Dundee United 3-0 Hearts

Sep 28 2008 Gordon Waddell Reports

JON DALY celebrated the birth of daughter Sophie in classic Bebeto baby-cradle style - then admitted he was anticipating his last decent night's sleep for a while as well. The Dubliner's fourth of the campaign and goals from Craig Conway and Scott Robertson gave United their first home win of the season over 10-man Jambos.

After getting the monkey off their backs last week at Aberdeen, it is the first time the Arabs have clocked up back-to-back league wins since January.

And Daly played a massive part, despite a traumatic week that saw his wife endure a 30-hour labour.

He said: "It caps a great week - but it was a long one as well. We had a long labour, nearly 30 hours, but thankfully everything is okay now.

"I was never really a doubt for playing though. My wife is still in hospital so I've managed some rest before the game.

"I'm not sure I'm going to get much more when they get home though!

"I couldn't resist the celebration. A few of the lads talked about it before the game so it seemed the right thing to do."

To be fair, Daly could easily have wheeled out the celebration inside the first five minutes when his near-post header from a Conway corner exploded off the bar.

Keeper Marian Kello was helpless then but he did bail Hearts out five minutes later, staying big to save after Lee Wallace had gifted Sean Dillon a look at goal from 10 yards.

And the Slovakian No.1, one of the few real success-story signings from Kaunas, pulled off a stunning stop midway through the half, arching himself backwards to tip over a Robertson backflick from Willo Flood's free-kick that was bound for the top corner.

He must have wondered where his midfield and back four were at times as he had to drop sharply to keep a Conway snapshot out at his near post.

But six minutes from the break, United finally breached the one-man Alamo's defences.

Conway was chopped down by Michael Stewart to earn a free-kick and he dusted himself down, took a touch from Robertson then lashed a magnificent strike home from a full 30 yards.

Hearts had their share of the ball but, on chances, the lead was no more than United deserved.

Zaluska didn't even dirty his gloves in the first 45 minutes and even Jambos' best chance saw Christos Karipidis head over an Audrius Ksanavicius free-kick that was begging to be buried.

United could have extended their lead when Morgaro Gomis battered the bar with a 25 yard cracker.

But they didn't have to wait long and five minutes after the break Flood played a flukey one-two off Sol Mikoliunas then delivered a dream cross for Daly to volley home.

Kello got a strong hand to the ball but as it dropped in off the post, the big Dubliner wheeled away for the celly he'd been dreaming of all week.

Suddenly the heavens opened - and so did Hearts' defence again, wide enough to let Robertson grab his second goal in five days.

Karipidis' attempted clearance from Conway's free-kick cannoned off his head for the youngster's first SPL goal. It didn't look like it could get much worse for Csaba Laszlo - but it did when Eggert Jonsson picked up two deserved yellows for fouls on Conway.

The best Hearts could muster was a brilliant 25-yarder from Mikoliunas that clanged back off the far post. However it was way too little, way too late for the unhappy Jambo fans.

Their ire bubbled over from the stands as the memory of their decent start dimmed fast.

Delighted United gaffer Craig Levein said: "I'd have been really disappointed if we'd been deprived of a cleansheet.

"We rolled up our sleeves and gave everything.

"My old manager Alex MacDonald used to tell us at Hearts that we had to earn the right to win - and we did that."

MATCH STATS

Shots on 7

Shots off 7

Offside 4

Fouls 15

Corners 4

Bookings 8

Shots on 5

Shots off 3

Offside 3

Fouls 23

Corners 5

Bookings 3

REF WATCH

DOUGIE McDONALD handled this match smoothly, kept himself out of the picture and gave only what he had to. Red carded Eggert Jonsson for two bookable offences but the Icelander only had himself to blame. Rating: 7/10.

Taken from the Sunday Mail