Dundee Utd 2-2 Heart of Midlothian

From Hearts Media at Tannadice.

A fabulous strike from Arvydas Novikovas rescued a crucial point for Hearts in Saturday afternoon's 2-2 draw with fourth placed Dundee United at Tannadice.

Willo Flood put the home side ahead with an impressive long range strike, but Rudi Skacel levelled the scores before half time with his 15th goal of the season.

Gary Mackay-Steven restored the home side's lead midway through the second half, only for substitute Novikovas to haul the visitors level with a thunderbolt strike seven minutes from time.

Paulo Sergio made just one change to the side that lost to Rangers last Saturday as Suso Santana replaced Stephen Elliott. The Spaniard occupied the right wing slot as Hearts once again went with two up front in the form of Craig Beattie and Rudi Skacel.

Four points separated the two sides prior to kick off; the Jambos keen to close in on that much sought after fourth place currently occupied by Peter Houston's men.

Hearts started brightly as Ryan McGowan headed a Danny Grainger corner wide inside the first ten minutes. Johnny Russell then put MacDonald to the test shortly after, before a fine cross from McGowan found Beattie on eight yards only for his poor first touch to rob him of an attempt on goal.

The home side were determined to play the ball over the top of the Maroon backline, target man Jon Daly's aerial play proving a handful for the central defence.

Hearts, meanwhile, struggled to keep possession as the home side looked comfortable in the centre of the park; Mackay-Steven in particular looking to surge forward at every opportunity.

The Jambos looked flat going forward and were dealt a blow when Beattie limped off on the hour mark, Stephen Elliott his replacement. Things then took a further turn for the worse as the home side took the lead in spectacular fashion.

Flood picked up the ball midway inside the Maroon half, his first touch setting him up before firing an unstoppable shot into the bottom left corner from 30 yards out to put the Arabs in the lead.

Hearts looked short of ideas at this stage, but still managed to pull themselves level within minutes of Flood's opener. McGowan's cross from the right found substitute Elliott inside the box; his header back across the goal mouth was nodded on by Skacel who got just enough power on it to send it into the bottom left corner to ensure the Jambos ended the half on even terms.

Hearts made a bright start to the second half with Danny Grainger forcing a superb save from Dusan Pernis just as his 25 yard free kick looked destined to find the back of the net. The ensuing corner from Black was met by Marius Zaliukas; the Captain leaping to steer a header narrowly over the crossbar.

Sergio's men gradually took control of the tie and went agonisingly close to taking the lead on the hour mark. Elliott and Andrew Driver combined down the right, the latter receiving the ball inside the box before finding Skacel who forced a tremendous one hand save from Pernis to deny him his second of the afternoon.

The home side, however, were keen to further cement their European place and duly took the lead against the run of play on 64 minutes. A Flood corner form the right evaded everyone inside the box, falling to Mackay-Steven on 18 yards who dispatched his shot into the bottom left corner.

Sergio responded by introducing David Templeton in place of McGowan; the manager opting to go with three at the back as Templeton tucked in behind Elliott and Skacel in attack.

The substitute came within inches of levelling the scores with ten minutes remaining after some fine play by Suso. The Spaniard cut inside from the right before threading a ball through to Templeton who turned his marker with his first touch before smashing the ball off the bar.

Novikovas replaced Driver shortly after and the Lithuanian took just four minutes to make his mark. He picked up the ball on the edge of the box before unleashing a superb 30 yard drive into the top left corner past a helpless Pernis to level the scores.

Not content with a point, the Gorgie side continued to pour forward in search of a winner. Templeton found himself in space twenty yards from goal but his strike was comfortably stopped by Pernis.

Houston's men were equally eager to take the lead for a third time; Russell firing wide from close range with minutes to spare.

A last minute Flood free kick failed to materialise and both sides had to settle for a point in what was an evenly contested match.

The Jambos now face another crucial game on Tuesday night as they host third placed Motherwell at Tynecastle.

Dundee Utd: Pernis; Dillon, Kenneth, Dixon, Neilson; Flood, Robertson, Ranking, Mackay-Steven; Russell (Ryan 82), Daly. Subs not used: Banks, Swanson, Watson, Douglas, Armstrong, Dow.

Hearts: MacDonald; McGowan (Templeton 70), Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Suso, Black, Barr, Driver (Novikovas 79); Skacel, Beattie (Elliott 30). Subs not used: Ridgers, Prychynenko, Robinson, Taouil.

Referee: William Collum

Top man: Darren Barr

Hearts World