Hearts striker Jim Hamilton continued his astonishing run of goalscoring away
from Tynecastle to keep the Edinburgh club in the thick of the Scottish title
chase.
His 15th goal of the season, 12 of which have come away from home, enabled
Hearts to remain hot on the heels of leaders Celtic.
Hamilton's eight-minute effort could not have come at a more unlikely venue
either, as Hearts had won only six of their 35 Premier Division games at
Tannadice.
But it was well deserved and, to add to United's woe, they had skipper Maurice
Malpas sent off for the second time this season after a second bookable offence
in the 87th minute.
Hamilton's goal will give United nightmares, as Jamie Dolan and Magnus
Skoldmark both had chances to clear.
When Neil McCann dispossessed Dolan and crossed, Hamilton was able to flick
the ball over Skoldmark and shoot home from close range.
Hamilton's goal crowned a scintillating first-half performance from Hearts,
whose only complaint was that they should have scored more goals.
They looked to have gone further ahead when McCann raced past the United
defence and had his cross-shot turned in at the far post by Jose Quitongo, but
referee Alan Freeland ruled offside.
United had probably their best effort a minute later when Kjell Olofsson,
looking suspiciously offside, raced onto Craig Easton's through ball and fired
an angled effort from 16 yards just wide.
Olofsson again went close when United were awarded a freekick 30 yards out,
the big Swede shooting inches past Gilles Rousset.
But two minutes from the interval Hearts nearly increased their lead when
McCann and Stephen Fulton worked a short corner and the latter swung in a cross
which was headed off the line by Dave Bowman.
United improved after the interval, but, apart from the industrious Olofsson,
they provided little threat.
Two minutes after the break United had one of their rare chances when a break
in the box gave Steve Thompson a chance, but from 10 yards he miskicked and gave
Rousset an easy save.
Hearts took their foot off the pedal, but still came closer than United to
scoring, both David Weir and Fulton being guilty of bad misses in the final
stages.
Besides Malpas' two bookings, there were four other cautions - Bowman, Erik
Pedersen of United, Stefano Salvatori and Fulton.
Teams:
Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Bowman (Omoyinimi 45), Malpas, Skoldmark,
Perry, Pedersen, Olofsson, Easton, Thompson (Duffy 84), Dolan,
McKinnon (McSwegan 76).
Sent Off: Malpas (87).
Booked: Bowman, Pedersen.
Hearts: Rousset, Murray (McPherson 78), Naysmith, Weir,
Salvatori, Ritchie, McCann, Fulton, Quitongo (Flogel 73),
Cameron, Hamilton.
Subs Not Used: Makel.
Booked: Salvatori, Fulton.
Goals: Hamilton 8.
Att: 10,300
Ref: A Freeland (Aberdeen).
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