Fabian Caballero scored his first goal in 20 months to give Dundee the lead
against Hearts but it was not enough to secure a second successive victory in
the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
Hearts equalised six minutes later through substitute Joe Hamill, who stroked
a shot beyond Derek Soutar with his first touch of the ball.
A physical, hard-fought game was lit up by moments of true genius from
Caballero, the 26-year-old Argentinian, whose range of passing and ability to
beat players was a delight to watch.
Dundee kept faith with the players who defeated Inverness so convincingly last
weekend. Defender Lee Wilkie, who shocked everyone by snubbing a move to
Leicester City and signing a two-year contract at Dens Park on Friday,
celebrated his new deal with his fourth starting appearance after a year out
injured.
There is no doubt that he is still suffering from a certain degree of
rustiness after so long on the sidelines, but even he would have been shocked by
how far off the pace he was in the opening minutes.
Renowned for his lunging challenges, he completely mis-timed one on Dennis
Wyness in the fifth minute, allowing the Hearts man to burst through on goal. To
make matters worse, Wilkie - who initially did well to get back into position -
made exactly the same mistake again and left Wyness with a clear sight of goal.
It was maybe justice that, after a 12 months blighted by bad luck, the ball
was blazed over the crossbar from 12 yards. He had another slice of good fortune
in the 17th minute when Wyness once again skipped beyond him, but on this
occasion he was unable to get a cross into the six-yard box.
Dundee strode up to the other end and created the best chance of the game so
far. Neil Barrett charged down on Gordon's sloppy pass-back and, having won the
ball on the right, slid a pass into the area for McManus.
The former Hibs man, who was constantly jeered by the travelling support, had
a perfect opportunity to end their taunts but could only ruffle the
side-netting.
Wilkie, who perhaps was not fully mentally prepared after the hectic events of
the last few days, allowed Hearts in with a woefully mis-hit pass in the 22nd
minute, but once again luck smiled on him and the chance was wasted by one-time
Dundee target Ramon Pereira.
The Scotland international was in the thick of the action at the other end
three minutes later, but Caballero was unable to bend the ball beyond Gordon
from 15 yards out.
Dundee started the second half at pace and went ahead through Caballero in the
53rd minute. The Argentinian took up a great position inside the box and nodded
McManus' cross into the bottom left-hand corner of Gordon's net.
The Dark Blues' advantage lasted only six minutes, however, as substitute
Hamill - who only entered the field of play in place of the ineffectual Pereira
seconds earlier - tapped Lee Miller's knockdown past Derek Soutar from six yards
out.
Dundee should have edged ahead in the 71st minute, but John Sutton was guilty
of one of the misses of the season. He was unmarked six yards out when Wilkie's
knockdown came to him, but casually leaned back and sent a side-footed effort
sailing over.
Caballero was clearly buoyed by his goal and was only stopped in his tracks by
crude fouls from Phil Stamp, Jamie McAllister and Miller who were all booked by
Willie Young for their indiscretions.
Both sides went for it towards the end, but neither could breach the other's
defence as the clock ran down to a deserved share of the points.
Teams
Dundee Soutar, McNally, Wilkie, McDonald, Robb, Barrett,
Smith, Fotheringham, McManus (Robertson 76), Sutton, Caballero.
Subs Not Used: Jack, Mann, Larsen, Cerdeira, Clark, Kitamirike.
Goals: Caballero 54.
Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Pressley, McAllister,
MacFarlane (Simmons 71), Stamp, Hartley, Miller,
Wyness (Weir 62), Pereira (Hamill 59).
Subs Not Used: Moilanen, McKenna, Berra, Stewart.
Booked: Stamp, McAllister, Miller.
Goals: Hamill 60.
Att: 5,780
Ref: W Young (Scotland).
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