SPL: Dundee United 2 Hearts 1

May 16 2011 By Euan McArthur

EMOTIONAL Morgaro Gomis waved goodbye to Dundee United yesterday - then tipped the Tangerines to do even better next season.

Peter Houston's men finished the campaign on a high by seeing off third-placed Hearts at Tannadice. Now they only need Celtic to beat Motherwell in Saturday's Scottish Cup Final to seal a place in the Europa League.

Exactly 12 months on from the day they lifted the Scottish Cup with a clinical destruction of Ross County at Hampden, the class of 2010 prepared to move on to pastures new as departing stars Gomis, Prince Buaben, Craig Conway and David Robertson all made swansong appearances for the Taysiders.

Skipper Jon Daly ensured they bowed out in style thanks to his spectacular 71st-minute winner after Gary Glen had cancelled out David Goodwillie's opener midway through the first half.

Midfielder Gomis said: "It was a very emotional time because it's the end for the team that won the Scottish Cup. A few of the boys were in tears in the dressing room afterwards as we're all good friends.

"It was just nice to win the game before saying goodbye because there's a lot of sadness out there.

"I've had a great four-and-a-half years here at Dundee United. I've got nothing but fond memories, with the highlight being winning the Scottish Cup.

"We can be proud of winning the Cup and even this season we finished fourth and did really well.

"I've got to thank the supporters who should be looking forward to next season because Peter Houston will be signing some good players and there are some very good young ones still here.

"I will still be looking out for United's results because they're a club close to my heart."

Arabs boss Houston echoed Gomis' sentiments as he hailed his Tannadice troops at the end of another successful SPL campaign.

Houston said: "The boys who are moving on were quite emotional, as you could imagine. They have really enjoyed their time here and did this club a great turn.

"They leave with their heads held high, having won the Cup last year, and I can't speak highly enough of them.

"I'm sure in 10 years' time they'll all be invited back to the club to commemorate winning the Cup.

"We finished on 61 points which is just two short of our tally last season. That's a great credit to the players who have had to contend with a lot this season.

"I thought a draw would have been a fair result but I was delighted to get the three points all the same."

This had the potential of being a winner-takes-all battle for third place until Dundee United's defeat at Ibrox killed off lingering hopes of overtaking the Jambos. Hearts' place in next season's Europa League had already been confirmed by clinching third spot despite their recent downturn in fortunes.

At one stage the Tynecastle men were 21 points better off than United and even being touted as strong candidates to split the Old Firm. But that sizeable gap had been cut down to five prior to kick-off on Tayside.

They were looking for their first win in eight games and at least had captain Eggert Jonsson available after his red card at Rangers the week before had been overturned by the SFA.

The hosts began the brighter side and in the 10th minute almost found a way past the Hearts rearguard. Paul Dixon's long ball was knocked down by Daly into the path of strike partner Goodwillie.

Scotland's Young Player of the Year looked all set to pull the trigger until Jambos stopper Ismael Bouzid nipped in a to clear the danger with a last-gasp tackle.

A few minutes later Goodwillie got a touch to Dixon's flighted free-kick but visiting keeper Marian Kello defied the home team with a stunning close-range stop.

Hearts' hopes of finishing the season on a high weren't helped when influential winger Andrew Driver limped off injured in the 21st minute and was replaced by Jason Thomson.

Things got worse for them a minute later as Goodwillie opened the scoring in simple fashion.

Conway was the architect with another textbook cross which was helped on by Johnny Russell and Goodie was first to react inside a crowded box, doing just enough to prod the ball home under the diving Kello. However, Hearts were back on level terms in the 31st minute.

David Templeton worked his magic out wide before delivering an inch-perfect cross that Glen gladly gobbled up to head beyond Dusan Pernis.

That gave the visitors a much-needed lift and shortly after this Craig Thomson tried his luck with a raking drive that Pernis did well to tip over the bar.

The second half started with United going straight on the ascendancy and Mihael Kovacevic forced visiting keeper Kello into a save at his near post.

Buaben almost made it a memorable swansong with a trademark piledriver from the edge of the box but his effort went just too high. The winner came in the 72nd minute from quick-thinking Daly.

Bouzid could only half-clear Sean Dillon's long ball forward and Daly wasted no time in drilling a low 20-yard scorcher outwith the reach of Kello.

Hearts gaffer Jim Jefferies admitted his side had made heavy weather of tying up third spot but still saluted them for their overall efforts.

The boss said: "We set out at the start of the season to finish third and we've done just that.

"It doesn't matter how you get there as long as you accomplish that in the end.

"I'm sure we would have tied up third spot a lot earlier if we had managed to keep our key players fit but circumstances saw to it that we didn't manage to do so. But I've got to give this group of players lots of credit because Dundee United are the only team out with the Old Firm to beat us away from home.

"Today we gave a chance to some younger lads and those who have been waiting in the wings and they did themselves proud.

"We've been working ever so hard on that side of things so the future of this club is in good hands."

Player ratings: Dundee United v Hearts

May 16 2011

DUNDEE UNITED

Dusan Pernis 7

Proved he's one of the best shotstoppers in the SPL.

Sean Dillon 7

Very solid display at the back from the Irishman.

Paul Dixon 7

Cultured left foot and used it to set up the opener.

Scott Severin 6

The utility man looks at home at the heart of defence.

Mihael Kovacevic 6

Not an easy shift as he tracked down Templeton.

Prince Buaben 7

Surprisingly quiet afternoon from the midfielder.

Craig Conway 7

A constant threat to Hearts with his inventive play.

David Goodwillie 8

A defender's nightmare, he never stops running.

Morgaro Gomis 7

Very few players in the country work as hard as him.

Jon Daly 6

Led the line with his knock-ons helping runners.

Johnny Russell 7

Looks capable of taking on Goodie's mantle at United.

Subs: Timothy Van Der Mullen - on for rare run-out late on, 3 Andis Shala - worked hard but made little impact, 3. David Robertson - on so fans could give Goodwillie a standing ovation. 2.

HEARTS

Marian Kello 8

Due a lot of credit for helping Hearts to third spot.

Darren Barr 6

Not a great year since he made switch from Falkirk.

Ryan McGowan 6

Will grow with experience but isn't the finished article.

Ismael Bouzid 6

Won't enjoy reruns of Daly's goal after failing to clear.

Craig Thomson 7

Everything that Hearts did went through him.

Rubens Palazuelos 5

Nowhere near as influential as he can be in games.

Eggert Jonsson 5

Made little impact as United won the midfield battle.

Scott Robinson 7

Youngster flitted between midfield and attack.

Gary Glen 7

Great piece of improvisation for the equaliser.

David Templeton 7

Stunning delivery for Glen's leveller showed his ability.

Andrew Driver 3

Injury jinx struck again as he was forced off early.

Subs: Jason Thomson - on early for Driver but lacked the same level of creativity, 5. David Smith - had little to do, 3. Jason Holt - late sub did little, 2.

MEN WHO MATTER

PETER HOUSTON

Terrific late run saw his United side close the gap from 21 points to just two and they proved yesterday they will be battling for Europe again next season. 8

JIM JEFFERIES

It just wasn't Jeff's day but it has been his year as he restored some pride down Gorgie way by leading the Jambos back into Europe with a third-spot finish. 6

VERDICT

On a day where events elsewhere in the country were always going to be more important, this was a very watchable game between two sides who are clearly the best of the rest.

MAN IN BLACK

Steve O'reilly was over-strict at times and seemed intent on stopping the game for every foul and booking every challenge. 6

Taken from the Daily Record