Dundee United 3 Hearts 1: Red-hot controversy

Stewart Fisher
Sports Writer
Sunday 10 February 2013

THE Jackie McNamara managerial Midas touch shows no sign of wearing off.

After his Dundee United side's victory against Rangers in the Scottish Cup seven days ago, yesterday it was Hearts' turn to be sent packing from Tannadice on McNamara's SPL debut.

But that was only part of the story. For the second week in a row United's opponents ended the match short-handed, but while it was hard to quibble with the Rangers' double dismissal, the consensus yesterday was that Ryan Stevenson's dismissal after just 25 minutes was not only harsh but ruined what had been an even contest.

An enraged Stevenson had to be ushered away by John Rankin after being dismissed for a one-legged, studs-up tackle on Gary Mackay-Steven for which some sticklers for the rulebook would argue he did indeed deserve to see red.

For others, the suspicion was that referee Willie Collum had been overly keen to make amends for failing to penalise Stevenson for a challenge on Hibs' James McPake in the New Year Edinburgh derby for which he later accrued a two-match ban.

Hearts manager John McGlynn refused to comment specifically on that, but said the club would consider an appeal. "The sending-off killed the game, and it was probably a very good game for 25 minutes or so," McGlynn said. "The few people I have spoken to who have seen it on TV reckon it was harsh.

"According to Ryan, the lad [Collum] said he never touched him, but that is the rulebook and he has to go with the rulebook. The players feel if you go into a tackle when you are on the ground you can hardly go with your studs on the ground."

Both teams named unchanged starting XIs, the only alteration in personnel being the addition of a former veteran of both clubs, Darren Jackson, to the United backroom staff after relinquishing his career as an agent.

It had taken Johnny Russell just 16 seconds to score last week but this time a full two minutes had elapsed before he found the net with his 17th goal of the season.

Rankin was the architect, running on to a Mackay-Steven pass down the left and drilling in a low centre which Russell took off the toes of Stuart Armstrong before swivelling to locate the bottom corner of Jamie MacDonald's goal.

Rangers folded last week, but this callow Hearts team are made of sterner stuff. First a header from Marius Zaliukas – the captain was later forced off with an ankle injury – had to be clutched by Radoslaw Cierzniak then the dangerous Michael Ngoo lashed in a drive from 25 yards which had the Pole beaten all ends up but bounced back off the crossbar.

But with Ngoo largely cutting an isolated figure, most of the action was at the other end, with Russell running the show.

A low cross from the 22-year-old which was missed by Jon Daly forced MacDonald into a low save before a sweet return pass to Willo Flood allowed the Irishman to roll in his side's second. Flood was an expert performer throughout, but his third goal of the season had the shine somewhat taken off it by the cheerless Collum who booked the winger for celebrating by sliding to a halt in front of the visiting fans.

That, we thought, would be that, but in Ngoo, Hearts have discovered a formidable weapon. First, the on-loan Liverpool front man struck the crossbar, then he profited from a poorly-cleared corner to fire in a right foot volley which went in off a post.

Suddenly there was mild panic in the home ranks, but United gathered themselves and got that killer third goal. Some patient passing worked Daly into space out wide and the Irishman's low centre was sidefooted in by Michael Gardyne. "Obviously the sending-off helped us more in terms of 11 v 10, but it didn't help the spectacle of the game," said McNamara, whose side moved quietly up to sixth place, just four points off second. "The only thing I was disappointed about today was not getting a clean sheet."

Taken from the Herald