Dundee 1-0 Heart of Midlothian

From Hearts Media at Dens Park.

Hearts endured a disappointing return to Dundee as they lost 1-0 to the SPL bottom side at Dens Park on Saturday afternoon.

Matt Lockwood's stunning first half free kick was enough to seal the win for Barry Smith's side, although Andy Driver should have levelled in injury time when he missed a glaring chance from close range.

Scott Robinson was handed a starting berth in place of Ryan Stevenson, who was still struggling having sustained a concussion at Tannadice on Wednesday night.

The home side looked sharp early on as they put Jamie Macdonald to the test with a couple of long range efforts, as the Gorgie side looked sluggish during the opening minutes.

Hearts soon began to dominate possession, but were undone when Marius Zaliukas fouled Gary Irvine on the edge of the box.
Lockwood duly smashed the free kick into the top left corner to put his side in front.

Hearts responded with a couple of long range efforts from Mehdi Taouil and Arvydas Novikovas, but largely struggled to replicate their fine display against United in midweek.

They were then lucky not to find themselves two down before the interval as Colin Nish rounded Macdonald only to send his shot into the back of Zaliukas.

The Jambos improved in the second half, pinning Dundee back for large periods, but still found it difficult to make inroads. Long balls into the box played into the hands of the home side, who were happy to sit deep and soak up the pressure.

They proved dangerous on the break, however, and Nish should have made it two on the hour mark when he found himself unmarked on ten yards, only to once again send a shot via a Hearts defender and out for a corner.

Declan Gallagher flashed a shot wide from five yards ten minutes later, after John Baird had forced a fine save from Macdonald at his near post.

Hearts picked up the pace in the final ten minutes, with the introduction of Gordon Smith and Jamie Walker adding some much needed urgency to their play.

Zaliukas sent a bullet header over the bar from close range after fine work by Ryan McGowan down the right. The Captain was on hand again in injury time as he pulled a header across the goalmouth, leaving Driver odds on to grab the equaliser form two yards out. The winger, however, lashed out with his left foot and missed the ball entirely.

Dundee held on to secure their second win of the season, both of which have come against the Jambos. Hearts now need to regroup ahead of their trip to the Highlands next Saturday to face the SPL's form side Inverness CT.

Dundee: Douglas; Irvine, Benedictus, Gallagher, Lockwood; Riley, McBride, Davidson, McAlister; Nish (J.Baird 67), Milne (Conroy 83). Subs not used: A.Baird, McGregor, Boyle, Webster, Toshney.

Hearts: Macdonald; R.McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Robinson (Driver 55), Taouil, Barr, Novikovas (Walker 72); Paterson, Sutton (Smith 67). Subs not used: Enckelman, D.McGowan, Holt, McHattie.

Referee: Steven McLean

Top man: Arvydas Novikovas

Hearts World