Danny Cadamarteri marks Dundee United debut with double over Hearts
Dundee United (1) 2 Hearts (0) 0

By Ewing Grahame

A brace on his debut from former Everton, Leeds United and Huddersfield Town striker Danny Cadamarteri gave Craig Levein’s side a victory which was thoroughly merited, leaving their opponents to count the cost of an undisciplined, disjointed display.

United played their first senior match (against Hibs) 100 years ago on Tuesday and they wasted no time in starting their centenary season celebrations.

Barely four minutes had elapsed when Danny Swanson cut inside Eggert Jonsson only to be sent sprawling by the full-back’s trailing leg. Cadamarteri took the responsibility and drove the resulting penalty low to Marian Kello’s right.

The home side should have been given the opportunity to double their lead from the spot 14 minutes later when Cadamarteri was bowled over by Ismael Bouzid but referee Steve Conroy, who had a clear view of the incident, unaccountably elected not to penalise the defender.

It took the visitors until midway through the first half before they registered an attempt on target, a strike from distance by Ruben Palazuelos which failed to trouble Nicky Weaver.

Hearts, with new captain Michael Stewart struggling to make an impression on proceedings, were willing enough but lacked cohesion.

Andy Webster, jeered throughout by the travelling support, presented his former club with an opening shortly before the interval when he failed to connect with an attempted clearance but Weaver spared his blushes, saving bravely at the feet of David Witteveen.

Hearts’ hopes of restoring parity suffered a self-inflicted blow in the 52nd minute when Stewart, perhaps frustrated by his own poor performance, hacked down Scott Robertson and was dismissed after being shown a second yellow card.

It was the fourth time Stewart has been ordered off since rejoining the club two years ago and, with Hearts perennially in trouble with the SFA due to their dreadful disciplinary record, perhaps on reflection manager Csaba Laszlo could have chosen a more responsible captain.

Marian Kello twisted acrobatically to turn a cushioned lob from Goodwillie over his crossbar while Webster struck the outside of a post with a header for United.

They did just that six minutes from time when, from an ineffective Hearts corner kick, United broke away and Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben combined to release Cadamarteri, whose low drive from 25 yards beat the advancing Kello.

Match details

Dundee United (4-4-2): Weaver; Kovacevic (Dillon 80), Dosa, Webster, Dixon; Gomis, S. Robertson, Buaben, Swanson (Conway 73); Goodwillie, Cadamarteri.
Subs: Banks (g), Myrie-Williams, D Robertson, Kenneth, Shala. Booked: Webster, Kovacevic, Swanson.

Hearts (4-4-1-1): Kello; Jonsson, Bouzid, Kicharski, Goncalves; Suso, M. Stewart, Palazuelos, Obua; Witteveen (Black 55); Nade (Novikovas 78).
Subs: Balogh (g), Glen, J. Stewart, Park, Thomson.
Booked: Obua, Stewart, Suso, Black.
Sent off: Stewart.

Referee: S Conroy.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk