Three off as Hearts thumped

Hearts 1
Berra 37
STEPHEN FRAIL'S interim management began dismally at Tannadice as eight-man Hearts lost four goals to Dundee United to remain firmly in the SPL's relegation zone.

A Barry Robson hat-trick and Noel Hunt header consigned the visitors to defeat on an afternoon when referee Alan Freeland lost all control. Hearts' lack of discipline saw them incur three red cards - to Marius Zaliukas, Lee Wallace and Michael Stewart - which will also bring them mounting suspension problems over the coming weeks.

The visitors had pulled level with United at the interval, however they suffered the most chilling of second-half collapses to leave Frail dejected by the start to his caretaker management.

In particular, Stewart's second yellow card in stoppage-time for remonstrating with a supporter was needless. The midfielder had earlier confronted captain Christophe Berra face to face, accusing the defender of inept marking after a United attack.

Freeland, though, ended the afternoon guilty of spoiling the match as a contest through his shameless waving of red and yellow cards. United, for their part, capitalised ruthlessly on their numerical advantage and once again benefited from a devastating performance by captain Robson.

Having been promised full autonomy on team selection and tactics, Frail dispensed with Angel Chervenkov's lone striker system in favour of a conventional 4-4-2 and deployed Calum Elliot and Andrius Velicka together in attack. United began rather more cautiously with a 4-5-1 formation, their players still coming to terms with the shocking scenes at Fir Park on Saturday when Phil O'Donnell died of heart failure.

There was a minute's applause in memory of the late Motherwell captain, after which United endured a nervous opening as they were harassed relentlessly by their spirited visitors. Hearts voiced an 11th-minute penalty claim when Elliot clashed with United debutant Danny Grainger, a player well known to Tynecastle supporters following his altercation with Michael Stewart for Gretna at Fir Park. However, the appeals were dismissed by referee Freeland.

Willo Flood's long-range drive nestled in Steve Banks' arms before Grainger executed a wild lunge at Saulius Mikoliunas and somehow managed to escape punishment. Seconds later, Hearts found themselves behind.

A bouncing ball in the visiting defence was eventually hooked backwards towards Banks by Neilson as Marius Zaliukas hesitated. Freeland adjudged Neilson's kick to be a passback and awarded the hosts a free-kick seven yards from goal. Lee Wilkie rolled the set-piece back to captain Robson, who swept an emphatic finish high into the Hearts net.

Frail afforded travelling fans a rare sighting of Deividas Cesnauskis on 34 minutes as the Lithuanian replaced Andy Driver. The Englishman departed with a leg injury, allowing Cesnauskis to make his first top-team appearance at club level for almost 14 months since November 4, 2006.

Cesnauskis' introduction didn't directly influence the equalising goal, but Hearts were nonetheless grateful to restore parity. Stewart's corner was glanced on by Zaliukas and Berra was alert to convert at the back post despite tight marking.

Drama levels soared after the interval with the Hearts defence looking unconvincing under pressure. A free header for Noel Hunt preceded a heated exchange between Berra and Stewart as the midfielder went head to head with his captain after berating him for slack marking. Moments later, Hunt again eluded Berra to nod Robson's cross inches past Banks' left post.

Zaliukas, having acted as peacemaker in the Stewart-Berra altercation, then lost his own composure following some shirt tugging by Wilkie. The Lithuanian swung his arm in retaliation at the United defender with the ball long gone and found himself instantly dismissed by Freeland. Despite the ball having gone for a throw-in to Hearts, Freeland somehow found it within himself to award a penalty to Craig Levein's side for Zaliukas' misdemeanour.

Robson calmly dispatched the spot-kick, leaving the Tynecastle side infuriated at having a penalty given against them from their own throw-in. But more misery was to follow.

Six minutes from time Stewart's foul on Robson allowed the outstanding winger to deliver a pinpoint free-kick towards the unmarked Hunt. The Irishman placed his header beyond Banks to end the match as a contest, and three minutes later a second penalty and sending off compounded the visitors' dismay.

Robson galloped clear of Wallace and was tripped by the defender in the act of shooting. Wallace saw red for a professional foul and Robson lashed home another penalt
y to complete his hat-trick.

Stewart's own dismissal in stoppage-time was down to nothing more than petulance, the Scot incurring a second yellow card for remonstrating with supporters in the main stand as frustrations boiled over.

Few could begrudge United their victory on a day when Hearts' indiscipline cost them dear. For Frail, there are issues aplenty to be addressed.

Dundee United (4-5-1): Szamotulski; Dillon, Dods, Wilkie, Grainger; Robson, Kerr, Gomis, D Robertson, Flood; Hunt. Subs: McLean, Conway, Kenneth 90 (for Wilkie), Buaben, J Robertson, Swanson 60 (for D Robertson), Odhiambo 89 (for Flood).

Hearts (4-4-2): Banks; Neilson, Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace; Mikoliunas, Stewart, Palazuelos, Driver; Elliot, Velicka. Subs: Basso, Goncalves, Pospisil 81 (for Mikoliunas), Nade 64 (for Elliot), Cesnauskis 34 (for Driver), Jonsson, McGowan.

Taken from the Scotsman