Hearts' increasingly miserable season took another downturn tonight as Dundee enjoyed a second Tynecastle victory of their Premier League campaign to move level on points with the capital side.

The Scottish Cup holders were forced to play most of the match with 10 men after defender David Weir was sent off in the 18th minute for bringing down James Grady inside the box.

Full-back Lee Sharp converted the penalty and striker Willie Falconer headed what proved to be the winner three minutes before the interval after Derek Lilley had marked his Hearts debut with an equalising goal.

The defeat was a fourth in succession for Jim Jefferies' side and another at East End Park on Saturday will leave them well and truly in the relegation dogfight as the top 10 enter their three-week winter shutdown.

Dundee's prospects of surviving the drop in their first season back in the top flight look increasingly promising however after joining Hearts on 23 points, six ahead of bottom dogs Dunfermline.

Jefferies had sprung a surprise by including two new signings in his line-up - both registered late in the day after some frenetic transfer activity.

Former Coventry and St Johnstone winger Leigh Jenkinson started on the left wing after returning north of the border in a £50,000 deal from Wigan.

Leeds striker Lilley meanwhile was also handed a debut up front after signing on a three-month loan deal from the Premiership club.

The former Morton forward might have made an instant scoring impact after only five minutes when presented with a decent chance from Thomas Flogel's precise right wing cross.

But he could only direct his header over the Dundee bar as Jocky Scott's side survived an early barrage from the capital side.

Gary McSwegan then screwed a shot high and wide when well placed in the 17th minute before the game was turned on its head barely 60 seconds later.

Weir misjudged a long ball out of defence to allow Dundee striker Grady past him and as he prepared to shoot, the Scotland defender felled the pacy youngster for a clear-cut penalty.

World Cup referee Hugh Dallas had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and also promptly brandished a red card to Weir.

Dundee left-back Sharp ignored the protests from the home bench and the majority of the Tynecastle crowd to steer the penalty low into the bottom right corner.

It might have been worse for Hearts as keeper Gilles Rousset was forced to beat out a fierce effort from Falconer moments later, but that served only to jolt the Jambos into action.

Gary McSwegan twice had efforts saved by Douglas while strike partner Lilley also went close twice in a minute before he grabbed a deserved equaliser eight minutes before the interval.

Lee Makel arrowed in a cross from the left to the far post where Lilley pounced to calmly sidefoot a volley past Douglas.

The joy of the home fans was shortlived however as Grady escaped down the right flank before delivering a cross for Falconer to plant a firm header past Rousset.

Barry Smith wasted a golden opportunity to make it three for the visitors on the resumption after a fierce free kick from Hugh Robertson - just recalled from a loan spell at Inverness Caley Thistle - was well saved by Rousset.

But the full-back could only sidefoot the rebound wide of the far post from five yards out with the French keeper stranded.

Lilley again threatened for 10-man Hearts with an angled drive that flew narrowly over after 50 minutes while McSwegan was too busy appealing for a penalty to take advantage of Jenkinson's neat cutback.

Fulton then blazed wildly over when well-placed on the edge of the box as Hearts pressed for a second equaliser before Jefferies sent on Jim Hamilton for Jenkinson in a bid to retrieve the situation.

Hearts' top scorer came closest with a volley from Lilley's cross that was well saved by Douglas, but Dundee held out for a deserved win and Grady might have widened the margin late on but for Rousset's agility.

Teams

Hearts: Rousset, McPherson, Weir, Jenkinson (Hamilton 66), Fulton, Flogel (Juanjo 85), Makel, McKinnon, Pressley, Lilley, McSwegan (Locke 75).

Subs Not Used: Hogarth, O'Neill.

Sent Off: Weir (17).

Booked: McKinnon.

Goals: Lilley 37.

Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Adamczuk, Irvine, Raeside, Grady, Falconer (Annand 88), Sharp (McSkimming 88), Rae, Robertson (Anderson 75), Tweed.

Subs Not Used: Grant, Langfield.

Goals: Sharp 18 pen, Falconer 42.

Att: 13,383

Ref: H Dallas (Motherwell).