Dundee Utd 1-0 Heart of Midlothian
From Hearts Media at Tannadice Park

Hearts' winless run stretched to four games at Tannadice this afternoon, where Scott Robertson's fine headed goal midway through the first half gave Dundee United only their second home league win of the season. A promising display from Paulo Sergio's side was spoiled in the final third, with only Ryan McGowan's miscued cross causing any trouble at all for Dusan Pernis in the home side's goal.

Just the one personnel change for Hearts this week, with John Sutton introduced to lead the attack in place of Ryan Stevenson, who dropped back into midfield. Mehdi Taouil dropped to the bench. United, meanwhile, welcomed a former Hearts stalwart to their ranks for the first time, Cup-winner Robbie Neilson making his debut for the Tangerines after signing until the end of the season.

And he had plenty to occupy him in the opening stages as the visitors immediately settled into their rhythm and took the game to their hosts. David Templeton was the first to threaten, picking up a pass after good work from John Sutton, only to see his powerful left-foot shot deflected over the bar. The winger then curled an effort from the edge of the box which beat Pernis but slipped just wide of the keeper's left hand post.

Sutton also appeared to be enjoying himself on his return to the side, using his strength to hold the ball up well and feed his team-mates. He also had a softish claim for a penalty turned down by referee Mr Collum after Garry Kenneth appeared to hold him inside the area.

It appeared to be all Hearts, with the home side's rare forays up the park easily snuffed out by Marius Zaliukas and Andy Webster. That all changed midway through the half when Scott Robertson broke up play on half-way and sent John Daly scampering down the right touchline. There appeared to be plenty of cover in the middle, but Robertson somehow found enough space to dive in and head his skipper's cross home from ten yards.

Rudi Skacel had the ball in the net almost immediately, but the effort was chalked off for offside, before Ryan McGowan had Dusan Pernis scrambling to push his miscued cross onto the crossbar. The Slovakian then clutched another poked shot from Templeton, before parrying a right-foot pile-driver from Skacel as the half drew to a close.

The half ended with a clutch of bookings: first Dixon for a body check on Skacel, then Hamill who halted a dangerous looking break with a judicious foul on half-way. They were then joined in the book by Neilson, already warned for a body-check on Sutton, who drew the official's ire for a late two-footed lunge on Stevenson.

United started the second period on the front foot, but apart from a few flurries down the right, did not look much like adding to their tally. Hearts continued to probe, although there was less conviction to their work now, opportunities coming only sporadically, as when Skacel was felled on the edge of the box by Gavin Gunning. The Czech picked himself up but could only float the resultant free-kick into the stand behind the goal.

McGowan and Eggert Jonsson then combined neatly on the left to send the Icelander to the byline, but his low cutback lacked power and Skacel could only scuff a half-blocked effort straight at Pernis.

Hearts made their first change just after the hour mark when Mehdi Taouil was introduced for the industrious Adrian Mrowiec, but the switch had little impact on the effectiveness of the visitors' attacking play.

Daly had the ball in the net midway through the second half, but again the effort was deemed offside by the far side linesman. Templeton then blasted another shot well over Pernis's crossbar, before Hearts made a double switch, introducing Stephen Elliott and Arvydas Novikovas for the tiring Sutton and Hamill.

That change was accompanied by a switch to 3-4-3, however, despite pressing the home side back inside their own penalty area, Hearts managed to create little to worry the underworked Pernis. The home side defended stoutly to see home the three points.

Dundee Utd: Pernis, Dixon, Kenneth, Flood, Robertson, Daly, Rankin, Russel (Armstrong 88), Mackay-Steven (Douglas 80), Gunning, Neilson. Booked: Dixon, Neilson, Mackay-Steven. Subs not used: Banks, Dillon, Watson, Dalla Valle, Dow.

Hearts: Kello; Hamill (Novikovas 78), Webster, Zaliukas, McGowan; Jonsson, Mrowiec (Taouil 60); Skacel, Stevenson, Templeton; Sutton (Elliott 78). Booked: Hamill, Taouil. Subs not used: MacDonald, Robinson, Obua, Smith

Referee: Willie Collum

Top man: Eggert Jonsson

Hearts World