UNITED 0 - 3 HEARTS

22 September 2012
United suffered an uncharacteristically heavy three goal home defeat at the hands of Hearts. The visitors were two ahead at the break thanks to Paterson and Novikovas but despite a couple of good chances from the home side, the visitors added to lead when Paterson scored his second and his team's third on the hour mark.

Following last Friday's draw with Ross County, United returned to the familiarity of 3pm kick-off on a Saturday with the visit of Hearts. It was the same 11 that started for United with Jon Daly and new signing Gregory Vignal on the bench. Former United man Danny Grainger started for Hearts however Andy Webster missed out through injury.

First Half:

The opening stages offered very little in the way of attacking action with Hearts limiting United to a long range Flood free kick and a Russell shot that failed to beat Macdonald. Hearts began to control the match and with 23 minutes gone Robinson shot from the edge of the area and Cierzniak saved well. The resulting corner was headed just over by Zaliukas. United then had a loud appeal for a penalty when Flood was challenged by Barr but the referee waved play on. United were then dealt a double blow when after 27 minutes Paterson opened the scoring from the edge of the penalty box and then three minutes later a long range effort from Novikovas sneaked past Cierzniak. Towards the end of the half McLean shot over for United and then in the closing moments United were unlucky not to pull one back. Firstly Macdonald made a great save from a Gunning header and then on the stroke of half time he again saved well, this time from a floating Armstrong shot.

Second Half:

Two minutes after the restart United were once again very unlucky when a Dow corner was headed against the bar by Gunning and from the rebound Gardyne shot inches wide. With an hour on the clock and against the run of play Hearts extended their lead. A short pass back from Dillon put Cierzniak under pressure. McGowan challenged United's keeper and the ball fell to Paterson who stroked the ball home from close range. Despite having introduced Gauld and Daly, United created very little and with ten minutes left Hearts should have been four up. Driver broke down the right and sent a dangerous cross along the six yard box only for his fellow substitute John Sutton to shoot wide with only the keeper to beat. Three minutes later a Novikovas corner found his countryman Zaliukas at the edge of the penalty box. The Hearts skipper sent in a fierce volley that was brilliantly saved by Cierzniak. In the dying seconds the visitors again went close when Ryan McGowan shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

Summing Up: A bad day at the office for United and in the end the visitors well deserved their victory. However had the referee awarded United a penalty kick when Flood went down the result may have been different. Even at two goals down United went very close on three occasions but on the day it was not to be.

Man of the match: - Although it was a bad result for United, Willo Flood put in a good shift for United and he never stopped trying in the middle of the park.

Teams:
United: Cierzniak, Dillon, McLean, Gunning, Flood, Russell, Rankin, Watson, Gardyne (Gauld 57), Armstrong, Dow (Daly 57)

Hearts: Macdonald, Grainger, McGowan, Barr, Stevenson, Robinson, Taouil (D McGowan 83), Novikovas, Zaliukas, Paterson (Sutton 79), Carrick (Driver 73)

Referee - Alan Muir
Attendance - 6597