Dundee Utd 1 - 0 Hearts

Page last updated at 16:53 GMT, Saturday, 19 November 2011
By Annie McGuire
BBC Sport Scotland

Dundee United edged closer to the top six after a valuable home win against Hearts at Tannadice.

A stunning headed goal from Scott Robertson midway through the first half was enough to secure manager Peter Houston's fourth win of the season.

Hearts were dogged in their attempts to level the scoring, despite news of a proposed player clearout at the club.

Rudi Skacel and Ryan McGowan came closest for the visitors but endured a frustrating afternoon.

Serving the first of his five-match touchline ban, manager Paulo Sergio had recalled striker John Sutton to his starting line up - the Englishman's first start since 13 August, and Hearts were in more attacking mood than their 4-5-1 formation suggested, with Rudi Skacel, David Templeton and Ryan Stevenson offering support.

And it was Templeton who came closest to opening the scoring, picking up the ball on the edge of the United box and sending his diagonal strike a foot wide of Dusan Pernis's far post.

United - who handed a debut to former Hearts full-back Robbie Neilson - struggled to create similar opportunites in the opening exchanges, relying on a flash of brilliance in the 24th minute to open the scoring.

Jon Daly peeled off his marker wide on the right and sent in a magnificent curling cross which evaded Andy Webster to find Robertson's diving header, the 26-year-old delivering a perfect finish from 12 yards out to leave Marion Kello helpless in goal.

The home side were almost caught cold in the aftermath of the goal though, with Skacel finding the back of the net for Hearts after a driving run by the lively Templeton, only for the Czech to be ruled offside by the far-side linesman.

Hearts continued to apply pressure with Skacel dangerous on the counter attack, his individual effort palmed away by Pernis with 40 minutes gone.

The latter stages of the half were marred by a series of clumsy challenges which saw referee Willie Collum brandish three yellow cards.

Paul Dixon was first in the book after catching Skacel with a high boot, before Jamie Hamill blocked the pacy run of Gary Mackay-Steven down the left channel to leave the United youngster floored.

Neilson, who looked off the pace on his return to the Scottish Premier League, completed the hat-trick of bookings and could have no complaints after being penalised for a late challenge on Stevenson.

There was more of the same after the restart; Garry Kenneth the offender this time as he ended the run of Skacel on the edge of the box in a dangerous-looking position.

The potency of the resulting free-kick was wasted on the Czech though, who stood head-in-hands after sending the ball high over the bar.

Undeterred, Skacel looked hungry to level the score and continued to trouble the United defence, prompting Sergio to introduce support in the former of Mehdi Taouil who replaced Adrian Mrowiec on the hour-mark.

By contrast chances were at a premium for Dundee United, but with 67 minutes gone they too had the ball in the net only to be over-ruled by an offside decision.

The lively Mackay-Steven forced a palmed save from Kello with a 10-yard shot, with Daly pouncing on the rebound unaware of his offside position.

With Hearts aggrieved to have dominated possession and struggled in front of goal, Ryan McGowan produced a long-range attempt with just over 10 minutes remaining, but Pernis was equal to the driven shot.

Cutting an aggrivated figure in the stand, the Hearts manager went for broke and introduced Steven Elliot and Arvydas Novikovas to replace Sutton and Hamill but, despite countless corners, the visitors could not convert their chances on a frustrating afternoon for the troubled club.
Live text and stats

Saturday, 19 November 2011

Scottish Premier
Home Team Score Away Team Time
Dundee Utd 1-0 Hearts FT
(HT 1-0)

Robertson 24

Hide team line-ups and match stats
Dundee Utd

01 Pernis
03 Dixon yellow card
05 Kenneth yellow card
18 Gunning
26 Neilson yellow card
06 Flood
08 Robertson
11 Rankin
17 Mackay-Steven yellow card (Douglas 80)
09 Daly
15 Russell (Armstrong 88)

Substitutes

13 Banks,
02 Dillon,
12 Watson,
14 Douglas,
16 Armstrong,
19 Dalla Valle,
22 Dow

Hearts

25 Kello
06 Webster
17 McGowan
26 Zaliukas
02 Hamill yellow card (Elliott 78)
04 Jonsson
12 Templeton
16 Stevenson
19 Skacel
31 Mrowiec (Taouil 60 yellow card)
15 Sutton (Novikovas 78)

Substitutes

30 MacDonald,
13 Obua,
21 Taouil,
10 Elliott,
18 Novikovas,
22 Smith,
27 Robinson

Ref: CollumAtt: 6,925
DUNDEE UTD
HEARTS
Possession

Dundee Utd 48%
Hearts 52%

Attempts on target

Dundee Utd 1
Hearts 3

Attempts off target

Dundee Utd 3
Hearts 4

Corners

Dundee Utd 4
Hearts 6

Fouls

Dundee Utd 11
Hearts 6

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Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:19 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+0:44 Corner taken by Rudi Skacel, John Rankin makes a clearance.
Correction - 87:03 Corner taken by Mehdi Taouil played to the near post, Robbie Neilson makes a clearance.
Correction - 87:03 Substitution Stuart Armstrong replaces Johnny Russell.
87:03 Corner from the left by-line taken by Mehdi Taouil,
87:03 Substitution Johnny Russell goes off and Stuart Armstrong comes on.
84:26 Corner from left by-line crossed in by Arvydas Novikovas, Dusan Pernis makes a save.
82:38 Paul Dixon delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.
82:38 Booking Mehdi Taouil receives a caution.
82:34 Unfair challenge on Johnny Russell by Mehdi Taouil results in a free kick.
80:37 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gavin Gunning on Andy Webster. Mehdi Taouil delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Gavin Gunning makes a clearance.
80:05 Corner taken right-footed by Mehdi Taouil, Scott Robertson manages to make a clearance.
79:27 Substitution Gary Mackay-Steven leaves the field to be replaced by Barry Douglas.
77:25 Substitution Stephen Elliott is brought on as a substitute for Jamie Hamill.
77:25 Substitution Arvydas Novikovas replaces John Sutton.
76:47 Jon Daly challenges Jamie Hamill unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Marian Kello.
73:59 Booking Booking for Gary Mackay-Steven.
71:33 David Templeton takes a shot.
69:19 Effort on goal by Paul Dixon from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
68:37 Jamie Hamill sends in a cross, Robbie Neilson manages to make a clearance.
66:39 The offside flag is raised against Jon Daly. Free kick taken by Marian Kello.
63:43 Ryan McGowan concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Robertson. Robbie Neilson takes the free kick.
62:06 John Sutton takes a shot. Save made by Dusan Pernis.
59:53 Substitution (Hearts) makes a substitution, with Mehdi Taouil coming on for Adrian Mrowiec.
59:01 The referee blows for offside against Gary Mackay-Steven. Free kick taken by Marian Kello.
58:23 Unfair challenge on Ryan Stevenson by Willo Flood results in a free kick. Jamie Hamill takes the free kick.
56:38 David Templeton takes a shot. Save made by Dusan Pernis.
53:35 Free kick awarded for a foul by Willo Flood on David Templeton. Free kick taken by Ryan McGowan.
50:28 Rudi Skacel shoots direct from the free kick.
50:28 Booking The referee shows Garry Kenneth a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
50:19 Garry Kenneth gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rudi Skacel.
48:47 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Gary Mackay-Steven, Adrian Mrowiec makes a clearance.
45:13 Eggert Jonsson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Johnny Russell. Robbie Neilson crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
Half Time
45:00+0:05 The match has reached half-time.
44:07 Corner from the right by-line taken by Willo Flood, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Jon Daly goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
44:07 Booking Booking for Robbie Neilson for unsporting behaviour.
42:23 Paul Dixon restarts play with the free kick.
42:23 Booking Jamie Hamill goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
42:06 Gary Mackay-Steven fouled by Jamie Hamill, the ref awards a free kick.
41:35 Corner taken by Rudi Skacel from the right by-line, clearance made by Paul Dixon.
41:15 Rudi Skacel takes a shot. Save by Dusan Pernis.
40:20 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Gary Mackay-Steven, Adrian Mrowiec makes a clearance.
39:21 Jamie Hamill delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Jon Daly manages to make a clearance.
39:21 Booking Paul Dixon is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
39:13 Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Dixon on John Sutton.
34:36 Ryan McGowan takes a shot.
32:29 Marius Zaliukas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Johnny Russell. Garry Kenneth restarts play with the free kick.
27:32 Robbie Neilson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Stevenson. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Jamie Hamill from left wing, save by Dusan Pernis.
23:24 Assist on the goal came from Jon Daly.
23:24 GOAL - Scott Robertson:Dundee Utd 1 - 0 Hearts Scott Robertson scores a headed goal from close in. Dundee Utd 1-0 Hearts.
23:20 The ball is delivered by Jon Daly,
20:08 Shot by John Rankin went wide right of the post.
18:07 Foul by Willo Flood on Ryan Stevenson, free kick awarded. Marius Zaliukas takes the direct free kick.
15:59 David Templeton is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Dusan Pernis takes the indirect free kick.
15:12 Foul by Robbie Neilson on Ryan Stevenson, free kick awarded. Marius Zaliukas takes the direct free kick.
14:00 Eggert Jonsson handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Willo Flood takes the direct free kick.
12:31 Marius Zaliukas fouled by Jon Daly, the ref awards a free kick. Marius Zaliukas takes the direct free kick.
7:56 David Templeton has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.
4:47 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Gary Mackay-Steven, Ryan Stevenson makes a clearance.
2:54 Unfair challenge on Andy Webster by John Rankin results in a free kick. Marian Kello takes the direct free kick.
1:28 Inswinging corner taken by Rudi Skacel, Unfair challenge on Gavin Gunning by Andy Webster results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Dusan Pernis.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

Taken from the BBC