Hearts 0 - 1 Dundee Utd

Hearts succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Dundee United in Sunday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League encounter at Tynecastle.

Jon Daly's bullet header handed the visitors the lead a close fought first half, and the Arabs kept the home side at bay in the second period to secure all three points.

JJ was forced into making one change from the side that earned a credible draw at Paksi in midweek, with Stephen Elliott replacing the suspended Jamie Hamill. Ryan Stevenson, meanwhile, made the bench despite obtaining a nasty hand injury in Hungary.

It was the visitors, however, who threatened first as Jonny Russell's cross from the left was laid off by Jon Daly, but the on-rushing John Rankin's shot sailed over the bar from 12 yards out.

David Obua then had similar misfortune on nine minutes, as his effort from the edge of the box flew over Dusan Pernis's goal as the Jambos began to turn up the pressure.

Just a minute later, the home side nearly had an opener as Marius Zaliukas's shot from the right deflected off Stephen Elliott's back heel, narrowly missing the bottom right corner.

The visitors then had a penalty shout turned down, referee Brian Winter instead opting to award a free kick on the edge of the box. Ex-Hibs midfielder Rankin stepped up to the mark but his effort slammed off the crossbar, much to the relief of Marian Kello.

The game was waving back and forth at this point, with the Arabs testing the Hearts backline with several teasing passes. The home side were providing some fine play of their own, however, and had two glorious chances on the 20th minute mark.

First Danny Grainger raced down the left flank, before his cut back across the box was met by John Sutton whose low shot from short range forced a last-ditch save from Pernis.

The same duo then combined again seconds later, again a ball from the left evaded the United defence but Sutton's finish narrowly missed the bottom right post from seven yards out.

The left flank was proving the main attacking outlet for the home side, with Grainger and David Templeton frequently being afforded space. Ian Black was released down the flank on 30 minutes and carried the ball into the box, but his final pass failed to find a maroon jersey in the goalmouth.

Up the other end, the towering Daly went might close as he met a cross from the left with a half volley which forced a spectacular save from Kello. Daly would have the last laugh, however, has he handed his side the lead from the ensuing corner kick. He leapt to power home a bullet header from Willo Flood's set piece, much to the delight of the travelling contingency.

The home side immediately set about in search for an equaliser, and were handed a golden opportunity as Eggert Jonsson's ball found Elliott unmarked inside the box. The striker quickly spun round but his low drive drifted wide of the right post in what was the last notable incident of the first half.

Jim refrained from making any half-time changes, and his side started the second period with plenty of intent, yet lacked the cutting edge in the final third.

A free kick on the edge of the box on 54 minutes saw the boys in maroon go close, as Templeton's strike narrowly missed the upright from 18 yards out as they began to impose themselves on the United backline.

Shortly after, Templeton found himself in space on the left and his superb cross came within inches of connecting with Elliot's foot, instead the ball trickled wide of the far post.

The Tangerine's were by no means out of it, however, and the home side survived a scare on 60 minutes as Scott Allan was given time and space on the edge of the box before unleashing a low drive which forced a good stop from Kello.

This resulted in a flurry of United attacks, the most notable being a Garry Kenneth header from five yards which went straight into the arms of Kello.

Russell was next to try his luck, receiving the ball with his back to the goal before turning the defender and firing a shot across the goal, only just missing the far corner from 18 yards out.

Hearts then got a chance out of nothing as a long ball found Templeton just outside the United box, he took a touch before firing a venomous volley which was only stopped by an acrobatic one hand punch from Pernis.

JJ then brought Tynecastle to its feet as he introduced Rudi Skacel, the crowd favourite replacing Adrian Mrowiec whilst Arvydas Novikovas took the place of Stephen Elliott as the home side went in search of an equaliser.

The two substitutes immediately made an impression, exchanging paces down the left before Skacel's snap shot grazed the side netting from 20 yards out.

Jim then made his final change of the afternoon, as John Sutton made way for Ryan Stevenson in the 75th minute.

JJ's men were struggling to break down a resilient away defence, however, and chances were at a premium. Skacel found himself free in the box on 84 minutes, but failed to find a teammate as he was crowded out by tangerine jerseys.

As the game entered injury time, Stevenson beat the United keeper to a challenge at the near post, but the ball trickled across the line before a last-ditch clearance removed the danger.

The Jambos received a last minute corner kick, which prompted Kello to make his way into the opposition box. It had little effect, however, as the ball cleared the box and trickled over the sideline before the referee brought the game to a close.

Hearts: Kello; McGowan, Zaliukas, Jonsson, Grainger; Black, Mrowiec(Skacel 70), Obua, Templeton; Elliott(Novikovas 70), Sutton(Stevenson 75). Subs not used: MacDonald, Barr, Smith, Robinson.

Dundee Utd: Pernis; Dillon, Kenneth, Severin(Robertson 74), Dixon; Watson, Rankin, Flood, Allan(Douglas 82); Russell, Daly. Subs not used: Banks, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Dow, Hilson.

Referee: Brian Winter

Top man: Marian Kello

Hearts World