Dundee squandered a number of glorious chances to dent Hearts' European dreams but they produced a display to suggest the dressing room was united behind troubled manager Jocky Scott.

Scott's future was left hanging in the balance last night after revelations that he knew nothing about the triple signing on transfer deadline day.

Chris Coyne, Hugo Trest and Barry Elliott were all drafted in in the same manner as were three Spaniards last month, and another trio of Danes are expected on trial next month.

Director Jim Connor admitted they tried to tell Scott, who has six weeks left of his contract.

But Hearts' boss Jim Jefferies had problems of a different nature with his side gunning for Europe next season and had only lost one league game after Christmas.

However, they must have feared the worst after an appalling recent record against the Dens Park Club.

They had failed to win a point here since Dundee's promotion to the top flight two years ago and lost all games to them last term.

And although Dundee had only won one league game at home this campaign it came against the Tynecastle club.

It looked ominous for the visitors as Dundee went out with all guns blazing and after just 55 seconds Gordan Petric lost his footing and allowed Willie Falconer a clear run on goal from Hugh Robertson's ball but he blazed wildly wide of the mark.

Falconer then should have scored in the fifth minute when Patrizio Billio's cross into the box had Hearts' goalkeeper Gills Rousset in all kinds of trouble in the air and Thomas Flogel had to clear the striker's header.

Young Dundee striker James Grady was then handed two gilt-edged opportunities to open the scoring when he found himself through on goal in the 12th minute from Falconer's through ball but he shot straight at the Hearts keeper.

He then had an even easier chance when Steven Boyack picked him out on the edge of the six-yard box but he screwed wide.

In the 13th minute Hearts' midfielder Stephen Fulton blocked Steven Tweed's goalbound effort but at the other end Dundee goalkeeper Robert Douglas saved Lee Makle's stinging 25-yard effort in the 16th minute.

And that seemed to wake the visitors and a good passing move between Darren Jackson and Colin Cameron on the edge of the box gave Gary Wales the chance of a shot but Douglas did well to save it to his left.

Hearts were growing stronger as half-time approached and in the 39th minute Jackson picked out Fulton's frosting run into the area but he chose to drive it across the face of goal and the angle was too tight for Wales to trouble Douglas.

Dundee started the second period like they had the first and were left to rue another squandered opportunity in the 51st minute.

But this time it was Gavin Rae who was the guilty party as Falconer headed Boyack's cross into the path and he blazed high over the bar from just eight yards.

But Hearts almost carved out a chance in the 57th minute when Makel found Cameron on the right, who picked out Wales in the centre, but the youngster headed inches wide with just the keeper to beat.

Douglas then produced a stunning save at full stretch in the 71st minute from Makel's brilliant 23-yard screamer.

Cameron then fired on target with 11 minutes remaining but Craig Ireland made a goal-saving block to save his side, and in the dying seconds Ireland again got his way bravely in the front of substitute Fitzroy Simpson's free-kick from the edge of the box.

In the closing minutes Scott spared young striker Grady any more agony by replacing him with Eddie Annand and gave him a reassuring hug for his troubles.

But whether the Dundee board will be so comforting towards Scott is another matter.

Teams:

Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Tweed, Ireland, Maddison, Boyack, Rae, Billio (Artero 71), Robertson (Wilkie 89), Grady (Annand 84),Falconer.

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Bayne.

Booked: Billio, Maddison.

Hearts: Rousset, Flogel, Petric, Pressley, Naysmith, Makel, Cameron, Jackson, Fulton (Simpson 87), Adam (Severin 74),Wales (McSwegan 59).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Tomaschek.

Booked: Jackson, Severin.

Att: 6,291

Ref: Jim McCluskey (Scotland).