A second half Colin Cameron penalty was enough to give Hearts all three points in a 1-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice Park.

The victory takes the Edinburgh club above United in the league - but it was a far from entertaining game, although Hearts were slightly more deserving of the points.

In a contest spoiled by niggling fouls, poor passing and too much emphasis on defence, Hearts made more chances than the home side who were alarmingly unimaginative all through the game.

It was Hearts who were first to threaten in the fourth minute with Cameron unlucky not to latch onto a Darren Jackson through ball.

Three minutes later Jim Hamilton pounced on a backpass - but the United striker's shot was easily saved by Hearts keeper Antti Niemi.

Then Grant Murray was at the back post to meet a Thomas Flogel cross - but he could not direct it back into the danger area.

Around the 20-minute mark United forced a series of corners but the Hearts defence looked unbreachable with Steven Pressley commanding at centre-half.

But Flogel had to act quickly to clear a David Hannah cross as United striker Steven Thompson was ready to pounce at the back post.

At the other end United keeper Alan Combe had to react sharply to win a race to the ball with Cameron after a Flogel pass had split the home defence.

There was a welcome moment of controversy in the 36th minute when Darren Jackson went down in the United box after a challenge by Tannadice skipper Jason DeVos. The Hearts fans screamed for a penalty but referee Kenny Clark waved play on.

Five minutes later Hearts again had a penalty claim when Gary Wales was upended in the box by Bernard Pascual - but the Hearts forward had been ruled offside earlier on in the move.

The second half started with a stream of fouls and little promise of an improvement on what had gone on before the break.

Time and again possession changed hands as misplaced passes had the supporters roaring in frustration.

But right out of the blue, on 54 minutes, the visitors got a penalty. Pascual brought down Robert Tomaschek in the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Cameron stepped up and confidently sent Combe the wrong way to make it 1-0 from what was Hearts' first shot on target.

In the 63rd minute Hearts nearly doubled their lead when a Gary Wales shot hit the post after he had beaten the keeper from just outside the area. The ball rebounded back to the youngster - but his second shot was cleared off the line by United defender Jon McQuillan.

With 10 minutes to go United should have equalised when a DeVos throw-in caused havoc in the Hearts defence.

After bouncing three times the ball arrived at the back post to substitute Antoine Preget, who managed to head the ball over the bar from just one yard out.

United left themselves exposed at the back as they went looking for the equaliser - but Hearts defended well and hung on for a deserved victory.

Teams

Dundee Utd: Combe, Pascual, De Vos, Partridge, McQuillan, Hannah, Jonsson, Telesnikov (Venetis 68), O'Connor (Preget 46), Thompson, Hamilton (Ferraz 68).

Subs Not Used: Onstad, Malpas.

Booked: Partridge.

Hearts: Niemi, Murray, Pressley, Leclercq, Flogel, Tomaschek, Simpson (Petric 86), Cameron, Naysmith, Jackson, Wales (McSwegan 86).

Subs Not Used: Rousset, Makel, Severin.

Booked: Naysmith, Flogel.

Goals: Cameron 54 pen.

Att: 6,928

Ref: Kenny Clark (Scotland).