MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN 3-1 DUNDEE UNITED
3PM SATURDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 2023
CINCH PREMIERSHIP
TYNECASTLE PARK
After a rampant first 45, three second-half goals sealed all three points for Hearts.
THE TEAM TALK
Liam Fox made two changes to the side that were defeated during midweek.
Craig Sibbald was back in the fold alongside Ilmari Niskanen who made his first start since October.
They replaced Arnaud Djoum and Ross Graham who featured on the bench.
There was a late change to our line-up with Peter Pawlett replacing Jamie McGrath following an injury in the warm-up.
It meant that Academy graduate Kai Fotheringham took his place on the bench.
A WORTHY LEAD
There was tenacity in our attack in the opening stages - utilising both flanks pressed for an opener.
Our first chance at goal came after seven minutes, Niskanen chopping inside and drilling an effort towards the target which was diverted wide for a corner - nothing doing in the follow-up.
Just one minute later we had our lead.
It was a sweeping move from United. Craig Sibbald’s through pass sliced open the Hearts backline and found Niskanen down the left. His low cross was met by Steven Fletcher who's initial touch took him wide of the goal before he squeezed a low finish underneath Zander Clark.
We almost had our second a few minutes later. Again down the left, it was Middleton who delivered a teasing ball for Liam Smith this time, who couldn’t get enough on the cross to turn it home under a challenge.
Following a hectic start, there was a chance for respite in the 20th minute following a collision between two Hearts players, James Hill came off the worst and required treatment before he continued.
There was another collision just before the half-hour mark. A loose ball in the middle of the pitch set up a 50/50 challenge between Edwards and Halliday. It looked innocuous as Edwards went for the ball, but following a VAR review he was given his marching orders.
Despite being a man down, United continued to push and arguably were still on top for the remainder of the first 45.
Fletcher will feel he could have done better with a snapshot after a route one ball from Mark Birighitti found him through on goal. The striker excellently took the ball out of the air but his effort was high and wide of the target.
LOUD APPEALS
It looked like United should have been awarded a penalty on the stroke of halftime. A ball into the box looked like it came off the arm of Kye Rowles before being cleared.
As the ball broke, it fell to Middleton who cracked an effort off the post to almost double our lead.
A TOUGH 45
After a dominant first half, the ten men in tangerine were pegged back for the majority of the second period.
We were forced into an early substitute as Pawlett made way for Djoum after 51 minutes.
HEARTS HIT BACK
The home side had their equaliser through a stroke of good fortune.
Initially, Barry McKay did well to work a cross into the box which was deflected high into the path of Lawrence Shankland. The hearts striker managed to bring it under control before striking at goal - his effort deflecting off of Niskanen and into the net to restore parity.
There was a lengthy VAR check for a possible offside in the build-up but the goal stood.
UNITED UNDONE
The hosts were ahead just five minutes later as Alex Cochrane was slid through on goal and finished cooly beyond Birighitti.
The playing field was levelled into the seven additional minutes, Josh Ginnelly being sent off for dissent courtesy of two yellow cards in quick succession.
Hearts wrapped up the points in style through substitute Stephen Humphrys who beat Birighitti with a looping effort from inside his own half.
TEAMLINE
Starting XI: Birighitti, Smith, McMann, Mulgrew, Niskanen (83' MacLeod), Pawlett (51' Djoum), Fletcher, Edwards, Sibbald (74' Freeman), Middleton, Levitt.
Unused subs: Newman, Graham, A.Sadat, Fotheringham, Ayina, Cudjoe.
NEXT UP
Scottish Cup action awaits as we take on Kilmarnock at Tannadice next Saturday.
