Heart of Midlothian 1
Dundee 0
League (Premier League)

Match Report

Dundee fell frustratingly just short of nicking a point from Hearts at Tynecastle tonight. A diving header from substitute John Sutton broke the Dee's resistance after 86 minutes to give Hearts a win they unquestionably deserved.

Hearts dominated a game played in dreadful conditions and wasted many chances before the late winner. Dundee defended resolutely but never managed to pose any serious threat to the home goal.

Gary Harkins made his debut on his return from Kilmarnock and Nicky Riley also started. Mark Stewart dropped onto the bench and Steven Milne was out injured.

Hearts are giving the younger players a chance these days; the mobility and enthusiasm of King, Holt and Walker playing behind Ngoo caused problems for Dundee throughout the match. The evening started with Hearts chasing forward eagerly and that was the pattern for the rest of the game.

Dundee had an astonishing escape when Walker drove into the area. The defence managed to block his shot and then Ngoo's follow up. The ball rebounded to Walker. He seemed to have toe poked it home but Douglas managed to grab it with the home players claiming it had already crossed the line.

Douglas again foiled Walker tipping his well struck low shot from 20 yards round the post.

Ngoo should have scored after a corner was partially cleared to King. The youngster's cross was begging to be turned into the goal, but Ngoo headed against Nish, the ball looped onto the top of the bar and out of play.

Dundee's first shot didn't come till just before half time when Riley fired too high from a wide angle.

The Dark Blues were relieved to reach half time with the scores level, but the second half didn't bring any change to the pattern of the game. If anything the flood of Hearts attacks became even more intense as Dundee were forced to defend desperately, with backs to the wall.

The swirling wind was making life difficult for the defenders. A dangerous Mullen cross to the back post held up in the wind and Irvine turned it against Walker and past the post.

Jason Holt then hit the top of the bar with a great shot from 30 yards. As the pressure built up Holt blocked an Irvine clearance and ran in from the left. King controlled his pass and seemed sure to score from eight yards, but his shot shaved the outside of the post. The same player then hammered a 20 yarder straight at Douglas, who beat the ball away and Dundee again escaped in the scramble that followed.

For all Hearts' pressure they lacked the composure that would surely have brought a goal. Their attacks became increasingly frantic and less dangerous as they started to run out of ideas.

In the later stages Dundee spent more time in the Hearts half, but couldn't force a save from MacDonald in the Hearts goal.

Surprisingly Hearts manager John McGlynn waited until 86 minutes before sending on any substitutes. When he eventually did the impact was immediate.

Hearts broke quickly from a Dundee corner. Substitute Novikovas took a poor first touch, but recovered to send over a perfect cross for the other substitute John SUTTON to score from eight yards with a diving header.

There were only four minutes of normal time left, and three minutes of injury time. Dundee pushed forward in the hope of an equaliser, but this left space for Hearts who looked more likely to grab another goal. Novikovas turned Ngoo's cross just wide, and then Douglas had to save at full stretch from Walker's curling shot.

There wasn't much entertainment on offer for Dundee supporters tonight. The pitch was bobbly and the biting wind swirled evilly around the stadium. That didn't seem to trouble the Hearts players, but Dundee never managed to get their game going.

The defence did well. Toshney was excellent again, and Gallagher did a good job of dealing with the gangling menace of Ngoo. However, the midfield was never able to settle on the ball and couldn't create any worthwhile openings, leaving the front players chasing around hopefully but to no great effect.

It was good to see Gary Harkins back in a Dundee shirt. There was the odd flash of skill, but this was a night when no-one on either side was able to settle on the ball, show some composure and dictate play. The ball spent the match being battered to and fro; sadly for Dundee it was mostly towards our goal. It was desperately disappointing to lose a goal so late, but it's hard to deny that Hearts deserved all the points.

Match report written by James Christie - Official Dundee website