Dundee United 1 Hearts 1 (AET, Hearts win 5-4 on pens)

From ROBERT MARTIN at Tannadice

DUNDEE UNITED denied Rudi Skacel the chance to be a hero against Hearts — by leaving him OUT of their penalty shootout defeat.

The script appeared to be written for the Czech to score against the club where he is still a legend when he came on as an extra-time sub.

But after Darren Barr was sent off in normal time the rules said United had to nominate someone NOT to take a shootout kick — and Skacel was the one left out.

The decision came back to haunt them as Sean Dillon blazed wide to hand the Jambos a 5-4 penalties win.

Callum Paterson had given Hearts a 20th-minute lead in front of just 3,789 fans — the lowest Tannadice crowd of the season.

Johnny Russell levelled in the 34th minute before Barr was sent off for a second bookable offence with 12 minutes to go.

But United were unable to make the most of the extra man. And they were made to pay in the shootout.

The clash was supposedly the pick of the four quarter-finals with the BBC choosing to show it live.

But the combination of the early kick-off for TV and miserable weather had a major impact on the crowd.

Tannadice was barely a third full when the sides ran out ahead of the 7.15pm start.

But those who were there didn’t have to wait long for the first action of the game.

United boss Houston had warned his side beforehand of the danger of allowing Arvydas Novikovas to shoot from long range.

But with just 30 seconds on the clock the Lithuanian was given far too much space 30 yards out and he flashed an effort just wide of Rado Cierzniak’s goal.

It was a decent start from Hearts, who had won 3-0 at Tannadice in September.

And it was Paterson, who scored twice that day, who put them ahead after 20 minutes.

Ryan Stevenson had been forced to go off for treatment after a clash of heads with Dillon and he still looked groggy when he was waved back on by ref Calum Murray.

But the former Ayr ace had recovered enough to drill a ball low towards Cierzniak’s near post for Paterson to nip in and turn home from just two yards out.

United fans began to jeer their side soon after when Medhi Taouil drove narrowly wide after a mistake by Willo Flood.

But they were on their feet in the 34th minute when their side pulled level totally against the run of play.

It came from Keith Watson, who bombed down the right and crossed into the area.

The ball fell for Michael Gardyne, whose shot was quickly charged down by both Marius Zaliukas and McGowan.

And with the two defenders on the floor Russell was the quickest to react, poking the ball past Jamie MacDonald from eight yards out.

United began the second half better as well, almost moving ahead a minute after the restart. This time it was Stuart Armstrong who fired wide after MacDonald had punched away a Gavin Gunning cross.

Barr was booked soon after for a cynical foul on Flood as the pressure continued.

But Hearts almost moved back in front on the hour mark following a rare surge forward.

Danny Grainger’s cross was nodded down by Sutton into the path of Paterson ten yards out and his scissors kick crashed back off Cierzniak’s right-hand post.

That was the cue for Gary Mackay-Steven to enter the game, with the winger replacing Gardyne in the 66th minute for his first appearance since August. And within seconds of running on he was flattened by Andy Webster, who was shown a yellow card.

But by this stage Hearts were starting to look the stronger side, with Barr heading wide from a Grainger cross in the 74th minute.

Paterson and Novikovas went close soon after but the game swung United’s way again four minutes later when the Jambos were reduced to ten men.

Webster’s pass to Barr was short and Russell got there just before the Hearts man, who took him out on the touchline. With the player having already been booked referee Murray had little option but to show him a second yellow card.

But United were unable to make the extra man tell in the remaining minutes.

Former Jambos idol Skacel was thrown into the fray four minutes into extra time and received a warm reception from both sets of fans.

He was flagged offside at the start of the second period after Rankin’s shot was spilled by MacDonald and then fired wide from a Mackay-Steven cutback in the 115th minute.And with seconds remaining Rankin’s long-range effort thumped off MacDonald’s right hand post, sending the game into a shootout.

Grainger hit the bar and Sutton saw his effort saved by Cierzniak but Hearts keeper MacDonald saved from Mackay-Steven and Rankin before Dillon lashed wide.

DUNDEE UNITED: Cierzniak 5, Watson 5, Dillon 5, Daly 6, Gunning 6, Gardyne 6 (Skacel 2), Flood 5, Ryan 5 (Mackay-Steven 2), Rankin 5, Armstrong 5, Russell 6.

BOOKED: Ryan, Rankin.

HEARTS: MacDonald 5, R McGowan 6, Webster 5, Zaliukas 6, Grainger 6, Paterson 6, Taouil 5 (D McGowan 1), Barr 4, Stevenson 4 (Robinson 3), Novikovas 5 (Driver 2), Sutton 5.

BOOKED: Barr, Webster, McGowan.

SENT OFF: Barr.

REFEREE: Calum Murray 6 — got his cards spot on all night.