The home side started well and grew into a strong first-half performance. Before Andy Halliday opened the scoring with a good header from an Armand Gnanduillet cross the league leaders could have been ahead.
It looked like being a comfortable victory when Gnanduillet doubled the lead following a Gary Mackay-Steve sitter and Liam Boyce hitting the bar. But a Jaso Cummings penalty after a Mihai Popescu foul set up a nervy finish but Hearts ultimately held on despite Peter Haring’s late red card and opened up a 15 point lead at the top.
But how did the players rate?
Player ratings scale - 10: One of the best performances you've seen. 9: Outstanding. 8: Very good. 7: Good. 6: Average. 5: Poor, 4: Very poor. 3: A terrible day at the office. 2: Abysmal. 1: One of the worst performances you've seen.
. EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MARCH 06: Hearts' Andy Halliday (centre) celebrates his opener during a Scottish Championship match between Hearts and Dundee at Tynecastle, on March 06, 2021, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)
How the Hearts players rated in the win over Dundee. Picture: SNS Photo: Ross MacDonald - SNS Group
. Craig Gordon - 8
Was beaten by a dipping McGowan effort which came off the bar in the second half and was required to produce not one but two double saves after the break. Photo: Paul Devlin - SNS Group
. Michael Smith - 8
Really positive first half where he had the freedom to get down the flank. Flashed a couple of brilliant balls across the box and was involved in the opening goal. Photo: Ross MacDonald - SNS Group
. Mihai Popescu - 7
A largely excellent performance let down by a penalty concession. Made an early sliding challenge on Danny Mullen which was key. Won the battle time and again against the Dundee striker and was dominant in the air. But brought down Anderson with an errant foul. Photo: Ross Parker - SNS Group
. Craig Halkett - 7
A solid first half from the centre-back. Was asked questions by Osman Sow in the second with the ex-Hearts ace going close twice. Photo: Mark Scates - SNS Group
1. Craig Gordon - 8
Was beaten by a dipping McGowan effort which came off the bar in the second half and was required to produce not one but two double saves after the break. Photo: Paul Devlin - SNS Group
2. Michael Smith - 8
Really positive first half where he had the freedom to get down the flank. Flashed a couple of brilliant balls across the box and was involved in the opening goal. Photo: Ross MacDonald - SNS Group
3. Mihai Popescu - 7
A largely excellent performance let down by a penalty concession. Made an early sliding challenge on Danny Mullen which was key. Won the battle time and again against the Dundee striker and was dominant in the air. But brought down Anderson with an errant foul. Photo: Ross Parker - SNS Group
4. Craig Halkett - 7
A solid first half from the centre-back. Was asked questions by Osman Sow in the second with the ex-Hearts ace going close twice. Photo: Mark Scates - SNS Group