Grant Brebner's sensational injury-time goal gave Dundee United victory over Hearts and put them ahead of Livingston and Dunfermline in the race to avoid relegation from the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

A point apiece had looked on the cards after Lee Miller struck to cancel out Barry Robson's opener. That was until ex-Hibs midfielder Brebner picked the ball up in midfield and lashed a curling shot into the top left-hand corner.

United's win, their third in the space of seven days, was doubly important given Livingston's shock victory over Hibernian at Easter Road.

Caretaker-boss Gordon Chisholm's own future must now be top of chairman Eddie Thompson's agenda and, after leading the club to the Scottish Cup final and wins over Rangers and Hearts, Ian McCall's former assistant has staked his claim for the full-time role.

Chisholm brought in Jason Scotland for Trinidadian team-mate Colin Samuel, which once again meant high-profile January signing Stevie Crawford - who has scored four goals since sealing a big-money switch from Plymouth - was left kicking his heels on the bench.

Hearts made four changes to their team. Saulius Mikoliunas came back into the fray after serving a six-game ban for his infamous shove on a linesman last month. He replaced injured fellow Lithuanian Deividas Cesnauskis.

Mark Burchill, Lee Wallace and the injured Paul Hartley also dropped out and were replaced by Marius Kizys, Joe Hamill and Dennis Wyness.

United started brightly and created the only two opportunities of any note from the opening quarter-hour. First Robson's swirling free-kick almost caught Craig Gordon out and then Stuart Duff had a clear sight of goal 20 yards out but blazed over the crossbar.

The game erupted in the 16th minute when Miller went down in the box appealing for a penalty. The on-loan striker was involved in a tussle with Mark Wilson and went crashing to the turf but Alan Freeland, who had a perfect view of the incident, waved play on.

This acted as a spur for the visitors and they created two chances in quick succession. Wyness was fortuitously played through on goal by Gary Kenneth's crunching challenge on Kizys, but shot wide from 12 yards.

Miller then had the chance to beat Tony Bullock with a header, but the goalkeeper made a diving save.

Play swung to the other end and United got in behind the Jambos' defence, but Duff was unable to get the ball under control after a scramble and the chance was lost.

United grabbed the lead in the 37th minute through Robson following a mistake by Jason Thomson. The youngster missed Wilson's cross from the right, allowing the ball to run through to the Tangerines winger.

He steadied himself eight yards out before clipping a neat shot over Gordon into the far corner. The home fans rose to their feet in celebration of their team scoring the all-important first goal, but had not even taken to their seats again by the time the Jambos had levelled.

McAllister broke up the right before picking out Miller with a wonderful deep cross. The 22-year-old muscled Paul Ritchie off the ball before bulleting a header beyond Bullock for his tenth goal of the season.

The English goalkeeper came to his side's rescue within seconds of the re-start, palming Wyness's free header over the bar.

Visiting keeper Gordon was not to be outdone by his counterpart and showed great reflexes to repel Brebner and Duff in quick succession.

Hearts lost Kizys to injury on the hour after a heavy challenge by Ritchie. He was replaced by on-loan Manchester United midfielder Michael Stewart.

Another Ritchie misjudgement allowed Wyness a sight of goal, but the former Inverness striker again shot wide of goal. That was his final involvement as Burchill came on in search of the winner.

United were then fortunate to get away with leaving Pressley unattended at Hamill's corner kick, but fortunately the Scotland defender hooked a shot over from point-blank range. Chisholm replaced Duff with Samuel with 10 minutes to go in the hope that his pace could turn the match in their favour.

Kenneth smacked the bar with a header in the dying seconds, but, just as it looked as if nothing would go right for the Tangerines, Brebner picked up Crawford's pass and lashed a curling shot into the top corner.

Teams

Dundee Utd Bullock, Wilson, Kenneth, Ritchie, Archibald, Duff (Samuel 78), Kerr, Brebner, Robson, Scotland (Crawford 45), McIntyre.

Subs Not Used: Colgan, McCracken, McInnes, Grady, Robertson.

Booked: Archibald, Ritchie.

Goals: Robson 37, Brebner 90.

Hearts Gordon, Thomson, Pressley, Webster, McAllister, Mikoliunas, Kizys (Stewart 62), MacFarlane, Hamill, Wyness (Burchill 75), Miller.

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, McKenna, Simmons, Weir, Berra.

Booked: McAllister.

Goals: Miller 39.

Att: 7,704

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).