Heart of Midlothian 1
Dundee 0
League (Premier League)

Match Report

Hearts joined Dundee in next season's UEFA Cup thanks to a Mark de Vries headed goal with 12 minutes to go at Tynecastle. The strike was set up by a superb run and cross by substitute Stephane Mahe making a last appearance in Scotland before heading home to France during the summer, it was by far the most positive and incisive move of the match from either side and deserved to win a game where chances were at a premium

Jim Duffy left Zura Khizanishvili on the bench and the Georgian was serenaded by the travelling support each time he headed out to stretch his legs with chants of Zura must stay. Zura apart Dundee fielded pretty much a full strength choice of those available, Barry Smith was at right back in place of virus victim Dave Mackay while Nacho Novo was up front with Steven Milne confined to a seat in the away support with a hamstring injury.

Playing the top men might have brought an unwelcome absence from the cup final squad though, with referee Willie Young showed a fair bit of humanity in only yellow carding Fabian Caballero after Andy Webster had crumpled in a heap after an off the ball incident. The Hearts fans screamed that an elbow had been used and if Mr Young had reacted with a red-card then Fabian would have been suspended for the final.

To be fair to the official he didn't appear to see the incident and neither did his assistant. It was an anxious moment though, and Jim Duffy admitted he was grateful to see only a yellow card brandished.

Jim also conceded that his players may have had one eye on the final stating "If you've got your first cup final in 39 years then there's always going to be that worry that something will happen and it may have been in the back of their minds. I don't think we were tip-toeing through the game but I think there was maybe just that little edge missing."

That seems a fair assessment of a match where both sides played some pretty football but totally lacked a cutting edge for most of the contest.

Hearts did make two really good chances, the goal and another move which saw De Vries, the most dangerous attacker on the park, set up substitute Wales with the goal gaping but the striker miss kicked from right in front of goal midway through the second half.

Dundee's best chance came much earlier, in the eighteenth minute, when Brady and Rae combined delightfully to feed in Steve Lovell on the left of the area, Hearts defence got across well though and Steve was forced to hit his left foot shot while off balance, with his effort hitting the side net.

Both sides had penalty claims with De Vries three times going down under the slightest challenge, while Dundee's support yelled for a spot award after Brady's shot was blocked. Best claim though came just after half time when Mair's clearance hit Novo's hand but the Spaniard wouldn't have been able to do anything about the ball hitting him and the referee appeared to get all those decisions right.

Hearts winner came after Dundee had decided that Lovell and Nemsadze had been risked for long enough before the big day, Neil Jablonski and Mark Burchill being the replacements, while as soon as the goal went in Jonay Hemandez was replaced by Beto Carranza and Lee Wilkie was thrown up front with Dundee employing a 3-3-4 formation in a unsuccessful bid to snatch a point.

Youngster Jablonski again looked at home in the Premier league and he'll be an asset to the first team next season

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme