, Palazuelos.

Sent Off: Elliot (89).

Booked: Kingston.

Goals: Kingston 90.

Dundee Utd Szamotulski, Dillon, Wilkie, Dods, Kalvenes,Flood (McLean 90), Bauben, Robson, Gomis (Kerr 83), Hunt,Jordan Robertson (Robb 83).

Subs Not Used: Daly, Cameron, Kenneth, Duff.

Sent Off: Szamotulski (90).

Booked: Wilkie, Jordan Robertson, Szamotulski.

Goals: Jordan Robertson 14, 25, Robson 89 pen.

Att: 16,661

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com