Kingston rocks Levein’s Uefa hopes

DUNDEE UNITED'S bid to secure a Uefa Cup spot took a dent at Tynecastle with Hearts reeking revenge for the 4-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Tayside club back in January.

Not only did United lose the three points against a Hearts side that belied the gap between the two teams in the table, but they suffered two red cards in the final minutes as they desperately tried claw back the goal that they conceded in the first half.

This week Hearts posted the biggest financial turnover in their history, a figure of £10.32m passing through their books. With three Lithuanian players returning to their home country this week as well, the staff at Hearts continue to have an impressive turn over as well.
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Yet since the turn of the year Hearts have produced results on the pitch a level of consistency that belies the constant state of flux that the club seems to be in. A top six finish, something that the club would have taken granted not so long ago, is now something they must fight for against Kilmarnock next week.

Captain Christophe Berra was adamant that they can make that step. "With Falkirk drawing and Aberdeen winning it is all to play for next week," he said. "We will go to Kilmarnock and try to get the three points."

Against a Dundee United that had already scored seven against them in two games this season, Hearts defended well and provided a threat down both flanks with Saulius Mikoliunas and Laryea Kingston tormenting the visitors' defence until they were both substituted in the second half.

And it was Kingston who got the all-important goal, collecting an exquisite through- ball from Eggert Jonsson to fire low into the corner from the right channel position.

United had been timid throughout the first half, but in the second period they stepped up their game and gradually developed their a one-man front line, to a twin striker system and eventually finishing with three up front.

The determination of Craig Levein's men was evident and led to Garry Kenneth picking up two yellow cards for challenges on Kingston and Christian Nade and a straight red card for substitute Danny Swanson.

Kenneth knew red was on it's way out of the referee's pocket when he recklessly downed Nade with a minute of regulation time remaining. One minute later Swanson's late and rash challenge on Jonsson left Smith no alternative but to again reach into his pocket for the red card. Levein was not impressed at the manner in which Kenneth in particular received his marching orders, suggesting that the centre-back may not be able to reclaim a place in the team. He said: "Danny Dodds will come in and do a good job. Garry Kenneth, because of his own stupidity might not play again this season."

A tame opening to the game gave no indication that it would explode in the second period. United could have taken the lead as early as the eighteenth minute when Willo Flood provided an inch- perfect low cross for Noel Hunt just six yards out. Hunt should have steered the ball into the net without any difficulty, but instead stumbled. By the time he had regained his composure his sight of goal has been blocked and his shot was fired into the side netting.

According to Levein that missed opportunity cost his side the game, but in truth United offered very little up front against a compact and well-marshalled Hearts defence.

Former Hearts man Mark De Vries started the shift as a lone striker, midway through the second half he had Jim O'Brien for company and by the end of the game Jon Daly had joined the attack.

Yet for all the changes of personnel and formation, United still could not find a way of testing Anthony Basso in the Hearts goal.

Hearts too, perhaps are in need of greater fire power. Christian Nade failed to get into the danger area despite the prodding of Mikoliunas and Kingston, although he did cause a greater problem to the visitors defence in the second period.

Just before the hour Hearts had the opportunity to double their lead when Kingston rounded Kenneth to fire the ball into the six-yard box.

Zaluska blocked the cross but Mikoliunas scooped the ball over the bar.

Taken from the Sunday Herald