Gary McSwegan grabbed his second two-goal haul in four days as Hearts moved off the bottom of the Premier League table.

The Dundee United old boy returned to Tannadice Park to drag the Taysiders deep into the relegation mire as Hearts recovered from the shock of conceding a third-minute Billy Dodds goal to record their first away win of season.

Dodds had tapped in after Kjell Olofsson's cross had bobbled past the Hearts defence but, instead of shrinking from their task as has been the case in recent weeks, Jim Jefferies' men stood up and fought back.

However, they were still seeking inspiration when McSwegan grabbed the first of his brace midway through the opening half.

Taking a Rob McKinnon throw on his chest, McSwegan spun past John Eustace on the corner of the box and fired goalwards, leaving Sieb Dijkstra startled as the ball flew into the roof of the net.

McSwegan was there again as the game entered first-half injury time, reacting quickest as McKinnon's hopeful ball was allowed to drift across the six-yard box.

After McSwegan's double had brought the large Hearts contingent to their feet, Colin Cameron's second-half effort raised the roof.

Picking the ball up in centre field, Cameron danced past a mesmerised United defence, rounded Jason de Vos, then raced through on his own before calmy cipping the advancing Dijkstra.

Both sides had been desperate to capture maximum points, Hearts to lift themselves above Dunfermline at the Premier League basement, United to take them to within a victory of almost certain safety.

Dodds' early opener dispelled fears that the match would be a cagey affair, although it did nothing for Hearts' fragile confidence, boosted by the draw against Kilmarnock at the weekend.

With the Taysiders protecting their advantage, the visitors seemed to lack the cohesion and patience to find their way back into the game.

But the arrival of Darren Jackson from Celtic and the new-found goalscoring form of McSwegan has reinforced belief at the under-seige Edinburgh club.

Once McSwegan had levelled, Jefferies' men seized control, switching back to the three-man defensive formation that had served them so well against Kilmarnock and denying United the midfield space they had enjoyed earlier in the contest.

McSwegan's injury-time strike at the end of the first half left United visibly deflated and they couldn't string a single move together when they emerged after interval.

In true relegation style, passes went astray, tackles were missed and the luck went against them as well.

Just as United shrank from their task, Hearts gained momentum.

Gilles Rousset did well to save from de Vos after the big central defender's header crept through a mass of bodies.

He then tipped away a Malpas free-kick which threatened danger and almost immediately Cameron struck Hearts' third.

United poured forward looking for a goal to bring them back in the game but they were pourous at the back and Jackson should have squared to the better-placed McSwegan as the visitors broke from deep.

Alex Mathie had a goal disallowed for offside as sorry United slipped to their second home defeat in four days.

They are now just one point above Hearts, two clear of basement side Dunfermline but with both teams starting to collect points on a regular basis, the Taysiders have plenty to fear.

Teams:

Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Malpas (Jonsson 66), Duffy (Mathie 73), De Vos, McCulloch, Skoldmark, Eustace (Miller 66), Hannah, Easton, Olofsson, Dodds.

Subs Not Used: Worrell, Gallacher.

Goals: Dodds 7.

Hearts: Rousset, McPherson, Ritchie, Pressley (James 56), Murray, Cameron (Severin 64), Fulton, McKinnon, Jackson (Guerin 78),Adam, McSwegan.

Subs Not Used: Naysmith, McKenzie.

Booked: Fulton, McSwegan.

Goals: McSwegan 25, 45, Cameron 60.

Att: 10,648

Ref: J McCluskey (Stewarton).