DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
Dundee United slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Tynecastle this afternoon as Hearts secured third spot in the SPL with their biggest win of the season.
First-half strikes from Lee Wallace and Bruno Aguiar and a penalty kick from Eggert Jonsson late in the second period were enough to guarantee European football at Tynecastle next season.
Hearts made a bright start to the game, with Wallace and Aguiar tormenting the United defence from the get go and creating real problems at the back.
In the third minute, Wallace completed a great run down the left flank with a dangerous ball into the United box, but Zaluska was able to fumble away Aguiar's effort.
David Obua threatened for the home side again early on when his headed effort rebounded off Garry Kenneth, only for the Ugandan striker to lash his second attempt wide of the mark.
Hearts hadn't scored in their last four league outings, but the warning signs were there and it was little surprise when Wallace broke the deadlock after just 10 minutes.
He raced through the United defence an poked the ball past Zaluska into the far corner of the net to give Hearts the lead.
David Goodwillie could have snatched one back straight away, but Marian Kello was able to block his shot after Sean Dillon had whipped the ball into the striker's path.
Aguiar then blasted a 25-yard free kick over the bar, before Goodwillie saw a strong appeal for a penalty turned away after a clash with Christop Karipidis in what was the Greek defender's last match for Hearts.
The home side extended their lead on the 25 minute mark when a throw-in from Robbie Neilson caught the United defence napping. Callum Elliot zipped the ball back across the box and Aguiar grabbed his seventh goal of the season as he slammed the ball home from eight yards.
David Robertson then had a half chance, but he flicked the ball over the bar after latching on to Paul Dixon's cross. Goodwillie then tried his luck with a 35-yard drive on the stroke of half time which glanced over the bar.
The 1,800-strong travelling support would have been hoping for another storming second-half fight back from their side, but it simply wasn't to be as United huffed and puffed, but were unable to break down a dominant Hearts side.
Elliot could have put the game beyond United on 70 minutes, but he lobbed his effort over the bar after a pinpoint pass from Aguiar split the defence. Gomis and Goodwillie tested Kello as Craig Levein's side tried desperately to get back into the match, but with a little more than ten minutes left on the clock it was all over when Dixon was adjudged to have tripped Elliot at the edge of the box. Jonsson made no mistake from the penalty spot as he sent Zaluska diving the wrong way to give Hearts their biggest winning margin of the season.
Dundee United boss Craig Levein had no complaints.
He said: "We were well beaten today. Hearts were the better side and deserved the win.
"I would struggle to give any of my players pass marks today. They plugged away, but we struggled at the back and didn't create enough up top. We just weren't at the races.
"In comparison with other performances from us in the past weeks and months, the team on the field today were unrecognisable.
"We are very disappointed after today, but we have a huge match to look forward to on Sunday. It's still in our hands to qualify for Europe and we have everything to play for."
Attendance: 15,664
Hearts: Kello, Neilson, Jonsson, Karipidis (Thomson 90), Lee Wallace, Obua, Aguiar (Templeton 86), Michael Stewart (Nade 82), Palazuelos, Elliot, Mrowiec.
Subs Not Used: Balogh, Tullberg, Johnny Stewart, Novikovas.
Goals: Lee Wallace 11, Aguiar 26, Jonsson 79 pen.
Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Dillon (Caddis 31), Wilkie, Kenneth, Dixon, David Robertson (Swanson 62), Buaben, Gomis, Conway, Sandaza (Shala 61), Goodwillie.
Subs Not Used: McGovern, Scott Robertson, Grainger, Dods.
Booked: Sandaza, Kenneth, Swanson.
Att: 15,664
Ref: B Winter
First-half strikes from Lee Wallace and Bruno Aguiar and a penalty kick from Eggert Jonsson late in the second period were enough to guarantee European football at Tynecastle next season.
Hearts made a bright start to the game, with Wallace and Aguiar tormenting the United defence from the get go and creating real problems at the back.
In the third minute, Wallace completed a great run down the left flank with a dangerous ball into the United box, but Zaluska was able to fumble away Aguiar's effort.
David Obua threatened for the home side again early on when his headed effort rebounded off Garry Kenneth, only for the Ugandan striker to lash his second attempt wide of the mark.
Hearts hadn't scored in their last four league outings, but the warning signs were there and it was little surprise when Wallace broke the deadlock after just 10 minutes.
He raced through the United defence an poked the ball past Zaluska into the far corner of the net to give Hearts the lead.
David Goodwillie could have snatched one back straight away, but Marian Kello was able to block his shot after Sean Dillon had whipped the ball into the striker's path.
Aguiar then blasted a 25-yard free kick over the bar, before Goodwillie saw a strong appeal for a penalty turned away after a clash with Christop Karipidis in what was the Greek defender's last match for Hearts.
The home side extended their lead on the 25 minute mark when a throw-in from Robbie Neilson caught the United defence napping. Callum Elliot zipped the ball back across the box and Aguiar grabbed his seventh goal of the season as he slammed the ball home from eight yards.
David Robertson then had a half chance, but he flicked the ball over the bar after latching on to Paul Dixon's cross. Goodwillie then tried his luck with a 35-yard drive on the stroke of half time which glanced over the bar.
The 1,800-strong travelling support would have been hoping for another storming second-half fight back from their side, but it simply wasn't to be as United huffed and puffed, but were unable to break down a dominant Hearts side.
Elliot could have put the game beyond United on 70 minutes, but he lobbed his effort over the bar after a pinpoint pass from Aguiar split the defence. Gomis and Goodwillie tested Kello as Craig Levein's side tried desperately to get back into the match, but with a little more than ten minutes left on the clock it was all over when Dixon was adjudged to have tripped Elliot at the edge of the box. Jonsson made no mistake from the penalty spot as he sent Zaluska diving the wrong way to give Hearts their biggest winning margin of the season.
Dundee United boss Craig Levein had no complaints.
He said: "We were well beaten today. Hearts were the better side and deserved the win.
"I would struggle to give any of my players pass marks today. They plugged away, but we struggled at the back and didn't create enough up top. We just weren't at the races.
"In comparison with other performances from us in the past weeks and months, the team on the field today were unrecognisable.
"We are very disappointed after today, but we have a huge match to look forward to on Sunday. It's still in our hands to qualify for Europe and we have everything to play for."
Attendance: 15,664
Hearts: Kello, Neilson, Jonsson, Karipidis (Thomson 90), Lee Wallace, Obua, Aguiar (Templeton 86), Michael Stewart (Nade 82), Palazuelos, Elliot, Mrowiec.
Subs Not Used: Balogh, Tullberg, Johnny Stewart, Novikovas.
Goals: Lee Wallace 11, Aguiar 26, Jonsson 79 pen.
Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Dillon (Caddis 31), Wilkie, Kenneth, Dixon, David Robertson (Swanson 62), Buaben, Gomis, Conway, Sandaza (Shala 61), Goodwillie.
Subs Not Used: McGovern, Scott Robertson, Grainger, Dods.
Booked: Sandaza, Kenneth, Swanson.
Att: 15,664
Ref: B Winter
