Hearts 0 Dundee United 2

On the evidence of this horror show Paulo Sergio's side can forget about trying to catch them.

Instead the Jambos should start worrying about hanging on to their top-six place.

Sergio had called for more aggression from his side after admitting they had become a soft touch.

The Portuguese boss made no fewer than five changes in a bid to spark a reaction.

But Hearts were again second- best as the Arabs continued their superb run with an easy victory here.

And the way they are playing Peter Houston's men will rightly believe they can keep climbing.

Surprisingly there was NO place in Sergio's squad for new signing Craig Beattie.

But two of the men he did bring in led the way as the Jambos started brightly.

Rudi Skacel tested Dusan Pernis after 90 seconds with a shot he held at the second attempt.

And just a minute later Scott Robinson fired in another effort that Pernis turned around his post.

Stephen Elliott then had an even better chance to open the scoring in the 12th minute.

But he shot weakly at Pernis after David Obua had knocked down Jamie Hamill's cross.

Darren Barr was booked for hauling down Johnny Russell after Ian Black had gifted him the ball.

Gunning then tested Jamie MacDonald with a header that Sean Dillon got a nick on.

But Houston's men were finding it hard to get a grip of the game in the middle of the park.

Pernis did well to turn a Hamill effort away for a corner in the 20th minute.

And Black nearly made up for his earlier error with a shot that flew a foot over the keeper's crossbar.

But by that stage the midfielder was struggling with what appeared to be a hip injury.

After 39 minutes he hobbled off to be replaced by Ryan McGowan.

And as Hearts tried to reorganise they were caught out by a classic sucker punch.

Hamill's needless push on Gary Mackay-Steven gave United a free kick on the left.

When Barry Douglas' ball came over the Jambos were too slow to react.

And Daly used all his strength to hold off Marius Zaliukas and stoop to head past MacDonald.

United could have made it two straight away when they hit Hearts on the break.

But Barr to cut out Mackay-Steven's pass as he looked to play in Russell.

And Sergio's men then tried to respond when Elliott found space inside the United box.

His effort beat Pernis, but not Robbie Neilson who cleared off his line.

And Hearts' woes continued at the break when Zaliukas was unable to continue. The Jambos, though, felt they should have had a penalty in the 50th minute.

Danny Grainger got himself in front of Willo Flood inside the United box and tumbled over.

But ref Calum Murray wasn't interested and waved away his appeal.

Grainger was lucky not to be handed a booking for a late tackle on Neilson.

And John Rankin and Mehdi Taouil clashed as the temperature moved up a notch.

Flood was the next to be carded in the 56th minute for a late challenge on Grainger.

Neilson soon joined him for another challenge on the Jambos left back.

By this stage chances had become few and far between.

But United rode their luck when Hearts threatened again in the 79th minute.

This time Pernis did well to beat away a close range effort from Skacel. As Elliott looked to pounce Gunning came in with a goal-saving block.

And then with four minutes left the stopper killed the game at the other end.

When Mackay-Steven's corner came over Hearts gave him the space Gunning had denied Elliott.

And the free-scoring defender's header soared past MacDonald into the top right-hand corner of the net.