Dundee Utd 2-3 Hearts: Fans bedlam, maroon goal machine, goalkeeper issue, Jambos top of SPFL Premiership

A pulsating encounter at Tannadice Park finished 3-2 to Hearts thanks to Stuart Findlay’s dramatic stoppage-time header. The defender nodded two of his team’s three goals as they remained joint-top of the Premiership with Celtic after two matches. However, while Monday’s 2-0 victory over Aberdeen was comfortable, Hearts were made to work until the dying seconds for three points on Tayside.

They led 1-0 through Lawrence Shankland’s penalty before conceding two first-half goals to United’s Croatian winger Ivan Dolcek. Goalkeeper Zander Clark was culpable on both occasions, most notably the second, but centre-back Findlay bailed him out. After scoring a fine header to secure the draw, Findlay then followed up with a winner to underline the fact he is fast becoming a goal machine for the Edinburgh club with four goals in five games.

Hearts forced United back throughout the first half and would have felt aggrieved being 2-1 down at the break. They responded positively with Findlay’s equaliser and refused to accept a draw, believing they could force a winner. United were always a threat due to an imposing forward line of Zach Sapsford and Owen Stirton, who ruffled opponents on a few occasions during the afternoon. Dolcek was one of their best players on the day at left wing-back.

This fixture was moved to Sunday following United’s progress to the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round. The first leg of that tie took place in Vienna on Thursday as the Tayside club earned a creditable 2-2 draw. Hearts visited Tannadice ahead of the second leg looking to build on their solid opening Premiership win against Aberdeen. They arrived without injured Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink, while the hosts were missing captain Ross Graham, plus new arrivals Isaac Pappoe and Dario Naamo.

With 2,802 travelling fans added to a healthy home support in a 10,874 crowd, there was no lack of energy or noise inside Tannadice. The Hearts followers acclaimed Portuguese forward Caudio Braga during the early stages with their adapted version of Queen’s 1984 hit ‘Radio Ga Ga’. He would soon have a couple of attempts at goal. The first shot of note, though, arrived on 10 minutes when United’s Vicko Sevelj dispatched a bouncing effort from 22 yards. The Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark produced a good save low to his right.

The visitors continued applying pressure and the sight of left wing-back Harry Milne executing a cheeky ‘rabona’ nutmeg on Miller Thomson brought further joy for those in the away end. Their team moved ahead minutes later. Iurie Iovu held Stuart Findlay back as Milne’s corner dropped at United’s back post, and referee David Dickinson pointed to the spot. Shankland’s cool finish from 12 yards sent goalkeeper Yevheni Kucherenko the wrong way.

Hearts’ lead lasted less than two minutes. When Frankie Kent was penalised for fouling Stirton, Dolcek stepped up to angle a superb free-kick high into the top corner. Clark got a hand to the ball but could not stop the equaliser. When the hosts moved ahead four minutes before half-time, Clark again failed to stop the ball. This time, Dolcek took a throw-in and was untracked as he then galloped in behind the Hearts defence in the inside-left channel. Panutche Camara’s quick through ball found the Croatian for a low drive which ricocheted off the keeper at his near post and bounced up into the net.

Hearts had controlled much of the first half, attacking relentlessly down their left through Milne, Braga and Blair Spittal. United’s doggedness and opportunism paid off as they led 2-1 into the second half. They tended to attack down the Hearts right in behind Forrest - the area where Dolcek sprinted into to score their second goal. Visiting head coach Derek McInnes replaced Forrest and Kent with Alexandros Kyziridis and Michael Steinwender during the break - switching from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 formation - and saw his team draw level just before the hour mark.

Milne’s outswinging corner was met by Findlay’s towering header, which soared high into the corner of Kucherenko’s net. The defender’s impact has been impressive since moving on loan to Tynecastle from Oxford United. His leveller created the potential for a dramatic ending in the Tayside sunshine, although Hearts seemed determined to make life more difficult for themselves with some erratic defending and poor distribution in their own third of the field during the second period.

Teenage striker James Wilson replaced Braga late in the game as Hearts pursued a winner. In stoppage-time, substitute Sabah Kerjota’s deflected effort forced Kucherenko into an important save low to his left. The Albanian delivered the resultant corner for Findlay to head goalwards, but Craig Sibbald cleared off his own goal line. Just as a draw seemed inevitable, Findlay intervened again in the 94th minute.

Kyziridis whipped a corner towards the near post and the defender stooped for a diving, glancing header on the corner of the six-yard post. The ball flew through a collection of bodies to land in the net and maintain Hearts’ 100 per cent record at the start of the new season. They now have six competitive wins from six matches under McInnes’ management. The bedlam which erupted in the away end illustrated their supporters’ delight.

Here are the Hearts player ratings from Tannadice: