Eight-man Hearts hit self-destruct

By Roddy Forsyth

Dundee United (1) 4 Heart of Midlothian (1) 1

It was preordained that this would be a brittle occasion - for emotions, confidence and tempers, too, it transpired, as Hearts' discipline crumpled in a second half during which they were reduced to eight men by the dismissals of Andrius Velicka, Lee Wallace and Michael Stewart.

The absence of a proper football management structure has proved utterly corrosive for Hearts, who have now lost six league games in succession for the first time since 1978-79. They have taken a single point from a possible 21 since the start of December and cannot discount the possibility that if this downward spiral continues for much longer they will be sucked into a desperate relegation struggle.

The record books will show Barry Robson as the principal instrument of Hearts' destruction - the Scotland midfield player having scored three goals against the Tynecastle side for the second time in a year - but Hearts sabotaged their own prospects, notwithstanding the grievances they may cherish against a number of the decisions that went against them.

The game itself was, of course, contentious, in view of the Dundee United players' exposure to the tragic events at Fir Park on Saturday, when Phil O'Donnell, the Motherwell captain, collapsed on the pitch. However, the fulsomely observed minute's applause for O'Donnell was a cathartic moment and permitted - in this instance - life to move on, as it must.

In the case of a section of the Hearts support, this was signalled by an abusive chant directed at Hibs.

There was plenty of evidence of ragged nerves on both sides, as wild challenges tested the authority of Alan Freeland, the referee.

Freeland has a reputation for giving debatable decisions and he fuelled that perception when he decreed that a swiped clearance by Robbie Nielson, taken under the crossbar by Steven Banks, was a deliberate back pass. Lee Wilkie touched the indirect free kick back to Robson, whose shot found the only pocket of unguarded space in the goalmouth.

Hearts responded with spirit and deserved their equaliser, tapped in at the back post by Berra from a Stewart corner just before the interval.

United had begun with five across midfield, forcing Hearts to withdraw Andrius Velicka to reinforce their middle four, but after the break it was the home side who adjusted to the visitors' heightened tempo by raising the pace of their own game.

The fuse for an explosive passage was lit at a United corner when Wilkie grabbed Zaliukas and the defender responded by raising his arm. The referee immediately produced the red card for violent play and then, after consulting his assistant, awarded a penalty, which was despatched with brio by Robson. The United captain undid Hearts again soon afterwards with a delightfully arced free kick to pick out Noel Hunt for a glancing header beyond Banks.

Hearts were in disarray and their back line was further reduced when Robson, sprinting into the box, was challenged from behind by Wallace.Again a penalty was awarded, again the offender was sent off, and again Robson converted, in the same fashion as before.

Stewart, meanwhile, was heading towards meltdown, having earlier had a public row with Berra when Hunt had been allowed a free header. He had also been yellow carded and his blood boiled over when he was taunted by Hearts fans in the main stand. Stewart replied in kind and was duly dismissed, though he only left after some angry pushing by his own teammates.

"We need to stamp out the indiscipline and we'll address it first thing in the morning," said Stevie Frail, the Hearts assistant coach. "We could have handled the first clearance better, but was it a pass back?

"Zaliukas raised his hands to Wilkie - and we tell them you can't do that - but Wilkie had got hold of him first. We didn't think Wallace made much contact with Robson and we don't even know if it was in the box. As for Michael Stewart, he has to learn that fans pay their money and we take their praise, so we have to take the stick, too."

Match details

Dundee United (4-5-1): Szamotulski; Dillon, Dods, Wilkie (Kenneth 90), Grainger; Robson, Robertson (Swanson 63), Kerr, Gomis, Flood (Odhiambo 89); Hunt.
Subs: McLean (g), Conway, Buaben.
Booked: Robson, Gomes.
Hearts (4-5-1): Banks; Nielson, Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace; Mikoliunas (Pospisil, Stewart, Palazuelos, Velicka, Driver (Cesnauskis 32); Elliot.
Subs: Basso (g), Goncalves, Pospisil, Nade, Jonsson, McGowan.
Booked: Velicka, Stewart, Pospisil.
Sent off: Zaliukas, Wallace.
Referee: A Freeland (Scotland).

Taken from telegraph.co.uk